On 18 February 1826, Eugene wrote this good news from Rome to his Oblate brothers in France:<\/p>\n
\nMy dear friend, my dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation of Cardinals and specifically approved the Institute, the Rules and Constitutions of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, and accompanied this solemn act of his pontifical power, with most admiring words for those who happily form this Society from which the head of the Church indeed expects the greatest good.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Everyone is stupefied at this. Even those called upon to contribute with their votes to the execution of the very emphatic will of the Pope, are surprised by the unanimous agreement of views and especially with the imperturbable resolution of the Holy Father, whom nothing has been able to deter from the first thought with which the Holy Spirit inspired him on the first day that I knelt at his feet and presented to him the plan of this enterprise which now we can call divine\u2026<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The conclusion to be drawn from this, my dear friends and good brothers, is: we must work, with renewed ardour and still more total devotedness, to bring to God all the glory that stems from our efforts and, to the needy souls of our neighbours, salvation in all possible ways; we must attach ourselves heart and soul to our Rules and practice [more] exactly what they prescribe to us\u2026<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u2026 In the name of God, let us be saints.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Eugene de Mazenod, 18 February 1826, O.W. VII, n. 226<\/em><\/p>\n
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As we celebrate the anniversary of the approval of our Constitutions and Rules we recall Saint Eugene\u2019s desire to form \u201c\u2026a Society in order to work more effectively for the salvation of souls and for their own sanctification\u201d (Preface, 1825). The Oblates were to be seriously engaged in becoming holy and this was directly related to their effectiveness as missionaries. This is true also today. If we are to be available and courageous to take on the most difficult of missions \u201cfacing the challenges of today from our diverse contexts, including globalization, secularization, inculturation and information technology\u201d; if we are to go beyond \u201cjust doing by inertia what we are used to\u201d; if we are \u201cto participate in crossing borders and being inter-cultural\u201d; if we are to live and work together \u201cwithin apostolic communities\u201d; we need to be spiritually fully alive and to take seriously the call to be saints. Conversion will lead us to holiness; to a creative and audacious spirit that leaves nothing undared; and to the deepest sense of our oblation. Conversion will prepare us to place our lives on the line for any mission<\/em>. (The words in quotes are from the 2010 Chapter document, CONVERSION, p. 24, English version).<\/p>\n
Fr. Louis Lougen, Superior General
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