Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Looking at potential leadership in the Oblates, Eugene identifies the qualities of “being” which result in “doing”: availability, regularity in living by the Rule of Life, detachment and generosity.

But I’m easily upset when I’m faced with men who render themselves unavailable for various positions of trust that I would like to give them, whether because of a lack of virtue or because they don’t give a sufficient assurance of wisdom in their conduct. At the present moment you have two men who could give satisfaction in the most pressing of needs, but what are they like when it comes to regularity, are they living according to the spirit of their holy state of life? Are they detached, available for any task? I sent them to Laus as being an easier way to get them up to the level that every member of the Congregation should achieve. Where are my hopes now? Is it such a difficult thing to be equal to one’s duties? I am saddened in spite of myself when I consider how small some men’s generosity is.

Goodbye, my dear Father Mille, my blessing on you and all the community.

Letter to Jean Baptiste Mille, 23 August 1836, EO VIII n 579

The foundation of the Congregation in 1816 had begun a period of zealous inspiration and overflowing generosity among the founding generation. Twenty years later the we find Eugene frustrated by the cooling off of that initial passion. The second generation of Oblates did not always have the same focus as the founding generation.

Eugene had just completed an official visitation of two communities under the leadership of very young superiors. Exasperated, he wrote:

The comparison between our own practice and the abuses permitted to enter our houses by our young superiors and encouraged by their own example only fills me with distress. Acting in accordance with their ideas, local superiors have just about managed to re-fashion the Congregation. I no longer recognize my spirit in the houses I have just visited, and indeed how could it be found when no one bothers any longer to consult me?

Haven’t I told you often enough, you young superiors, that necessity forced me to place you at the head of our communities long before you were fit to exercise authority, that your major defect has been to follow your own ideas, instead of taking your lead from what has been the practice prior to your arrival. If you had taken pains to follow in our footsteps, you would not have brought in all the abuses that I am having such trouble in rooting out.

Letter to Jean Baptiste Mille, 23 August 1836, EO VIII n 579

Two hundred years later the Mazenodian Family continues to have the responsibility of keeping focused on out foundational charism and the vision it gives us. Would Eugene recognize his spirit in our communities today?

Writing to Father Casimir Aubert, the novice master, Eugene reviews the progress of the novices and concludes with advice regarding one in particular, from which he draws an important lesson for all communities.

Try to bring your influence to bear on Gignoux to get him into the way of a sensible measure of regularity, the way to go about it is to set up some chats with him in which without any affectation you talk about what real perfection consists in.

Don’t neglect this kind of fraternal and trusting sharing with the others as well, it always has good results and ends up forming a family spirit even amongst those who were not drawn to it at the outset. I understand that it can be more agreeable to stay in one’s cell, but that kind of apostolate is more advantageous and more in line with my ideas. Goodbye, very dear son, with my love and blessing.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 13 June 1836, EO VIII n 577

Eugene’s role as Superior General was to keep those entrusted to his care focused on the spirit of their vocation in the light of the charism he had received. This involved encouraging those who were struggling to keep focussed.

In this letter he writes to Father Hippolyte Courtès, who was responsible for the community in Aix which was being ill-treated by the local bishop and the ecclesiastical authorities.

My dear Son, I was watching each post for one of your letters so as to write to you. I feel that in the position you find yourself, the least I can do is to offer you some consolation and encouragement if not by my presence at least by my words. Who would have said that after twenty-five years of hard work and devotion we would be reduced to the status of suppliants waiting on the grant of a favour or rather, asking just to be allowed to go on living? This violent situation cannot last for ever, but it means we must adopt the late Fr. Emery’s maxim: prepare for a long haul if you don’t want to go under, everyone has to move on eventually. This maxim that my former teacher constantly acted on is wise: somewhat opposed as it is to my temperament. I do urge you to adopt it, or rather, I congratulate you on following it.

Providence wishes our growth to take place in the midst of tribulations. Hardly do we begin to draw breath on one side than we are fired on from the other side. Let us bide our time…

It is time for the community to stand together in confident hope:

Don’t be anxious. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Contradictions must come. I am confident that they are heralds of some good news. But once again, call your little community together and ask them from me to redouble their prayers, to overcome evil by good, to rejoice to be humiliated a little, to renounce all arrogance, I don’t mean of a personal kind, as I’m sure that such a thing can’t be found amongst you, but as a group, choosing humility rather than glory when God wants to have us go that road. Make no mistake, any other course would be pure illusion.

Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 8 June 1836, EO VIII n 576

Those responsible for the various Oblate communities were very young and full of zeal and innovative ideas. Eugene corresponded regularly with each of them to encourage and guide them. He did, however, condemn any abuse of power when decisions were made without consultation.

It’s a peculiar thing; I am always amazed to see that as soon as one of our men is named superior in a particular community, he sets himself up as the sole master, he arranges everything, orders everything as he sees fit, without making the least effort to ask my advice or to consult the men the Rule appoints as his councillors. In this way our local superiors assert their independence far more than the Superior General who never acts without hearing the men around him.

In insisting on consultation with him, Eugene was not acting as a controlling busybody but as Superior General. The nuance is important because it is connected with the charism given to the Church by the Holy Spirit, of which the Superior General is the custodian. Hence all decisions regarding religious community life and mission had to be made in the light of the charism.

They don’t do this deliberately, rather they are letting themselves be influenced, imitating the fashion, I would nearly say, followed in other places, and that is how abuses set in. It’s about time to correct all this, and since this won’t come about of itself, as it ought. I am going to see to it myself.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 18 May 1836, EO VIII n 572

The Shrine of Our Lady of Laus was gearing up for the busy summer pilgrimage season during which the Oblates would be feverishly occupied with pastoral ministry to the pilgrims.

Now the feast of Pentecost is upon us, appeal to the whole community, in my name, to take twice as much care to see that the crowds of visitors don’t give rise to a kind of exterior dissipation which wouldn’t be edifying in men from whom one expects behaviour that is not only full of zeal but truly modest, grave and recollected as well.

Eugene reminds them of the principle that he was constantly insisting on in the lives of the Oblates: “be” in order to “do.”

The source of all activity, the goal of all ministry, and the strength to persevere came only from their community life as religious. “Regularity” – faithful observance of the Rule of Life – was the “be” of the Oblates from which the pilgrims would draw abundant graces.

Please, insist a lot on this subject. Let it be demonstrated that, when a religious has to devote himself to external ministry, the habitual regularity that he should have acquired in the bosom of the community is a source of abundant graces and help, so that he isn’t found wanting and doesn’t disappoint the faithful’s expectations: more is required of him than of others in the wholly supernatural action of his demanding work,

Letter to Jean Baptiste Mille, 18 May 1836, EO VIII n 571

“BE” in order to “DO” sums up the Gospel for all, not just the Oblates.

You are invited to take to join the practice of the US Mazenodian Family in a time of prayer on Sunday, October 20, 2019, which is World Mission Sunday.

Mission Sunday 1975 was the day when Pope Paul VI beatified Eugene de Mazenod, recognizing the workings of God in Eugene and in the charism and spirituality he left his religious missionary family.

With Saint Eugene who dedicated his life to bringing the salvation of Jesus Christ to all people, you are invited to set apart some time this day to enter into prayerful communion with the whole Mazenodian Family.

Here are some texts that you may find helpful.

Mark 6: 34 – 37

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.

Eugene, at the age of 26, responded to the invitation to feed the most abandoned with the Gospel:

As the Lord is my witness, what he wants of me is that I renounce a world where it is almost impossible to find salvation, such is the power of apostasy there; that I devote myself especially to his service and try to reawaken the faith that is becoming extinct among the poor; in a word, that I make myself available to carry out any orders he may wish to give me for his glory and the salvation of souls he has redeemed by his precious blood.

Pope Paul VI in his beatification homily (19 October 1975):

We will say first of all to the sons of Father de Mazenod, to the members of his family… be very proud, exult with joy ! He was passionate about Jesus Christ and an unconditional lover of the Church! In the aftermath of the French Revolution, Providence would make him a pioneer of pastoral renewal …

From 1841, the Oblates of Mary embarked on the five continents and went to the ends of inhabited lands. Our predecessor Pius XI would say of them: “The Oblates are the specialists of difficult missions!” And Father de Mazenod wanted them to be perfect religious! This Pastor and Founder, an authentic witness of the Holy Spirit sends to all the baptized, to all the apostles of today an imperative reminder: let yourself be invaded by the fire of Pentecost and you will know missionary enthusiasm!

I John 1: 1-2

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life— for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.

See also: oraison-for-october-2019-2

[For further reading, we highly recommend this reflection on the OMIWORLD website: https://www.omiworld.org/2019/09/29/a-missionary-oblate-man-of-action-and-contemplation/]

Father Casimir Aubert shared his spiritual progress with Eugene, his spiritual father, who responded:

The details you go into concerning your interior life could not but be most pleasing to me. I have sincerely thanked God for the happiness he is giving you, and I can only applaud the resolution you have taken.

However, the talents that one receives have to be shared with others. The Gospel is full of examples of this.

But since the aptitude you received for the sciences is a gift from God, I judge it important that you don’t neglect them. Yes to assigning them a subordinate role; no to ignoring them and leaving them in disuse. I urge you not to be selfish in enjoying all alone God’s communications. Be generous with your riches, share them with others. Draw them, impel them if necessary by the power given you by the light and grace you have received. I’m not asking this just for your handful of novices but for all those around you, especially those I’ve placed expressly under your direction. I knew you would be faithful and I was counting without hesitation on an overflowing abundance in which I wanted certain of our men to share.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 3 January 1836, EO VIII n 554

Whatever talents Casmir Aubert has, he must share with those entrusted to his care: “Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10,8)

Father Casimir Aubert was the novice master at the shrine of Notre Dame du Laus. Because he was young, Eugene kept a fatherly eye on him and on his ministry with the novices. Two of the men whose formation he had been responsible for had made their lifetime oblation a few days before.

My dear Son, the letter I’ve just received from you came as a great consolation. I was carried away in spirit to your shrine and thus I understood the full meaning of the inspiration that God’s Spirit bestowed on you on this occasion. It was right that you should be the one to offer to the Lord the men you had taken such pains to prepare for him. Praise the Lord for the confidence that their good dispositions give you.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 3 January 1836, EO VIII n 554

After his years of being unable to work in the Diocese of Marseilles, due to his conflict with the government, Eugene is now back in the full swing of activity:

My dear child, for heaven’s sake, don’t ever reproach me for my letter’s delay and for being behind with my correspondence; it can’t be avoided. My life is a continuous purgatory. I don’t have time to breathe. I recently wrote a letter to l’Osier after six attempts and that was on my desk for a fortnight.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 16 December 1835, EOVIII  n 552

Yvon Beaudoin explains the activity: “Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod was ill in November. Bishop Eugene de Mazenod had “to do the pastoral visitations in the principal towns of the cantons within the diocese, three ordinations, a host of ceremonies, not to mention attendance at Council meetings and involvement in the ordinary administration of religious affairs.” (REY, I. 672). The Bishop of Icosia was also getting ready to leave for Paris to take the oath. A letter from Paris had informed him that the Council of State was at last giving its approval to the proposed ordinance which would declare that the brief nominating him to the Bishopric of Icosia had been received officially in the Kingdom.”