Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Father Dominic Albini was one of the pillars of the young Oblate congregation on whom Eugene relied. He was terminally ill in Corsica and had a few months to live.

Letter from Fr. Mille. This excellent priest writes in a most touching way about the sad news I had given him about the illness of our good Fr. Albini. In our common sorrow it is good to see the feelings for one another which animate the members of our Congregation. All that would be needed to compose the most beautiful funeral sermon would be to go through the letters of our Fathers and see what they know and put into words about the virtues which they admire.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 24 November 1838, EO XIX

Eugene stressed that the Oblates were a family – indeed he wanted us to be the most united family in the world. Today this applies to the larger Mazenodian Family gathered around Eugene’s charism throughout the world.
His invitation is to learn from one another about the people we love and admire.  We do it in obituaries at funerals, so why wait till loved ones are dead to do this? In these difficult days let us help one another to recognize the gift of special people.

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (Matthew 11:25)

Eugene, as Missionary Oblate and as bishop, was never happier than when he was bringing the consolation of the Savior to those who were the most abandoned. He wnoted in his diary:

October 17: Among the other duties of today, Confirmation to a young child in danger of death. I had to climb to the fifth floor; but how a bishop feels compensated in his spiritual paternity when he is surrounded by a crowd of these good people who belong to the poorer classes and who are edified to see their pastor come close to them to console the most abandoned of his flock in their suffering.

In the days before electricity and elevators, the poorer people of the city of Marseilles lived on the top floors of buildings. Hence the following detail as Eugene climbed up dark staircases:

The residents of each floor put a light on their doorstep for these occasions and they kneel to receive my blessing.
The room of the sick child was decorated like an Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday and was filled with charitable neighbours who had come to be present at the ceremony. On this occasion the child was very well disposed. He sighed a moment after my arrival and his joy at seeing me was very moving. He received the sacrament of Confirmation with admirable sentiments.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 17 October 1838, EO XIX

Each day Jesus comes to my home in prayer, in Scripture and through the lives of others: how do I “decorate” my life to receive Him?

“Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.” (Luke 7: 44-47)

For further details: https://sites.google.com/site/oblatestudies/an-invitation-to-all-institutes-of-consecrated-life-and-associates/course-syllabus

Eugene was happiest when he was with the poorer people of his diocese. Gathering people from four villages, he wrote:

October 16: Visit to Caillols. The children from St-Julien, from Paume and from Olives had all gathered there. For me it is a real consolation to instruct and catechize these good souls from the countryside.…

I always have occasion to be satisfied with the attention of my audience and to congratulate myself on the unmistakable method I have adopted for myself of always speaking to the people in their own language. I was told today that when the people of the village heard my instruction, they said among themselves: it is a pleasure to see that our bishop speaks our language…
How happy I would be to be able to reach their hearts and make them love the divine Master whom I am preaching to them as simply as I can!

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 October 1838, EO XIX

Eugene’s conviction, born of personal experience, was:

“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”
“We love because God first loved us” (I John 4: 16,19)

He was so full of this conviction, that it overflowed in his ministry to those most in need of God’s love.
What does my life overflow with today?

These beautiful words illustrate Eugene’s ministry as a Missionary Oblate and a Bishop of Marseilles. Being close to his people and leading his people on their faith journey

In the evening I went to the closing ceremony of the Holy Rosary octave in the church of St-Cannat and gave the Benediction. That gave great pleasure to the clergy and people of this parish who filled the church.

I always feel great consolation when I am leading my flock in prayer meetings or on the great solemnities.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 October 1838, EO XIX

Bishop Eugene, as the chief pastor of the diocese was aware of his responsibility to be the co-operator and instrument of Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest:

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them”(Hebrews 7:25)

Because Jesus is risen, and is always present, he constantly makes intercession for those who approach God through him. We profess this every time we pray: “Through Christ, our Lord.”

One of Eugene’s ministries, like that of St Paul, was to pray for his people:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Colossians 1:9)

We are invited to pause and be aware of those who support us in prayer “through Jesus Christ”.

Find this month’s reflection at http://tiny.cc/oraison

For further information see: https://sites.google.com/site/oblatestudies/an-invitation-to-all-institutes-of-consecrated-life-and-associates/course-syllabus

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