Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.

(Is. 49:15)

The Church, that glorious inheritance purchased by Christ the Saviour at the cost of his own blood, has in our days been cruelly ravaged. The beloved spouse of God’s only begotten Son is torn with anguish as she mourns the shameful defection of the children she herself bore.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Preface to the Rule 

REFLECTION

God, our Father, through the life, death and resurrection of Christ your Son, you bring together in your Spirit, from all nations, a people to be your own.

Keep the Church faithful to its mission: may it be a leaven in the world, renewing us in Christ and transforming us into your family. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Roman Missal)

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.”
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. (Jn 5:16)

There is within you an immortal soul made in the image of God whom it is destined to possess one day, a soul ransomed at the price of the blood of Jesus Christ, more precious in the eyes of God than all earth’s riches, than all the kingdoms of the earth, a soul of which he is more jealous than of the government of the entire universe.

Christians, know then your dignity, with St. Leo I will call you sharers in the divine nature…

Notes for the first instruction in the Church of the Madeleine EO. XV n. 114

 REFLECTION

Lord, I ask you to touch me
with your power.

For if you created me from nothing,
you can certainly recreate me.

Fill me with the healing power of your spirit.

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”    (Mt. 1:24)

Among all the Saints which the novices are especially to honor, Saint Joseph will hold the first place, as much because of his singular privilege in being associated with the mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ as because he is the patron of recollected souls who live a hidden life… They will often pray to him… and join his name almost always with those of Jesus and Mary.

(1896 Directory for those in first OMI formation)

REFLECTION

O glorious Saint Joseph, remind all who work that they are not alone in their labor, their joy or their sufferings, because Jesus is by their side, with Mary, his Mother and ours, supporting them, wiping the sweat from their brow, and setting a value on their toil. Teach them to use their labor, as you did, as a supreme means of attaining holiness. Amen.

“We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”   (Jn. 9:4-5)

I lie low, I need to think, to have light, I ask God to grant me enlightenment, my need all the greater in that people’s plans seemingly pit themselves against the inspirations of the Holy Spirit…

Letter to Henri Tempier, 31 August 1833, EO VIII n 459

REFLECTION

Give us faith to say with the psalmist, “Lord, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.” May your light of hope shine in the darkness for families today. Show us glimpses of your presence with us and the comfort you bring.

In the busyness of today, help us to take a moment to be still and sit with you. To slow down, breathe deeply, and release our burdens to your strong hand. You are trustworthy, good, and true, and we thank you for caring for us so deeply and beautifully. Open our eyes to see you at work today. Give us your light.

In Jesus name, Amen.

(https://hellohope.com)

“For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice…” (Hos. 6:6)

“There is a secret to be loved, it is to love. Also, for the Basotho, the Matebele, even the unbelievers, in seeing them we can ask ourselves what to do to convert them? The answer is on every page of the Gospel: we must love them, love them in spite of everything, love them always. The good God has wanted that we do good to a person in loving that person. The world belongs to the person who loves it most and proves it.”

 Blessed Joseph Gerard OMI  (see https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=3699)

 REFLECTION

Lord, like St. Teresa of Calcutta says, may I be “a little pencil in the hand of a writing God Who is sending a love letter to the world.”

Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mk. 12:29-31)

You, you alone will be the sole object to which will tend all my affections and my every action. To please you, act for your glory, will be my daily task, the task of every moment of my life. I wish to live only for you, I wish to love you alone and all else in you and through you. I despise riches, I trample honours under foot; you are my all, replacing all else. My God, my love and my all: Deus meus et omnia.

Notes made during the retreat in preparation for priestly ordination, December 1-21, E.O. XIV n.95

REFLECTION

God of Goodness, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me.

I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me.

If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there.

Teach me today to love you more.

Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child.

– Author Unknown

https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/gods-love

“Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.” (Jer. 7:23)

The Word of God nourishes our spiritual life and apostolate. We will not only study it diligently but also develop a listening heart, so that we may come to a deeper knowledge of the Savior whom we love and wish to reveal to the world. This immersion in God’s Word will enable us to understand better the events of history in the light of faith.

(OMI Constitutions and Rules, C.33)

REFLECTION

I keep my steps from every evil path, that I may observe your word. From your judgments I do not turn, for you have instructed me.
How sweet to my tongue is your promise, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I gain understanding; therefore I hate all false ways.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.

Psalm 119:101-105

“But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”    (Lk. 5:19)

All should be persuaded that it is easier to achieve this end by example than by words. Hence, we must convince ourselves that it is indispensable that we should practice all the virtues, and not be unacquainted with any of them.

Eugene de Mazenod’s 1818 Rule, Part 1, Chapter 3, §1 Preaching

REFLECTION

Grant us patience, O Lord, to follow the road you have taken.
Let our confidence not rest in our own understanding but in your guiding hand;
let our desires not be for our own comfort,
but for the joy of your kingdom;
for your cross is our hope and our joy now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.

https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/prayers_and_thanksgivings

Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders…(Dn 3:42-43)

But no, you are my Father, it is you who since the most fragile days of my infancy have led me as if by the hand. Everything you have done for me in the course of my life is too present to my memory, I feel again still today too vividly the effects not to count on your infinite goodness, not to throw myself with total abandon into your paternal bosom, fully resolved to do this time and always everything you demand of me, were it to cost me my life. 

Eugene de Mazenod’s Retreat journal before being consecrated bishop, 7-14 October 1832, EO XV n 166

REFLECTION

Lord Jesus,
You opened the eyes of the blind,
healed the sick,
forgave the sinful woman,
and after Peter’s denial confirmed him in your love.

Listen to my prayer:
forgive all my sins,
renew your love in my heart,
help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians
that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world.

www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/forgiveness-prayers 

“No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” (Lk. 4: 24)

We are the ministers of his mercy, and so let us always have the tenderness of a father towards all; let us easily forget the insults that are sometimes committed against us in the exercise of our ministry as the good Lord wishes to forget the offences continually being committed against him. The father of the prodigal son was not content with putting the best robe on him and having a ring put on his finger, he had the fatted calf killed as well.

Letter to Bruno Guigues, 20 February 1837, EO IX n 605

REFLECTION

Lord, make me a channel of Your peace,
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may Lord, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to Eternal Life.

(Prayer of St. Francis)