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.
The agreement made with the Bishop of Algiers was that the Oblates would live in community, minister to the abandoned Christian population and evangelize the Arab population. The Bishop, however, had gone against this agreement and did not want the chapel nor the missionary outreach to the Arab population. When Eugene wrote to him to remind him about this, the Bishop was angry.
Eugene recalled:
There is good reason to feel grieved when one sees a Bishop forget himself to that extent. I assure you that I am less hurt by the outrageous remarks he allowed himself to make against me than I am to see a man invested with this sacred ministry degrade himself to this degree. In the letter which angered him so much, I reminded him – it is true – of his own writings which constitute a veritable treatise, but I did it with the utmost politeness.
Letter to Fr. Jean Viala in Blida, Algeria, 5 April 1849, EO IV (Africa) n. 8
In his diary, Eugene noted:
Fr. Viala has not told me all the nasty things that this poor bishop has said about me whose only fault has been to have reminded him of his commitments and to have been much too polite in the few letters I have written to him. But it is good to be humiliated, even though it happens as a result of such outrages.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 2 April 1849, EO XXII
REFLECTION
The only reason for Eugene’s putting up with this situation was his missionary focus:
“Besides, I console myself with the thought that I have incurred these insults by having wished to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ in a country to which many priests go only to acquire money.” (Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 2 April 1849, EO XXII)
The Bishop of Algiers did not understand the particular charismatic mission of the Oblates. Worried about the situation in which the Oblates found themselves, Eugene encouraged them again a few days later.
Keep me in touch with everything, calmly and without getting worried or discouraged. We shall see how the Bishop will reply to my letter. On your side, act with a good deal of moderation and respect towards the Bishop, while still trying to make him understand that it is absolutely essential for your chapel to be open to the public, in order for you to exercise your ministry which is to preach, to instruct and to confess.
… God’s work must always face difficulties. It is true, though, that this ought not to come from the sort of opposition we are faced with today. Tell me about everything and everyone.
Letter to Fr Jean Viala in Algeria, 9 March 1849, EO IV(Africa) n 7
REFLECTION
The mission of our Oblate Charismatic Family must always be focused on proclaiming and witnessing to who is Jesus Christ is to the most abandoned. We need courage to act “out of the box” if necessary.
“If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.” Thomas Aquinas
Eugene was informed that he had been unjustly criticized by the Bishop of Algiers and this is how he responded:
As for the personal offences which you told me of, five minutes of prayer at the foot of my crucifix are enough to make me forget them and I do not even need that much time to forgive them.
Letter to Fr Jean Viala in Algeria, 5 March 1849, EO IV (Africa) n 6
REFLECTION
When we have been hurt or offended, and are tempted to allow the wound to fester constantly in our memory, what would five minutes at the foot of the crucifix do for us?
By early March the Oblates had arrived in Algeria. The agreement with the Bishop was that they live in community with the responsibility of caring for the parish in Blida as their base for missionary outreach and to care for the religious services for the hospital. The Bishop, however, did not respect this agreement and they had to take up residence at the town gate and were to look after seven scattered villages which had no churches. They set up a chapel for their services which was open to the public. This chapel ministry drew the hostility of the local parish priest.
The Missionaries were angry with the Bishop, but Eugene encouraged them:
One must never forget the deference due to a Bishop even when one has a complaint about him.
I am finishing in haste, in case I miss the post. Farewell, then, my dear Father, do not let yourself be bowed down by any contradiction, do not precipitate matters through an only too justified feeling of anger brought about by the injustices you are suffering. You know the advice the Apostle gives us on this subject, he who suffered so much from all sides and in all ways. Let us always have only God in our sight, and he will come to our help. Is it not already a fine compensation that you have been able to do good work at Boufarik and in the villages of our colonists!
Farewell, farewell, I send you all my most affectionate greetings.
Letter to Fr Jean Viala in Algeria, 5 March 1849, EO IV n 6
REFLECTION
When things go wrong for us and our expectations are not met, Eugene’s advice is salutary: focus on God with confidence and rely on God’s help.
The Superior of the new mission to Algeria was Fr Viala, and he was busy preaching a successful mission in France just weeks before his departure. Eugene wrote to him:
I can understand that you have extended your mission by one week since your audience has been so attentive and enthusiastic but, you know, the Africans are waiting for you. You are already announced in the newspapers. The Paris ones have announced that your arrival in Blida will be very soon. Fr. Pulicani’s beard is growing splendidly; he is already so finely adorned as to create envy. Your chapel will be a jewel, and there will even be stained glass. A fine carpet has been bought and a credence-table and we are trying here to get together a small cargo for you. Fr. Bellanger has taken a very lovely missal from me.
Letter to Fr. Jean Viala, 17 January 1849, EO IV n4
In February of 1849, Fathers Dominique Pulcani and J. B. Bellanger, under the leadership of Father Jean Viala went to Algeria. Father J. B. Sabon and Brother Augustin Chalvesche soon joined them.
REFLECTION
We pick up the Founder’s enthusiasm for the first Oblate mission in Africa in all the small details he describes.
I am amused by his fascination with Fr Pulicani’s beard! It seemed to have been a distinctive sign of the French missionaries to foreign countries. I remember the long beards of the old French missionaries in South Africa when I was a youngster. To us they signified the credentials of men who had given their life to God so as to minister to us.
In 1848 Eugene made an agreement with Bishop Pavy of Algiers to establish a community Oblates in Algeria. Father Tempier had gone to Algiers to meet the bishop and to negotiate the terms of the Oblate mission with him. Eugene then wrote to the Bishop of Algiers about the Oblates:
I hope the day will come when you will be able to use them for the conversion of the Arabs. I have never thought that the conversion of these poor Moslems was any more difficult than that of the Chinese. It will be up to you to give the signal when the time comes. It would be better to allow our missionaries to work at their modest ministry, in conformity with their Rule, which lays down that they should work for the salvation of the most abandoned souls, rather than give them a cathedral pulpit from which to preach a Lenten series of sermons.
Letter to Bishop Pavy of Algiers, 5 January 1849, EO IV n 3
REFLECTION
Who were the poor and most abandoned for Eugene? He repeats it clearly in this letter: those who are most in need of the Gospel of salvation. In the words of the Preface: to teach people who Jesus Christ is.
Who are the poor for the Oblate Charismatic Family today? In the words of the Oblate Rule: “Wherever we work, our mission is especially to those people whose condition cries out for salvation and for the hope which only Jesus Christ can fully bring. These are the poor with their many faces; we give them our preference.” (Constitution 5)
Eugene’s instruction to every missionary:
Insist on making Jesus Christ known and loved. Speak often of this divine saviour and of all he has done to save mankind. Make them resolve never to spend a day without praying.
Letter to Fr. Jean Viala, 17 January 1849, EO IV n4
REFLECTION
From the very beginning of our missionary history, our goal has been: “teach who Jesus Christ is” (Preface). Today the same sentiment continues to be expressed in this way:
We will spare no effort to awaken or to reawaken the faith in the people to whom we are sent, and we will help them to discover “who Christ is”. (Constitution 7)
May this be our guiding light today in all our actions.
Father Jean Viala had been part of the community preaching a parish mission in Greasque, France. Eugene was overjoyed by the news he was receiving of its success. One of the tangible signs of the success of any mission was measured by the numbers of people who came to confession.
I congratulate you for the good which, by the grace of God, you have already achieved and for that which you still have to do. I recommend that you insist a good deal on the instruction and on the state of mind necessary for the sacrament of Penance. This is the really important point. If one simply goes through the motions of confession without being penetrated by the feelings of contrition which must be present if the salutary effect of absolution is to be obtained, one has done nothing.
This is always my fear when I hear our missionaries say that they have confessed a phenomenal number of penitents. I have never managed, by a long way, to achieve the numbers quoted by our Fathers. Regret and firm purpose of amendment.
Letter to Fr. Jean Viala, 17 January 1849, EO IV n4
REFLECTION
The Oblate Missionaries laid much importance to the ministry of reconciliation as the first Oblate Rule of 1818 stated:
“The work begun in the pulpit has to be completed in the tribunal of penance. If grace has touched a soul by the strength of the Word of God, ordinarily it is in the tribunal of penance that grace moulds and justifies it.
Preaching, indeed, has no other end than to lead sinners to the pool of salvation…
It is beyond all doubt that the hearing of confessions is to be preferred to preaching, when there is room for choice, because the private direction and admonition given in the tribunal of penance may in a measure supply the place of instruction and preaching, whereas preaching can never take the place of the sacrament of penance, which was instituted by Christ our Lord for restoring men to the friendship of God.” (1818 Rule, Chapter 3, §2)
