A month after the installation of the new Archbishop of Aix, in 1819, Eugene wrote to him. He gave him an introduction to the history of the foundation of the Missionaries, stressing that their reason for existence was the evangelization of the poor.<\/p>\n
In all families, we like to recall our important moments, and there is a certain grace and freshness that we re-live with every recounting. This is OUR Oblate story too and it reminds us of the reason for our existence: to respond to \u201cthe extreme needs of a diocese destitute of priests and full of illiterate poor people who cannot be helped except by missionaries from their own people, who speak the same language.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nYour Grace,<\/strong><\/h5>\n
During the course of the year 1815, Fathers de Janson and Rauzan <\/strong>[ed. the founders of the Missionaries of France] got together to respond to the Holy Father\u2019s views: the Pope wanted missions to be given in France. These gentlemen, counting on my good will, requested me to join them in that holy work. Their insistence was so pressing and the reasons they presented so conclusive that I could not but go along with their idea…<\/strong><\/h5>\n
I was in that state of perplexity when the Lord inspired me with the plan of establishing a society of missionaries at Aix who, as a priority, would undertake to evangelize the poor country people, even in the smallest Provencal hamlets. I shared my idea with the Vicars General who approved it; and immediately I started to put the plan in motion by setting down the foundation of this little society which has worked incessantly for five years for the conversion of souls with a success that is due to God alone and can be regarded as miraculous.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
From that time on I could reply to the Fathers de Janson and Rauzan that it was impossible for me to accede to their invitation because the needs of my own diocese were claiming my services. With some zealous companions I was going to start immediately that same ministry to which they had wanted to recruit me, ministry among the poor abandoned souls all around us. These gentlemen made another attempt, for they thought that I could be of some use to their society. They have never given up asking me to join them, always presenting very good reasons.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
These reasons do not answer my main argument which is based on the extreme needs of a diocese destitute of priests and full of illiterate poor people who cannot be helped except by missionaries from their own people, who speak the same language and, if need be, are ready to return to them more than once a year to solidify the work of their conversion. So, I persisted in my first plan.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
I cannot congratulate myself enough on the interest and confidence that I was shown by the Vicars General on the occasion of this establishment. They took this work under their protection and they continually defended it as enlightened administrators against all the efforts that Satan did not fail to apply and destroy it. I made it a point of principle to submit to these gentlemen that plan that I had conceived in order to render the service of the missionaries more useful to the diocese. They approved it and it was immediately put into action.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Archbishop de Bausset of Aix, 16 December 1819, O.W. XIII n.27<\/em><\/p>\n
On his deathbed Eugene still recalled this event with joy:<\/p>\n
\nBe sure to tell them that I die happy\u2026 that I die happy that God was so good as to choose me to found the Congregation of the Oblates in the Church.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Joseph Fabre OMI, Circular Letter to the Congregation 26 May 1861<\/em><\/p>\n
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Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>William Throsby Bridges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A month after the installation of the new Archbishop of Aix, in 1819, Eugene wrote to him. He gave him an introduction to the history of the foundation of the Missionaries, stressing that their reason for existence was the evangelization … Continue reading