Mary Immaculate is patroness of our Congregation.
Constitution 10
We go back to 1822. In the midst of all his concerns for the survival of his newly-founded Missionary family, Eugene celebrated the feast of the Assumption. It was a moment which was to leave a permanent impression on our Oblate Charismatic Family.
Eugene’s letters of 1822 show the many concerns and difficulties he was experiencing. Not least among these was his worry about the survival and future of his small group of Missionaries. It was in this spirit that he blessed the new statue in the chapel, which became the opportunity for a powerful life-giving insight. He immediately wrote to Henri Tempier, who was in Laus.
I believe I owe to her also a special experience that I felt today; I will not go so far as to say more than ever, but certainly more than usual.
Eugene was usually very reticent about describing his deep spiritual experiences. His “more than usual” experience was connected with the life of the Missionaries of Provence, who were experiencing external difficulties and whose future existence was in the balance.
I cannot describe it too well because it covered several things, but all related to a single object, our dear Society.
He then described the confirmation that he received that the foundation of the Missionaries had come from God and that God assured him of a solid future for this group.
It seemed to me that what I saw, what I could put my finger on, was that within it lies hidden the seed of very great virtues, and that it can achieve infinite good; I found it worthy, everything pleased me about it, I appreciated its rules, its statutes; its ministry seemed awe-inspiring to me, as it is indeed. As I looked at the Society I found in it a sure, even infallible, means of salvation.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 15 August 1822, EO VI n 86
Here we understand why Mary is the mother and patroness of our Oblate Family. She smiled at Eugene and c0ntinues to smile today at his Oblate Family and each of us.
