The question raised by Eugene, as Oblate Superior General, continues to be very relevant in the formation process of Oblates and Associates today.<\/p>\n
Three men had come from Ireland to do the novitiate in France – in a new country and a language that they were not fully familiar with. By the end of the novitiate they were expected to make their commitment of oblation. Eugene reflects:<\/p>\n
We must proceed with prudence. Before establishing the Congregation in that distant land, it is necessary that the men be trained. It took severalyears to bring Fr. Daly to where he is; it will take more than one year of novitiate, made by young people who do not know our language and who therefore will not have benefited much from the instructions provided there, so that we can count on these subjects.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Can we send them back to Ireland after such a short testing, before they know well and appreciate the Congregation, before they have been able to attach themselves to it? This is not possible.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Eugene de Mazenod\u2019s Diary, 28 November 1841, EO XX<\/em><\/p>\n
Today our houses of formation are international and the superiors and formators carry the same heavy responsibility: do the candidates know well the Mazenodian charism and spirituality?<\/p>\n
The same question is posed regarding the formation of the lay members of the Mazenodian Family: have they been sufficiently steeped in the Mazenodian charism and spirituality for it to be the guiding light of their way of being disciples of Jesus the Savior?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The question raised by Eugene, as Oblate Superior General, continues to be very relevant in the formation process of Oblates and Associates today. Three men had come from Ireland to do the novitiate in France – in a new country … Continue reading