Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Knowing the zeal and generosity of the first group of Oblate missionaries in Canada, Eugene encouraged them to maintain a balance.

Do not let yourselves be overwhelmed by the work which will soon surpass your strength. One must never want to do more than God permits. Plan all things wisely. Above all, always reserve time for study and for your personal sanctification in the interior of your house. That is indispensable.

Letter to Fr. Jean Baptiste Honorat, 26 March 1842, EO I n 10

Each one has to “BE” a person of God who prays and deepens their knowledge and relationship with God. That is indispensable for the success of the ministry, the “DO” of mission.

An invitation to pause in our frenetic world of multi-tasking to examine our own equilibrium

I hope, I am even confident that not one of our men is blind to the importance and grandeur of your mission. The future of the Congregation in the New World is in your hands.

Writing to Father Honorat, superior of the first community of Oblate missionaries outside of France, Eugene reminds them of the importance of their mission. If their ministry is successful in Canada, then their future is assured. If the first community turns out to be a failure, that would destroy all future missionary endeavours.  The eyes of the Canadian Church were focused on this community.

The secret to success was to be found in their spiritual and community life – in the way in which they lived their spirit of oblation.

Be what you should be, that is,

truly good religious,

disciplined in your whole behaviour,

perfectly united,

of one heart and mind,

moved by the same spirit under that ordered regularity which marks you in the eyes of all as men living up to the demands of their Rule, in obedience and charity, devoted to all works of zeal conformed to such obedience and not otherwise, never seeking their own interest but only what pertains to the glory of God and the service of the Church.

Letter to Fr. Jean Baptiste Honorat, 26 March 1842, EO I n 10

“Be what you should be” as members of the Mazenodian Family, living the spirit of oblation of Jesus the Savior in the everyday demands of our state of life. We are all disciples through our baptism – let us help each other to “be what you should be”

Eugene was in a reminiscing mood on the day of this diary entry.  For some reason he decided to make a list of all his anniversaries. As we read it, perhaps it could inspire each of us to do the same – and to celebrate with a prayer of gratitude for each of our milestones.

 Memorable days for me, whose anniversary I need to celebrate:

August 1, 1782, my birth;

August 2, 1782, my baptism.

I made my First Communion on Holy Thursday and I was confirmed by Cardinal Costa, Archbishop of Turin on the feast day of the Holy Trinity, but I am not sure whether this was in the year 1792 or even in 1793.

In the first supposition, Holy Thursday would correspond to April 5 and the Holy Trinity to June 3; in the second, this would be March 28 and May 26.

On November 4, 1808, I took the soutane,

on December 27, 1808, I was tonsured by Bishop Andre, former bishop of Quimper.

On May 27, 1809, I received minor orders from His Excellency Cardinal Fesch;

on December 23, 1809, I was made sub-deacon by Bishop André, former bishop of Quimper;

on June 16, 1810, I was made deacon by Cardinal Fesch;

on December 21, 1811, I was made priest in Amiens by Bishop Demandoix of Amiens. Cardinal Mattei, who should have ordained me, was in exile, and I not having wanted to receive the priesthood from the hands of Cardinal Maury, at the time administrator of the diocese of Paris. [ed. Jean Siffrein Maury (1746-1817), appointed by Pius VI bishop of Montefiascone and cardinal in 1799. Appointed archbishop of Paris by Napoléon in 1810; Pope Pius VII, in exile in France, refused to confirm the nomination.]

On November 1, 1818, I made my oblation in the congregation,

and, on October 14, 1832, I received episcopal consecration from the hands of His Eminence Cardinal Odescalchi  and from the archbishops of Chalcédoine and of Ravenna, thereafter Cardinals Frezza and Falconieri. 

I was transferred to the see of Marseille on October 2, 1837.

He concludes with a certain subtle sense of humor:

Yet to be known is the day of my death, the anniversary of which others will have to celebrate and for which I invoke in advance the mercy of God.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 March 1842, EO XXI

Let us also celebrate our milestones.

Eugene’s diary reveals his suffering with Jesus on the Cross.

March 25: Good Friday. For a long time, the desperate illness of my beloved Louis has nailed me to the cross, today I had to expire there with the Lamb of God who was sacrificed there for us. While I had left for a moment in order to go to administer the sacrament of confirmation to a dying person, Mister de Boisgelin entered the bishopric; his presence sufficed for me to learn the heartbreaking news, which we were expecting only too much. He was with his son yesterday when [the latter] rendered his beautiful soul to his creator. It was at the very hour when I was here, at the altar, offering the Holy Sacrifice for him, alas! not any more for the healing of his body, but for the greatest sanctification of his soul.

In this way, there is in heaven he who had been our consolation on earth. So many talents, so many virtues, such a good personality have been lost to us. One of the most beautiful jewels of our crown is fallen, a portion of our being has disappeared; for do we not live in the recipients of our tenderness?

Truce, my poor heart, with every whispered thought: God alone is the master of his creatures; he disposes of them according to his very just, very holy and adorable will. Ah! yes, may his holy will be done, were it even to cost our life.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 25 March 1842, EO XXI

Eugene describes his last visit to his dying nephew.

Not being able to prolong my stay in Avignon, I had to part from Louis, my heart distressed and without hope of seeing him return to health. This blessed infant wanted to converse a few moments in particular with me…

May the Lord deign to accept, in expiation for my sins, all the cruel pains which I endure on the occasion of all these worthy recipients of my tenderness. Who could tell what I was suffering in this discussion during which this blessed child maintained an angelic calm and serenity which did not leave him. As for myself, “I die each day “[ed. 1 Cor. 15: 31].; in all the power of these words, this is the exact truth.

I embraced him, perhaps for the last time; I blessed him and, doing an extreme violence to myself, I tore myself away from him, in all likelihood to never see him again. My sister did as much and with the same strength of spirit, concentrating in her heart all her grief so as to spare the sensitivity of her son, who, on his part, controlled his emotions, interiorly offered his sacrifice to God, just as we ourselves did, and did not manifest exteriorly anything of what was happening in his soul. Oh! Calvary of my God! Oh! Virgin Mary! And in three days Jesus Christ had to come back to life. Our grief must last as long as our pitiful life! “May your will be done!”

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 8 February 1842, EO XXI

For the text:  https://sites.google.com/view/mazenodianfamily/monthly-oraison/march-21-2021

Louis de Boisgelin, son of Eugene’s sister had been training to become a Jesuit for four years. In 1841, at the age of 26, he became seriously ill. When Eugene learnt about this, he wrote in his diary:

I resign myself to and embrace the plans of God, who calls to himself a young soul ready for heaven

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 21 November 1841, EO XX

Three months later, Eugene travelled to the Jesuit community to bid farewell to his nephew.

Stopovers in Avignon at the bedside of my holy nephew. The sacraments had been administered to him when I arrived, and the peace in his soul certainly had not been changed by the announcement of his approaching end. His gentleness, his resignation, the perfect calm which he maintained in the midst of his suffering, called forth the admiration of the entire community and of the physicians who were caring for him with a fervor worthy of their piety.

I judged that his state would permit his mother to arrive on time to see him again one last time. This is a consolation for which I would have blamed myself for not having fulfilled for this good mother, so strong, so miserable, so resigned. Her presence made it possible; the Fathers did not stint themselves.

Every day I celebrated Holy Mass in the bedroom of my nephew, for whom this brought a great happiness in his deplorable condition. Poor, dear child! He was aware of the entire peril, and, far from complaining, he thanks the good Lord and accepts his suffering with the most perfect resignation.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 8 February 1842, EO XXI

Dealing with some of the Oblates as their superior, was sometimes tricky for Eugene de Mazenod, especially if the person was difficult and sensitive. He confides in his diary:

Who could foretell the sensitivities of this Father?  He complains practically always that people lack esteem for him.

As for myself, I protest that, far from not attaching any importance to him, I have always loved him very much and very often have used too much tact to avoid displeasing him. With all due respect for his talents, my paternal heart would have liked something else to complete his good qualities;

Being forthright in expressing himself, Eugene had obviously hurt the man in trying to help him:

 whatever would have been my discretion in this matter, I have alienated his heart.

It was not a new experience for Eugene, nor for anyone in leadership, to suffer alienation as a result of something that has to be said or corrected. Painfully aware of this, Eugene always looked to the Crucified Savior and offered it to him.

I offer this pain to the Lord with many others of this type…

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 19 January 1842, EO XXI

It is difficult, and often painful, to journey with others who need to modify their behavior or attitude – St Eugene teaches us to do so in the presence of the Cross, especially in the face of hurt and rejection.

The father of the missionary family’s deepest wish was that the members would live in a spirit of unity. We recall our Founder’s dying words: “Among yourselves, charity, charity, charity” as we read about his delight at the spirit of the Oblate community in Vico, Corsica:

Live happily, my dear children, in your precious community. You would not imagine the happiness I experience when I hear about the unity and cordiality that exists among you. Ah! how I am in spirit in the midst of this dear portion of the family! You are my consolation and my joy. May the Lord fill you with his blessings. I press all of you to my heart.

Letter to Fr. Etienne Semeria, 27 December 1841, EO IX n 755