Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Oh no! my dear friend, you could not make your letters long enough nor enter into too many details on the subject of your painfully difficult mission. You cannot imagine the anxiety which I feel about you all. Not to receive news from you for eight months is truly a torment for my heart.

To know you are deprived of so many things and badly appreciated by those who should kiss your footsteps is something beyond my endurance. It is a grief only softened by the knowledge you give me of your acceptance and the conviction of the merit that you will derive from it in God’s eyes.

Letter to Fr. Pascal Ricard in Oregon, 10 February 1849, EO I n 110

REFLECTION

“Hardships can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom.” (Rumi)

Give me plenty of details about your missions, the places and the persons. I do not know your situation at Saint Boniface. Take time to trace the history of this mission in the moments that you are free.

Letter to Fr. Pierre Aubert in St Boniface, Canada, 4 March 1849, EO I n 111

REFLECTION

Thousands of miles away, Eugene longed to hear from his Oblate sons who were participating in the mission of his God-given charism. He knew that they lived in extremely difficult circumstances and wanted to know about their sorrows and their joys. It was these that he carried to prayer in his daily oraison communion with his Oblate family before the Blessed Sacrament.

This is what prayer is: chatting to God about the details of our day and inviting God to make us conscious of the divine presence in all our activities.

The Founder longed to receive letters from the Oblates around the world narrating their missionary experiences.

Yet what a lot of things you could tell me about the neighbourhood of St. Pierre and the ministry which you exercise amongst these people who need you so much! But you persist in writing me very infrequently and even then you take the precaution of choosing a small format which contains very few lines and so you always leave me hungering for more.

While asking them to write at length he explained that he could not write long letters because he was pulled in all directions in his diocese and in the government of the Oblates, who were now in four continents.

Do not follow my example. I am the man who acts least of all according to his own will. I am everybody’s servant and my masters abuse their position to the extent of leaving me no time to do anything. So when I would want to write you at length, I am prevented from doing so by force majeure. Besides, I have to write to so many people! My duty-bound correspondence extends as you know to the four quarters of the world. Be a little more generous then to your old father; be mindful of his goodwill and do not expect him to match line for line whatever you write to him.

Letter to Father Leonard Bavette in Montreal, 16 April 1849, EO I n 116

REFLECTION

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” (John Quincy Adams)

This was exactly the role of Eugene’s correspondence and dealings with his Oblate Family.

The Oblates in Canada lived far away from the Founder, in Marseilles. The Canadian Oblate superior was Bishop Guigues who was very occupied in the process of establishing a new diocese. The missionaries were scattered in many distant places with poor means of communication, and were making decisions to suit their ministry.

Our Fathers have fallen into the habit of arguing over obedience and of permitting themselves to weigh human worth according to a standard other than what is just. Hence these senseless apathies and bad feelings in a group wherein should reign only peace, simplicity, religious respect, mutual support, in a word, all the virtues they have vowed to practise.

Now that, my dear Father, you are at the head of a little community, insist severely on the correction of this detestable habit. I recommend also that you see that the Rule is observed in all respects. From the moment you are superior, the responsibility rests on you.

Letter to Fr. Leonard Bavette in Montreal, 11 January 1849, EO I n 107

REFLECTION

Eugene received the charism of founding a religious Congregation that had a particular spirit of lifestyle and mission. The Rule contained the main elements of how to maintain and live by this God-given spirit. The aim of the Oblate vow of obedience is to enable us to live according to this evangelical spirit.

All of us in the Oblate Charismatic Family are called to listen to the voice of God as it is heard in many different ways each day.

Father Leonard Bavette, had conducted a successful visit in France to promote Oblate vocations (see: https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=5497 and related entries) and Eugene knew him well. In his return to Canada he had been appointed to establish the first Oblate community in Montreal and the Parish of St Pierre. In his Diary, Eugene noted:

Letter from Fr. Leonard. He has settled down in Montreal with Fr. Bernard. They live poorly and are happy to do so. Their chapel is a wooden structure.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 January 1849, EO XXII.

In a letter to him, Eugene wrote:

I congratulate you on being chosen as the first to establish our Congregation in Montreal. God will bless the beginnings all the more because they are somewhat marked by certain privations which, as you tell me, make you feel the value of holy poverty. This is the way we began when we laid the first foundations of the Society.

Letter to Fr. Leonard Bavette in Montreal, 11 January 1849, EO I n 107

REFLECTION

Voluntary poverty, as a religious choice, is a way of becoming one with those whose circumstances have immersed them in poverty. Mazenodian poverty aims at focusing on what is really important in our lives.

“Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.” (Isaac Newton)

It is quite a long time since anyone in Canada has sent me an account of the personnel. It has reached the point where I could forget their names were the memory of each of my children not engraved in my heart. I love them as they are, alas! though they be imperfect and not always grateful.

Letter to Bishop Bruno Guigues in Ottawa, 25 January 1849, EO I n 108

REFLECTION

Eugene’s southern Mediterranean emotive personality always expressed itself in terms of paternal love for each of his Oblate sons.

Today I believe that, in the communion of saints, the names of each religious and lay member of his Charismatic Family is engraved in his heart and he continually cares for us.

St Eugene, pray for us.

Father Viala’s health could not withstand the difficult relationship he had with the Bishop of Algiers and he was recalled to France. In November two more Oblates were sent to Algeria. Despite the difficulties, the evangelization of the Arabs always remained close to Eugene’s heart and he did not abandon the project. Along with two newly-ordained Oblates he sent Fr. Tempier to make new arrangements with the Bishop.

Apart from the external relations with the Bishop of Algiers, Fr Tempier had an urgent issue to resolve within the Oblate community.

Fr, Tempier has returned from his travels to Algiers. Never has a journey been more necessary. He arrived in time to unmask Fr. Bellanger who unworthily betrayed the Congregation by calumniating the intentions of his superiors to the bishop… There are always new trials. Judas must always get himself mixed up in the matter to spoil it.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 23 December 1849, EO XXII

Yvon Beaudoin narrates: “on February 4, 1850, Father Bellanger was expelled from the Congregation for serious reasons described that day in the General Council’s report and in a long letter of the Founder to Bishop L. A. Pavy, Bishop of Algeria. Father Bellanger had broadcast far and wide the false claims that he came from a rich and noble family. He spent a lot of money and contracted large debts, had falsely advised Father Viala that the bishop no longer wanted him in Algeria, etc. In an old register of the personnel, we read after his name: “This priest’s life was nothing other than a hoax from beginning to end. Nevertheless, he succeeded in winning our full confidence. But once he was sent to Algeria, he was unmasked and was dishonourably discharged.” (https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/bellanger-jean-baptiste/)

The Bishop of Algiers, who gave the Oblates no encouragement, had accompanied Fr. Jean Baptiste Bellanger to one of the places of mission.

I am delighted that you accompanied Bishop Pavy to Philippeville; by seeing you at close quarters he will understand still more readily that our missionaries are priests who are most devoted to the bishops and that their whole ambition lies in taking on their own shoulders some of the burden that lies so heavily on those of the Prelates… I am most anxious that the Bishop be fully aware of this since it is a basic principle of the Congregation… All I ask is that the bishops facilitate the means of maintaining among our members who are consecrated to their service, the spirit of their holy vocation, regularity and religious discipline.

Letter to Fr. Jean Baptiste Bellanger at Blida, Algeria, 10 November 1849, EO IV (Africa) n.10.

REFLECTION

“The charism of Saint Eugene de Mazenod is a gift of the Spirit to the Church, and it radiates throughout the world.” (OMI Constitutions and Rules, R 37a)

Poor Father Viala had become totally discouraged by the hostile and negative situation in Algeria and had wanted the mission to be abandoned.

Viala has been ill over this. If I had listened to him, he would have returned with his companions. That is what I would have done about him, had I acted humanely but the crucifix inspires other sentiments and, without bitterness or resentment, I wrote to Father Viala to endure with me patiently this humiliation and comply with the whims of the Prelate, since it was a matter of the glory of God and of the good that we were called upon to do for souls.

There were encouraging signs of missionary successes despite this.

 In fact, Fr. Bellanger preached with success at Blida itself, in the church of the priest who was the author of their disappointment. He did much good as well in the new villages founded by the colonists and Fr. Viala recently worked wonders at Boufarik where he preached a retreat which drew the whole population. He wrote to me that he spent a whole Saturday giving absolution and performing marriages.

However, His Lordship told him to his face that he was incapable of doing anything. This success gives me pleasure for several reasons. It served to restore the morale of this poor Viala who was really dejected by the scene which the Bishop made in front of him, face to face. Such is the recompense one must expect from time to time to test our fidelity.

Letter to Fr. Casimir Aubert, Visitator in England, 9 August 1849, EO III n 32

REFLECTION

“The best cure for discouragement or qualms is another daring plunge of faith.” (C.T. Studd)

Despite the lack of cooperation and hostility by the Bishop of Algiers, it was the salvation of souls that was paramount in the mind of Eugene, and for this reason he advised the Oblates to remain.

Now what must we do? If such important interests were not at stake, so that the salvation of souls was put at risk, my mind would be soon made up. But the consequences of a decision which would involve the abandonment of all the hopes we have entertained for the conversion of the unbelievers and the good direction of a group of Christians who have been much neglected, do deserve reflection.

Therefore I shall make no decision while I am still influenced by the injustices and outrages which you have to suffer…

Be patient still and keep your thoughts on things of heaven; for the moment, accept what you are being offered since it is being made the condition for your continued presence in a mission which holds out such a fine future… Do not allow yourself to be cast down, my dear Fr. Viala, by such strange and unexpected action. The God whom you serve will be your consolation and reward.

Letter to Fr. Jean Viala in Blida, Algeria, 5 April 1849, EO IV (Africa) n. 8

REFLECTION

Difficulties discourage us, but if we keep the bigger picture in mind, we will have the courage to persevere. If we do the work of God, we must not expect gratitude from other persons but only from God.