Our mission is to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to seek it before all else (cf. Mt 6: 33). Constitution 11
Fr. Leonard was travelling around France in search of men willing to become Oblates to serve the foreign missions
No matter how busy and overworked I am. I always have a moment at night to answer your letters. Eleven o’clock has struck, no matter. We will have enough time in the grave for sleeping. I can only encourage you to carry out the mission you have received … continue with renewed confidence the great work which brings our Society the means of extending its zeal.
… Goodbye, my dear Father, even though I write to you far into the night, you easily can see that what I tell you is not the work of darkness; light shines at all hours to the eyes of those who are seeking first of all the kingdom of God and do not want anything else but the Will of the heavenly Father.
Letter to Fr Leonard, 6 October 1847, EO X, n. 944
These words remind me of Newman’s hymn, “Lead, kindly light, amidst the night’s encircling gloom.” The presence of God in the Kingdom is the light we are asked to search for at all times, especially in the darkness that surrounds us.
