MAY 21: AT THE WORDS “O SWEET VIRGIN MARY,” HE BREATHED HIS LAST

Posted on May 21, 2026 by franksantucci

Wherever our ministry takes us, we will strive to instil genuine devotion to the Immaculate Virgin who prefigures God’s final victory over all evil.  (Constitution 10)

“They will always regard her as mother” Eugene had written when we officially became Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate after our papal approbation in 1826. He asked us to have a “tender and filial devotion.” Throughout his life he was accompanied by Mary to the point of his least breath as all were reciting the Salve Regina prayer.

Eugene died during the praying of the Salve Regina, at these words: “Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, , show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!”

Father Fabre describes the scene:

We recited the entire Salve Regina, which our well-loved Father understood and followed fully. At the words: ”and after this our exile show us,” he opened his eyes slightly; at each invocation: “ O clement, o loving”, he made a slight movement; at the third: “O sweet Virgin Mary”,  he breathed his last. His beautiful soul was in the presence of God.

Circular Letter to the Congregation 26 May 1861

Because of his life-long closeness to Mary, she did indeed accompany him to the fruit of her womb: Jesus. May we learn to look on her as mother and as our faithful faith-companion on our Christian journey to be shown the fruit of her womb at its fulfilment in our own death.

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One Response to MAY 21: AT THE WORDS “O SWEET VIRGIN MARY,” HE BREATHED HIS LAST

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    May 21, 2026 at 17:30

    I remember when Fr. Thomas Cassidy, OMI was dying – the day of …. I received a call that if I wanted to say goodbye to him I needed to go asap to the hospital. And so I went. He had been in a coma for sometime but I noticed when I got to his bedside that he was warmer to touch and his skin had some colour. I did not stay long only because I knew his family would be coming to say goodbye and let him go. Thinking of the number of times I had been in to say the Rosary with him, putting the rosary into his hand that I covered with mine. I leaned over and kissed his forehead .

    Then I spoke with him, letting him know that Mary was there to take him home to Jesus. And I said his family would be in to see him and then she would take him by the hand. My words mirrored my heart. I still smile when I see pictures of him and there is joy that God gave me the words to say to him.

    Such a way of thinking, being and shared by St. Eugene. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary…

    Today I read a piece from the OMI Lacombe written by Eugene Benedict OMI where he spoke of “the sacrifice of everything he was leaving on the earth. He did not hesitate a bit, and from that moment, with an unbridled joy, he wanted only to think of death, and he renewed incessantly his act of submission to the divine will.”

    To think he shared all of himself with his sons and daughters, whether we were consecrated or not. St. Eugene de Mazenod pray for us.

    Reply

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