Our mission is to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to seek it before all else (cf. Mt 6: 33).
Constitution 11
One of the young Father de Mazenod’s main ministries after his ordination was the Youth Association. Some of its members became priests, and Eugene rejoiced that they persevered in extending the Kingdom of God despite the power of evil against them.
Letter from Gibelli… May this dear child be blessed. His letter gives rest to my heart. Holy young man, keep up your work. Build eagerly since so many false brethren demolish the fine work of the Savior; save souls with zeal since so many dishonest ones poison them. All of you, my dear children of the youth association, who fight under the banner of Mary for the glory of Jesus, redouble your efforts, be blessed a thousand times for all the work you do in so many dioceses to extend the kingdom of God and destroy the empire of the devil.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 20 April 1839, EO XX.
This is the spirit of the Preface referring to the struggle that all members of the Oblate Family experience at times in the face of evil around them – being part of this Family is an encouragement for each one.
I find myself recognizing the greatness of Eugene, of his loving heart that was without measurement. Despite his words that point to an army (and maybe I struggle with that only because I do not think in terms of armies even though I recognize their right and call from God).
On Sunday at the end of Mass our pastor called a family up in front the congregation to be blessed. The oldest son was finished high school and has been accepted by Canada’s Armed Forces. Then we sang our recessional hymn. Our Prime Minister was at Mass and he immediately went forward to shake the hand of the young man and speak to the family. There were many people who followed the Prime Minister along with his RCMP detail. I had to leave the church only because I needed to be ready to be picked up by my ParaTranspo drive to take me home. I asked the young man’s father to pass on my love and prayers to his son.
In a world that is filled with so much violence and an exaggerated sense of self, this was a young man who wanted to serve Canada in a very specific manner. I was so proud of him and his family who had held family meetings about this and though they were struggling they accepted his call from God. The extraordinary found in the ordinary of every day life.
St. Eugene’s words remind me of how we are all called to lovingly serve in the small and ordinary of life. All I had every wanted was to be saint (yes with a small “s”) and it is the members of the Oblate Family who show me the way.