Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Eugene de Mazenod’s appointment of Father Joseph Vincens as novice master had caused the young man to be afraid of not being capable of coping with the responsibility. Eugene’s advice to him can be applied by us in so many difficult situations that we face. He wrote:

to tell you that in the new job entrusted to you, you must place all your confidence in God and to convince you that with his help you will succeed as well as or even better than anyone else.

Oraison will be your rich mine and the daily examens will serve you as beacon, mirror, compass and as spur too, if necessary.

Proceed. therefore, with confidence and like Saint Ignatius tell yourself: Vincens alone can do nothing. Vincens and God can do everything.

Letter to Joseph Vincens, 17 July 1841, EO IX n 734

Oraison was the daily prayer in which the missionaries prayed in communion with one another. It was like a goldmine providing spiritual riches to all. It is the prayer that the US Mazenodian Family is encouraging each month for its members (see: https://sites.google.com/view/mazenodianfamily/monthly-oraison )

The examen is the beautiful prayer made known by St Ignatius (see https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen )

Thanks, Father Salvador, for this presentation! Happy Feast-day to all the members of the Mazenodian Family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1soOCuQwsuDm0c9uf4hxO5VbrWpiHdK9pTiSSB9-W6mFouRd2ZS1m-j-I&v=AfKwo18A_Fw&feature=youtu.be

Eugene shared the wonderful news from Rome with his Oblate family in France:

My dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation of Cardinals and specifically approved the Institute, the Rules and Constitutions of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, and accompanied this solemn act of his pontifical power, with most admiring words for those who happily form this Society from which the head of the Church indeed expects the greatest good.

Everyone is stupefied at this. Even those called upon to contribute with their votes to the execution of the very emphatic will of the Pope, are surprised by the unanimous agreement of views and especially with the imperturbable resolution of the Holy Father, whom nothing has been able to deter from the first thought with which the Holy Spirit inspired him on the first day that I knelt at his feet and presented to him the plan of this enterprise which now we can call divine…

The conclusion to be drawn from this, my dear friends and good brothers, is: we must work, with renewed ardour and still more total devotedness, to bring to God all the glory that stems from our efforts and, to the needy souls of our neighbours, salvation in all possible ways; we must attach ourselves heart and soul to our Rules and practice [more] exactly what they prescribe to us…
… In the name of God, let us be saints.

Letter to the Oblates, 18 February 1826, EO VII, n. 226

This blessing has continued to bear fruit for 195 years. Our last General Chapter witnessed this:

“On October 7, 2016, at the gathering of Chapter members with the Holy Father, the message he delivered and his presence with us created a holy encounter. We experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Everyone was filled with immense love for the Congregation and with hope and joy for our future. That visit with Pope Francis made me relive the words our Founder penned on August 15, 1822 referring to “…our dear Society. It seemed to me that what I saw, what I could put my finger on, was that within her lies hidden the germ of very great virtues, and that she can achieve infinite good; I found her worthy, everything pleased me about her, I cherished her rules, her statutes; her ministry seemed sublime to me, as it is indeed. I found in her bosom sure means of salvation, even infallible, such is how they looked to me” (Selected Texts p. 119). These words of Saint Eugene bless us today.”

Father Louis Lougen OMI, Superior General

The Letter of Superior General to the Congregation on the Anniversary of the Papal Approval of the Constitutions and Rules – February 17, 2021

The pandemic is helping us see more clearly what is essential in life. The Spirit speaks to us in the signs of the times of this pandemic and enriches our missionary lives.

·       –  Our faith is deepened as we affirm God is right alongside us in this mess. We know that, with God, all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Nothing is outside of God’s creative ability to bring good from it. We believe this and we renew our oblation to live for the Reign of God.
·       –  The pandemic has made us aware of our common vulnerability. No sector of humanity, no state, no global corporation controls the world. Armies do not regulate borders as the virus travels around the world. St. Eugene knew the wisdom and power of the cross. With courage and humility, we embrace our vulnerability and we gain wisdom and strength.
·       –  The pandemic, with its isolation and distancing, has provided the opportunity to draw closer together. Both in religious traditions and secular life, we have discovered a new sense of solidarity and care for one another. The pandemic has reminded us that our missionary life must be based on apostolic community accompanied by prayer and the vowed life. Already in 1816, when Fr. De Mazenod called together Fr. Tempier and his other companions, he was convinced of this.
·       –  We have to ask ourselves whether we too are caught up in the conversation around ‘returning to normal,’ or the ‘new normal,’ etc. This ignores the reality that the majority of the people in the world have never experienced the concept of ‘normal’ being spoken of. The peo- ple we serve around the globe live without water, without the mini- mum of necessary food, without medical care, etc. The pandemic must open the eyes of the world to the great injustice that the majority of earth’s people never have enjoyed a so-called ‘normal’ life.
·       –  The pandemic has helped us become more aware that consumerism and materialism generate poverty and destroy the environment. These idols of society must be exchanged for a concern for the common good, expressed in caring for the poor and for our common home.

Father Louis Lougen OMI
Superior General

The Letter of Superior General to the Congregation on the Anniversary of the Papal Approval of the Constitutions and Rules – February 17, 2021

Pope Leo XII formally approved our Constitutions and Rules on February 17, 1826. To this day, revised and adapted over the past 195 years, they remain “a privileged means for each Oblate to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ “(C # 163). The Preface to the CCRR expresses the vision that burned in Eugene’s heart: motivated by his love for Christ, he called together others who would embrace a life of holiness, announcing Christ to the poor and working to rebuild the Church. The virtuous life of those preachers was essential to effective evangelization.

This year, February 17th falls on Ash Wednesday, and we will celebrate our feast day on Tuesday, February 16th. All over the world marked by the pandemic, we will gather as best we can to give thanks for the grace of our vocation. The COVID-19 virus has been an occasion to see the Oblate charism, with its great flexibility and focus on the urgent needs of the people, rising to the occasion to respond with unmeasured zeal. Oblates have found creative ways to minister spiritually, as well as assisting many people in their material needs.

With our collaborators and Associates, we have provided needed financial help for the unemployed and for essential needs such as rent, food, water, medicines, cleaning needs, gloves, masks, and even some lodging. Together with the Treasurer General’s office, the Office of Oblate Mission Sustainability and Global Oblate Fundraisers have assisted many Units in reaching out to the most vulnerable sectors of society at this time. OMIWORLD.ORG has been publishing the many creative efforts that Oblates have developed to attend to the needs of the people we serve.

… We are blessed that a dimension of our charism is missionary flexibility and adaptability as we consider new approaches to our life and ministry.

Father Louis Lougen OMI

Superior General

Father Louis Toussaint Dassy was an intelligent and highly talented Oblate who excelled at everything he did, both as a missionary preacher and the author of books as well as studying archaeology as a hobby. Eugene writes to him and gives him some advice on making sure that he relied on God and not on his talents.

I never cease thanking God for the good accomplished through your ministry. As for you. my child, and your companions, ever keep in your heart and on your lips these beautiful words of the Apostle: “We are worthless servants; we have done only what we ought to have done!”[ed. Luke 17:10]

Who are we, in fact, to perform miracles? What should surprise us is that we do not spoil the mission God has entrusted to us, by our infidelities and what we substitute from ourselves.

He warns the 33 year-old:

Let us humble ourselves in our own eyes, and be careful not to ask anything from the people. We do not want their praises, admiration, etc. any more than their money. Especially you, my good son, you need to be on your guard because the public spoils you on account of your good qualities, zeal and everything else that is striking about you.

Letter to Father Louis Dassy, 17 July 1841, EO IX n 733

Eugene, like St. Paul, was the father of the Oblate missionary family, and expressed his affection for the community leaving for Canada.

As for me, I give thanks to God each time I think of you, in all my prayers, supplicating him with joy for you all because of your communion in the Gospel; confident also in that He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion, until the day of Christ Jesus, as is rightful for me to believe as well as for you whom I bear in my heart.

God indeed is my witness how I follow you all with my affection in the tenderness of Christ; and I ask that your charity may abound more and more in knowledge and in every sentiment through Jesus Christ, to the glory and the praise of God.

Bishop Berteaud of Tulle is reported to have come out of a talk with Eugene and exclaimed, “Gentlemen, I have met Paul!” Whether these words were factual or not, they do illustrate the spirit with which Eugene understood the foreign missions of his Oblates.

Go then forth upon your journey with a light and willing heart. May God our Father himself and Our Lord Jesus Christ guide your steps. The benevolent protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, conceived without stain, be with you and the attentive care of the holy Angel of God.

Letter of obedience to the first Oblate missionaries to Canada, 29 September 1841, EO I n 8

Eugene’s missionary mandate to the first community of Oblates to go to Canada stressed how important it would be to support one another.

Therefore be mutually encouraging and edify one another. Be united in the same spirit, working together for the faith of the Gospel.

Then, addressing Father Jean Baptiste Honorat, the superior of the community:

You especially whom we have appointed to lead and direct your brothers, excel more in merit and virtue rather than in being elevated as the one in charge; endeavour more to endear the hearts of those under you by charity and mildness than to lead them by authority.

Strive by the observance of our Rules and the practice of piety towards God to show yourself such that your companions may seek avidly to follow you step by step and to imitate you.

The rest of the community was charged to be supporting:

As for you whom Our Saviour has deigned to call, rather than your fellows, to so great a work, endeavour with all your strength to respond to this holy vocation of God and moreover seek carefully to lighten the burden imposed on your Superior by humility, by the practice of mortification, zeal for perfection, assiduity in prayer, respecting him truly for God’s sake, joyous obedience and especially a sincere love.

Letter of obedience to the first Oblate missionaries to Canada, 29 September 1841, EO I n 8

In a machine the smooth  running of every component is essential for it to achieve its purpose. The same is true in every community that we are a part of, no matter how unimportant our role may appear.

Quoting Saint Paul, Eugene sent his missionaries to Canada with evangelical courage.

For the rest, brothers, take comfort in the Lord and in the might of His power. Put on the armour of God, hold yourselves erect, loins girded with truth, wearing the breastplate of justice and your feet shod in readiness to evangelize; so that the Lord may help you to announce the Word mightily, to withdraw from sin the children of the Church and lead them to holiness; and that He may open your mouth to make known with assurance the mystery of the Gospel to those ignorant of it.

Letter of obedience to the first Oblate missionaries to Canada, 29 September 1841, EO I n 8

In our difficult days let us remember that the words of Paul, are still true for us and invite us to take courage:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Ephesians 6:10-17)