Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

In recent entries we have focused on the Canadian mission, but the missionary thrust was taking place in England and Ireland simultaneously. (See the entries starting from https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=4584).

Father Yvon Beaudoin fills in the details for us:

In all of the historical sources relative to the Anglo-Irish province, Father Casimir Aubert is always referred to as the founder of this Oblate apostolic field.

In 1837-1838 at the novitiate, he had received a young Irishman, William Daly, who followed the theology course along with the scholastics at the seminary in Marseilles and was ordained to the priesthood on May 2, 1841.

During May, a few months before the decision to accept missions in Canada, an opportunity arose to send Father Daly to England to examine at first hand the possibility of a foundation. “The purpose of this trip,” Bishop de Mazenod explained in his diary on July 15 and 16, 1841, “is to examine on the spot how a foundation of missionaries of our Congregation could be made …”

Eugene’s dream was to recruit English-speaking vocations to be able to end as missionaries to Canada and other countries where English was spoken.

If he had already determined a vast apostolic program from the future establishment, the Founder hoped to obtain vocations in Ireland. Father Daly must have received precise orders in this sense. He preached in several London churches, at Oscott seminary near Birmingham, then set out for Ireland where he met the bishops gathered together at the Maynooth seminary. He received permission to recruit and at the end of 1841 he sent to Marseilles seven postulants entrusted for the time being to Father Aubert; he expressed hope that a foundation would not present any problems.

Bishop de Mazenod understood that he had to profit from this moment of grace and send, as soon as possible, a trusted man who knew English well. The choice was easy to make since Father Aubert alone fulfilled these conditions … He left Marseilles in mid-July 1842.

Father Aubert was thinking of opening a formation house there but was soon disillusioned on that score. The bishops would not permit it. Nevertheless, he found a teaching position at St. Mary’s College of Youghal, an institution destined to supply personnel for the missions.

https://www.omiworld.org/wp-content/uploads/II-05-Father-Casimir-Aubert-O.M.I.pdf

As Superior General, Eugene had to deal with the weaknesses and foibles of his Oblates. He always regarded himself as their father and was hurt when they did not realize this.

Letter from Fr. Bermond. My letter has provoked a reply which proves to me that he falls short of being the type of man to send to Canada.

It is not at all a question whether he is a brave child, but he takes things too personally, he misinterprets the conduct of superiors towards him, takes offence at it, retains a memory of it. He nurses the thought that I am prejudiced against him because of the reports that have been made to me against him.

It’s in this way that all those who have some reproaches to make close their hearts while distrusting my sentiments, which is a very fatal error for them. They do not want to understand how much I am a father. More than some imperfections and some miseries are necessary in order to change the sentiments that God has given me for all those who have vowed themselves to him in the Congregation. And Bermond in particular renders me little justice if he writes that the affection that I have for him has been weakened by the difficulties of Laus. [ed The Oblates had been forced to leave the shrine of Notre Dame du Laus, causing suffering to Eugene]

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 4 October 1842, EO XXI

Father Bermond and Eugene were to have a stormy relationship in the coming years. Despite his shortcomings, Fr Bermond did a lot of good missionary work in Canada. God certainly uses us all – warts and all!

When Eugene wrote in his diary at the end of the day, he recorded not only the happenings, but also his personal reactions. The Diary reveals a wry sense of humor in the way in which he expresses himself privately. The Diary was not intended for others to read.

In this entry he comments about one of the Oblates who had a clique of somewhat disturbed nuns around him with whom he conducted correspondence on esoteric spiritual topics. Eugene had no time for this.

Here are some religious, some men who claim to alone have the secret of perfection, who perform high spirituality with some bigots whom they call earthly angels and who are only fanatics who mimic in the most ridiculous manner the souls of the elite, whose language they do not even understand which they take into their heads to use, to even exaggerate in their farcical correspondence. What a pity!

Eugene wanted to send this “spiritual” Oblate to Corsica as a missionary.

It is unimaginable to what degree this good Father deludes himself. His letter inspires pity. He claims that his mother would die if he were to go to Corsica, that he is compelled under pain of sin to not kill his mother, therefore, he is not able in conscience to comply with my obedience to go to this country. There are some proud religious!

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 1 October 1842, EO XXI

Despite being the cause of this outburst, the Oblate in question proved himself to be a dedicated and successful missionary for the succeeding 30 years.

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Father Casimir Aubert, was an Oblate respected by Eugene and a person with whom he shared many of his more private thoughts. Eugene confided to him:

I am sorely tried by our Fathers in Canada. Fr. Baudrand, utterly outraged with the lack of agreement to be found in the ideas of Fr. Honorat and Fr. Telmon, has filled our houses with his exaggerated complaints… and it is 2000 leagues away that these things are happening! It is impossible for people around not to notice this disorder and our fine future in those regions is terribly compromised.

In the midst of these woes, Eugene exclaimed:

However, God works miracles for us. In spite of the difficulties caused by this treason…

He gives thanks for the generosity of lay benefactors who generously gave material support to the missionaries, and he continues to give thanks for God’s blessings:

As for the spiritual, the most abundant blessings have accompanied the ten missions which our Fathers have already given.

The fine ministry of the Oblates began to attract vocations and also requests from other dioceses :

Two excellent priests have joined them, others are announced. The Bishops of Toronto and Quebec are asking for us.

But I am fearful lest all will come to nothing through the fault of those unworthy sons who have no idea how to endure anything, sacrifice anything or excuse anything except their own faults. I am outraged as much as afflicted by such conduct.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 26 September 1842, EO III n 2

We have seen the optimistic and lofty ideals and the dreams of Eugene and the missionaries regarding the first group of Oblates sent to Canada. Now, one year later, the cracks began to appear. It is normal in any human enterprise to encounter misunderstanding, to fail, to blame others, and to experience discouragement. Eugene, however, did not take kindly to this behaviour and his passionate nature shows in his reaction.

One of the missionaries in Canada, the 28-year-old Lucien Lagier, had been negatively influenced by another member of the team and had written a fault-finding letter to some people in Europe which had come to Eugene’s attention.

I have read a letter from this little Lagier which should be handed to the flames by the executioner, so unworthy is it even of a man who has retained only the initial notions of his duties. I have bowed to the law of necessity in sending so far, to fulfil so fine a mission, men so imperfect who have deceived my hopes and who have worked to destroy what God had founded. I am sick with disappointment.

Letter to Fr. Francois Bermond, 8 September 1842, EO I n 12

Eugene continued to boil as he poured his feelings into his private diary:

Things would not go less well in America if Fr. Baudrand had not sown this internal division which inspired in poor Lucien Lagier this foolish letter…

Here is the letter which this young brother has the insolence to write to me. It is good to safeguard such documents for the judgment that must be passed on false men whom hell has introduced among us…what insolence, to dare say this in front of his superior, to a bishop, to teach him his duty which, according to him, he has failed to observe, whereas no one has ever read in the rule such a command contrary to good sense and to the basic rudiments of regular administration.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 20 September 1842, EO XXI

Eugene’s irritation and disappointment with Fr Lagier did not last long and he recognized the goodness of this missionary who gave the next 32 years of his life in generous and successful service to the people of Canada.

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