Fr. Lubowicki shows how the early ministry of the young priest with the youth was conscious of the presence of Mary.<\/p>\n
On April 25, 1813, Eugene founded the Association for Christian Youth, sixteen months after his ordination. The rules and statutes that he wrote are filled with Marian thinking From the very first lines, it is stated that the society in question is one \u201cestablished under the intercession of the Immaculate Conception of the most Holy Virgin<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n Eugene got his young people in the habit of seeing in Mary the Mother of Jesus and \u201cours as well<\/strong>\u201d, a mother filled with tenderness, who in virtue of this title desires \u201cto cooperate in [our] salvation<\/strong>\u201d. In the Association, \u201cpublic declaration was made to honor and love<\/strong>\u201d Mary with \u201cunbounded filial tenderness<\/strong>\u201d. There is a clear idea of what love is: the trust that leads to a total surrender of oneself into the hands of the person who is loved. That is why it states that the association members \u201copenly declare the most complete devotion [to Mary]<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n The highest point in this devotion to Mary is reached in the recommendation to \u201cconsecrate oneself […] to the Most Holy Trinity [..] through the intercession of the Mary Immaculate, the most holy Virgin<\/strong>\u201d. For Eugene, consecrating oneself \u201cto the Most Holy Trinity<\/strong>\u201d is the most basic way of following Mary, totally dedicated to the Trinity and available for the plan of salvation. On the other hand, consecrating oneself \u201cthrough the intercession [of Mary]\u201d<\/strong> is the fullest expression of our trust in her because this attitude is born of the certainty that the Holy Virgin will not keep us to herself, but will offer us to God! (Corinthians 3:21b-23).<\/p>\n C. Lubowicki, \u201cMary\u201d in the Dictionary of Oblate Values, http:\/\/www.omiworld.org\/dictionary.asp?v=9&ID=1056&let=M&pag=4<\/a><\/p>\n Today, this attitude finds its place in our Oblate Rule of Life:<\/p>\n \u201cWith Mary Immaculate, the faithful handmaid of the Lord, and under the guidance of the Spirit, we enter into closer union with Jesus Christ. We will contemplate with her the mysteries of the Incarnate Word, especially in praying the rosary.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0CC&RR, Constitution 36<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future\u2014all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.\u201d 1 Corinthians 3:21-23<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fr. Lubowicki shows how the early ministry of the young priest with the youth was conscious of the presence of Mary. On April 25, 1813, Eugene founded the Association for Christian Youth, sixteen months after his ordination. The rules and … Continue reading