While living in Aix en Provence and ministering in groups in the area it was easy to live in community and benefit from this. Now things were to change with Eugene\u2019s new ministry at the side of his uncle, the Bishop of Marseille. Living physically in Oblate community was not always possible \u2013 and this was to become the pattern for many of the Oblates when they became missionaries in remote areas outside of France. Although physically not together, his heart was in the community and he lived in communion with the members of the community.<\/p>\n
He expresses this sentiment in this letter from Paris, where he is submerged in the boring official preparations for his uncle\u2019s episcopal ordination and the administrative task of beginning to set up the diocesan structures. He needs to be in communion with the community in Aix, despite the distance that separates them<\/p>\n
\nWrite to me in detail… Far from all of you as I am, consider me as an exile who longs unceasingly to be at the place where his affections are centered, and who can only ease his boredom for a few moments by placing himself in spirit in your midst.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Hippolyte Court\u00e8s, 22 February 1823, EO VI n. 93<\/em><\/p>\n
Today:<\/p>\n
Obedience and charity bind us together, priests and Brothers, keeping us interdependent in our lives, and missionary activity, even when, dispersed for the sake of the Gospel, we can benefit only occasionally from life in common.<\/em><\/p>\n
CC&RR, Constitution 38<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFor when two beings who are not friends are near each other there is no meeting, and when friends are far apart there is no separation.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Simone Weil<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While living in Aix en Provence and ministering in groups in the area it was easy to live in community and benefit from this. Now things were to change with Eugene\u2019s new ministry at the side of his uncle, the … Continue reading