Reflecting on the blessing of being part of a community with a healthy family spirit, Eugene now underlines the values necessary to maintain this spirit and allow it to grow.
For the love of God never cease to inculcate and preach humility, abnegation, forgetfulness of self, disdain for worldly esteem.
The secret of success is to be found in avoiding egoism and selfishness. Jesus gave everything for the salvation of others and the qualities underlined by Eugene are meant to imitate this oblation of Jesus himself. As “co-operators of the Saviour” the Missionaries needed to be fully given (“oblated”) for God and for others.
May these be ever the foundations of our little Society which,
combined with a truly disinterested zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls,
and the most tender, affectionate and sincere charity amongst ourselves,
will make of our house an earthly paradise
and will establish it in more solid a manner than all possible orders and laws.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 12 August 1817, O.W. VI n.20
Interesting are the words he uses to describe the relationship among the Missionaries: tender – affectionate – sincere – this is the spirit of Mazenodian charity.
“For the love of God never cease to inculcate and preach humility, abnegation, forgetfulness of self, disdain for worldly esteem.”
Ah – but can you imagine if that were the motto for for than one community?
“..most tender, affectionate and sincere charity amongst ourselves” Today I reflect on attitude and the “how” I go about loving. It seems if I go into a relationship, any kind of a relationship, with anything less than true tenderness, affection and sincerity I will be giving much less than my all and my love might be in word only.
It becomes an exercise (if I can put it that way) in forgetting of self, of moving from the false self to the true as Richard Rohr might say.
“….make of our house an earthly paradise and will establish it in more solid a manner than all possible orders and laws.” – This strikes me most forcefully this morning – than all possible orders and laws. I believe this is what Jesus spoke of and died for in when he talked of his new covenant of love – much much more than all of the laws of his time. This is what Eugene not only spoke of but lived – how he loved and served all – most especially those who the church did not touch – no matter the reason. It is this I think that Pope Francis speaks of when he talks of loving and not judging.
It is with tenderness, affection and sincerity that I must face my church and speak – as part of it, not separate from, and with true and honest love. It is with tenderness, affection and sincerity that I must face and speak with my community for it may well be the only way that I am heard over the din of orders and law. I think of the strongest love that I know -it is spoken in whispers and it is the most tender, affectionate and sincere love of all that is. I think of the small tiny light that guides our feet of this path of life – it has the strength of the entire universe and the fragility of a breath against the wind. This seems to be the strength and foundation of our community(s).