In all justice to Eugene, we would do him a disservice if we saw his action of bringing the scholastics to vote as a devious ploy to get his own way. The decision that was made with their help proved to be the correct one, and all the Missionaries were to appreciate and accept this way of thinking.
What Eugene had done was to set the ideal for the future and the condition for all future entries: to become a Missionary one became a religious in vows. For his companions who had not joined with that idea, he gave them the freedom to continue as they were if they so wished. He did not force them to change. Leflon continues his reflection:
This debatable intervention could easily have caused the Fathers who had been put into a minority to adopt a cool attitude toward the Founder who had instigated that intervention in order to assure success and toward the simple acolytes who had reversed the situation in the Founder’s favor. The truth of the matter is that everything was arranged for the best. The elections to the positions prescribed by the statutes gave instant proof that in spite of the momentary dissension, unity and charity still prevailed. Acting as a constituted society, gathered in General Chapter according to the terms of the Rule which had just been accepted…
Leflon 2, p. 168
Basing himself on the official Acts of the Chapter and on the Memoires of Mariusz Suzanne, Rey describes the events:
On Monday 26 October was held a second session of the First General Chapter of the Society of Missionaries of Provence.
“Having gathered the priests of the community, the Founder suggested they proceed with the election of office bearers in the manner prescribed by the Statutes approved by them and to admit to this end the three in formation who had already taken part in their deliberations and who wished to engage themselves in that which they had been a part of drawing up. This was agreed upon and, after invoking the illumination of the Holy Spirit and calling on the protection of the Blessed Virgin, all the members present proceeded to vote for the appointment of those who were to be in charge of the Society.
There were seven priests present: the V. Rev. Fr. de Mazenod, Founder and Superior; Rev. Fr. Tempier, the first disciple and companion of Father de Mazenod, the Fathers Deblieu, Mie, Maunier, Marius Aubert and Moreau; plus the three novice students, Brothers Courtès, Suzanne and Dupuy.
All the members making up this assembly unanimously begged Father de Mazenod to kindly continue to hold office as Superior General of the Society. Then to manifest to Fr. Deblieu the affection that all had for him, despite his refusal to commit themselves by the vows, he was appointed, almost unanimously, as First Assistant and Admonitor to the Superior General. Fr. Maunier was appointed Second Assistant and Secretary General, Fr. Tempier, Third Assistant, Fr. Mie, Fourth Assistant and Fr. Courtès, Procurator General of the Society.”
Rey 1, p. 233
Our Rule of Life today reflects these beginnings:
United as brothers in one apostolic community, we are all equal before God our Father who distributes charisms and ministries so that we can serve his Church and its mission. Our organizational structures, accordingly, are set up in function of that mission.
Following the guidelines of the Constitutions and Rules, those in authority will make sure that the structures are flexible enough to evolve with our lived experience.
CC&RR Constitution 72
Interesting how Eugene was able to keep them together. In our time of ever polarization in our society and church the sense of unity is powerful. And as I look at ourselves we cover the gamut of thought and practice-yet there is a respect for each other. Not that there won’t be fireworks at the community meeting, but some how we still sit down and have a good meal (the spirit of Provence). We need to sit with this.
Also in reading this, the sense of change and development is present. What areas are present in our life and governance that still need to adapt? In the last Chapter many thing where on the table, some accepted-many not. So that is change and development in process.
Blessing as we journey into Lent together.
I find in this picture a family, with members not always agreeing but who nevertheless remain a family. I see the trust they held each other in and how they moved in and through that. I look at how they chose Deblieu as First Assistant and Admonitor to the Superior General (I had to look up Admonitor to find out what that was). He and the other two dissenters were not punished or banished. not shunned or ignored, but rather one of them was made Admonitor to Eugene, to the Superior General. I find God in all of this, in love, acceptance, trust. I am seeing courage in all and I am seeing the love of God as the orchestrator of it all, through Eugene and then through each of the members.
That image of a symphony comes to mind, with all of the instruments, fulfilling a role, having a ‘vital’ place. I myself as a member might not necessarily ‘love’ the sound of one or two instruments on their own (just as others may not like the sound I make) but brought together, the richness and the gift of that sound. There is courage and trust in each of these instruments coming to life and making the music together.
“United as brothers in one apostolic community, we are all equal before God our Father who distributes charisms and ministries so that we can serve his Church and its mission. Our organizational structures, accordingly, are set up in function of that mission. Following the guidelines of the Constitutions and Rules, those in authority will make sure that the structures are flexible enough to evolve with our lived experience. CC&RR Constitution 72” “United as brothers……equal before God”. Having been raised to believe that I ‘had’ to be better than everyone else and had to be always ‘right’ in order to be loved and to be a part of the family – for me personally these words are liberating,- they are not new and yet today they seem to have a deeper reality. “…..flexible enough to evolve with our lived experience”. Honoring God, honoring each other, honoring God in each other, even honoring our own selves.
I am struck again about what it means to live as community, to live in communion with. I was told a little while ago that I seem to “really know who I am”. There is some truth in that statement, but there is much more to it. I begin to know who I am in relationship with others, with my family, my community(s). It always begins and ends with God, God as the base, the foundation and then in and out to each other and all those around us. It is truly as an Oblate Associate that I am coming to experience more of who is God, who am I and who are ‘we’ together. A bit off topic but it’s a year later and this has been where You’ve brought me.