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- BUT WHAT IT HAS COST ME TO MAKE THIS SACRIFICE!
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- THE SUBLIME PRIESTHOOD WITH ALL THE GIFTS OF GOD WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR MINISTRY FRUITFUL
- THE OFFERING OF MY LIFE TO THE LORD FOR THE RANSOM FROM THE SICKNESS WHICH WAS RAVISHING MY PEOPLE
- THE SACRIFICE OF MY LIFE
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- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on BUT WHAT IT HAS COST ME TO MAKE THIS SACRIFICE!
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- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE SUBLIME PRIESTHOOD WITH ALL THE GIFTS OF GOD WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR MINISTRY FRUITFUL
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE OFFERING OF MY LIFE TO THE LORD FOR THE RANSOM FROM THE SICKNESS WHICH WAS RAVISHING MY PEOPLE
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE SACRIFICE OF MY LIFE
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I AM GIVING YOU, TO BEGIN YOUR APOSTOLIC WORK, A MISSION TO GO TO ALGERIA, WHERE AN IMMENSE GOOD AWAITS YOU
Within days of his priestly ordination, Fr Grenier received his first mission assignment.
My very dear Fr. Grenier, I have been wanting to write to you for several days. I have been prevented from doing so by my activities which are always increasing in number. I am longing, however, to tell you that you must come to me as soon as possible. I am giving you, to begin your apostolic work, a mission to go to Algeria, where an immense good awaits you. We are aiming at the conversion of the Arabs in continuing the way we are on at the moment. Come then as soon as possible. There will be two of you who will go and join three of our men who are already at work. Bring all the things you need with you. I shall not write any more now since I expect soon to embrace you against my heart.
Letter to Fr. Ferdinand Grenier, in Nancy, 26 October 1849, EO IV (Africa) n. 9
REFLECTION
“God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.” (David Livingstone)
THE SUBLIME PRIESTHOOD WITH ALL THE GIFTS OF GOD WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR MINISTRY FRUITFUL
Eugene’s visit to the Nancy area was to have included the ordination to the priesthood of Ferdinand Grenier, but Eugene had to cut short his visit to rush back to Marseilles because of the outbreak of cholera
You would have understood that I had always wanted to impose hands on you myself… The good Lord has deprived me of that consolation; I offer it in sacrifice…
Allow my heart to have all the regret of having travelled more than 200 leagues to have the consolation of imposing my hands and then having to leave without being able to communicate to you the sublime priesthood with all the gifts of God which will make your ministry fruitful. These are some of the painful things which occur in life. I unite myself with you at least in spirit and pray the most abundant blessings of the Lord are showered upon you. Receive the first assurances from the blessing that I give you as I embrace you with all my heart.
Letter to Fr. Ferdinand Grenier, in Nancy, 13 September 1849, EO X n 1019
REFLECTION
Eugene, who always considered himself the spiritual father of each Oblate, saw this paternity doubled in the Oblate if he was able to confer the sacrament of priestly ordination on him.
“Can I recall without emotion that the first fruit of my fecundity was the precious Father Casimir Aubert, the first on whom I imposed hands. No one could guess what transpired in my soul when in profound recollection I invoked the sovereign priest Jesus Christ with all the power with which I was invested to bring about this great miracle, and lifted up my hands over the dear head of my well-beloved son and passed on to him a share of that abundance of grace and power of which I had myself received the plenitude some months before.
… it seemed to me, I say, that my own spirit communicated itself to him, that my heart expanded in the outpouring of a charity, a supernatural love that produced in its turn something more than human. It seemed to me that I could say like our divine Master that a power had gone out from me and I knew it… This miracle is worked in every ordination I perform.” (Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 25 March 1837, EO XVIII n 18)
THE OFFERING OF MY LIFE TO THE LORD FOR THE RANSOM FROM THE SICKNESS WHICH WAS RAVISHING MY PEOPLE
The Shrine of Notre Dame de la Garde is on a hill dominating the city of Marseilles where the “Good Mother” (as Mary is referred to by the inhabitants of the city) watches over everyone. As soon as Eugene returned to the city he went to pray in gratitude for a safe journey, and then to ratify his self-offering to end the cholera epidemic.
My first thought was to go and thank our Good Mother in her shrine of the Garde. I went there today, Sunday, to celebrate the sacred mysteries and to ratify at the feet of Mary the offering of my life to the Lord for the ransom from the sickness which was ravishing my people, an offering I had made the moment I heard that cholera was mortally rampant in Marseilles. The holy mountain was covered with the faithful who came to the shrine at the same time as I did. The chapel was full when I arrived. Before beginning Mass I considered it my duty to say a few words for the edification of the assembly which, if one is to judge by the tears which I saw flowing, was perfectly in accord with the sentiments which I expressed and which came from the bottom of my heart.
Diary, 23 September 1849, EO XXII
REFLECTION
“A martyr is a man who cares so much for something outside him, that he forgets his own personal life” (G.K. Chesterton)
THE SACRIFICE OF MY LIFE
Now that the work that God has called me to has been achieved, what could be a more happy event for me than to die, especially if the sacrifice of my life were to be accepted not only as expiation for my sins, but as a holocaust to the Lord, to appease God’s anger and to turn away God’s scourge from my people and especially from our priests whose life is so precious. Up to now only one of them has died, our poor Abbé Martin; but all of you are threatened.
Letter to Fr. Henri Tempier, 12 September 1849, EO X n 1018
REFLECTION
Let us not be distracted by the theological language of two centuries ago: today we have a different understanding of natural disasters and epidemics. What is important in this extract is that Eugene did offer his life for the salvation of his people in Marseilles.
From the time of Eugene’s conversion journey, he wanted every aspect of his life to be an oblation, “all for God.” It was in the spirit of early centuries of the Church where the highest expression of oblation was martyrdom, the total gift of self to God. What is interesting about Eugene is that this martyrdom was to be achieved as a result of a gift of himself to God through serving others. For this reason we speak of the martyrdom of charity, as opposed to the martyrdom of blood.
OBLATION: THE WILLINGNESS TO BE A MARTYR OF CHARITY
I have all my life desired to die a victim of charity. You know that this crown was withheld from me right from the first days of my ministry. The Lord had his designs since He wanted to trust me to give a new family to His Church; but for me it would have been a greater value to have died of the blessed typhus which I had contracted while serving prisoners.
Letter to Fr. Henri Tempier, 12 September 1849, EO X n 1018
REFLECTION
From the time of his ordination to the priesthood, Eugene had desired to give his life totally in martyrdom at the service of others. It nearly happened in 1814 when he almost died of typhus while ministering to Austrian prisoners of war. But God had other plans: he was to be God’s instrument in founding the Missionary Oblates.
How many martyrs of charity have we known in our lives? Not people who shed their blood in martyrdom, but rather sacrifice themselves for the good of others in their daily lives. My life is inspired and enriched by my encounter with many each day.
I HAVE GONE TO CONFIRM MANY OF THESE POOR VICTIMS ON THEIR DEATH-BED
We are here under the fatal influence of cholera, which takes from us some 40, or 30, 20, or 25 people each day. Those who come here are in danger. Yesterday a whole family of five people died on coming back to the city after having gone away at the beginning of the epidemic. You must know that I did not consider this danger when my duty called me back to my flock, but up to now I have felt no symptoms of the illness. None of ours has been attacked.
Letter to Fr. Ferdinand Grenier, in Nancy, 30 September 1849, EO X, n 1023
Bishop Eugene and the diocesan and Oblate clergy courageously ministered to those afflcited by the cholera epidemic.
The cholera continues with the same intensity; but sudden horrible cases are rather rare. Since I’m back, I have gone to confirm many of these poor victims on their death-bed, and I have felt no other pain than the anguish, which I cannot guard against in the sight of such disasters.
Letter to Fr Ambroise Vincens at N. D. de L’Osier, 12 October 1849, EO X n 1024
REFLECTION
“The end of life deserves as much beauty, care and respect as the beginning.” (Author unknown)
I HAVE ALL MY LIFE DESIRED TO DIE A VICTIM OF CHARITY
Eugene had been visiting the Oblate communities in the center of France and while in the area had also taken the opportunity to do the baptism of the child of his niece, who was about to give birth. News reached him of the outbreak of a cholera epidemic in Marseilles.
My concern is so great that I fear I will fall sick from it. The thought of what is going on in Marseilles fills my soul with bitterness. I find no happiness in finding myself among my family, my duty calls me elsewhere.
Eugene reminds Tempier that his absence is not from fear, which is something he never showed
You know me well enough to be convinced that the least thought of fear did not even enter my mind. I have all my life desired to die a victim of charity.
Letter to Fr. Henri Tempier, 12 September 1849, EO X n 1018
REFLECTION
Eugene’s love for God was so great that he wanted his whole life to be an oblation to God. This not in theory, but in loving and self-sacrificial service.
“I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40)
THIS MASS HAS BECOME AN INSTITUTION ON THIS DAY
Second of August, anniversary of my Baptism. Mass with the Capuchin Sisters. This Mass has become an institution on this day. I can think of no greater help than the prayers of these holy ladies to thank God for a benefit such as that of my regeneration.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 1 August 1849, EO XXII
REFLECTION
For Eugene the anniversary of his baptism was more important than his birthday. It was the anniversary of his being born into the life of Jesus Christ.