In this letter we see Eugene continuing his efforts to establish and maintain a spirit of unity among the three communities of Missionaries. He was away preaching long parish missions, and so he wrote to Hippolyte Courtès who was the acting-superior in Aix in his absence. This young man was 32 years old and had been an ordained priest for less than eight months – thus Eugene’s letter of guidance regarding practical decisions in the running of the Aix house.
Doubtless being the superior of the house, you have the right to obtain an accounting of what the bursar is doing, that is why I did not hesitate to tell you that you ought to watch everything, but your authority does not extend to changing the instructions which have been given him by your own superior. He should do nothing without telling you in advance even in matters in which he has been authorized to proceed.
The point of this advice is not a question of power, but of leadership at the service of a common spirit. It is Eugene, as the ultimate one responsible for the welfare and maintenance of the group, who has the duty of giving guidance. It is authority for the sake of service
As for those he would propose himself, he owes you obedience and you yourself ought, in your decisions, to make them in conformity with the spirit which guides me in my administration because, as long as I am the superior, it is I who must give the guidance which all should follow, whatever they may think. Otherwise there would be friction in the machinery, there would no longer be unity in government and consequently disorder would be the result.
This is the case with any government of whatever kind. I will add that in those based on religious virtues, it is necessary to do something more, that is to say, that one should strive to acquire enough humility to believe that one knows less and has less graces than the superior and, in consequence, be not afraid to conform even one’s judgement to his.
Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 14 March 1821, EO VI n. 64
Today the role of those in authority in the Oblates is summed up as
Our Superiors are a sign of the Lord’s loving and guiding presence in our midst. They call us to live up to our Oblate vocation and provide us with the support we need. In a spirit of coresponsibility, they lead the community, making decisions, supporting initiatives and implementing policies, according to the spirit and norms of the Constitutions and Rules
Constitutions and Rules, Constitution 81
“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” Ralph Nader
Right now at this moment I find myself dying a little (and it feels like a lot) with today’s writings. Not so much at what Eugene, or you Frank, are saying but what can and does happen with simple blind obedience. I find myself wanting to stand up and shout – it tells you where I am at today, in place of questioning and sorrow and fear of what might happen not if I do question or shout out loud but now that I have.
“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” Ralph Nader”. That is a bit of a balm for my soul right now. I believe that there comes a time, after deliberation, discernment and communication that questions might need to be asked and when it is right to ‘speak out’. I guess that I don’t believe that we produce leaders of any sort if we blindly follow in silence when seeing a wrong done, specially in light of injustice, poor treatment of others. I hate it when I hear statements like “oh well, so-and-so has always been like that and in Christian charity we need to allow them to be and come to see the light” (much as was said at one time about abusers and their treatment of those being abused).
I spent time yesterday talking with and listening to a friend who said that for the past three years she felt in viewing the treatment of some by one person who was in a role of authority within the church (and no not the pastor/priest) that because this person was trained and hired in this job and because this person also had many good qualities that it meant that she was being unchristian in her thoughts and in her questioning, that she must be wrong, that she was not witnessing injustice and hurts, that she could not trust her own self and gifts that God had given to her.
So this morning I spoke out, not on the issue of yesterday but on one that is more personal to me, but that affects many. It sucks because it makes me wonder if I shouldn’t have probably just left it alone, and wait for time to run out when this person might just move on. I was advised to just walk away from it all and let them (all of the other persons concerned), let them all just make it or not on their own and I can’t do that. An uncomfortable day for sure as I wait to hear the response to my questions. I ask “God where are You this morning – I know that you are here – but it doesn’t feel like it”. I hate just sitting in the middle of pain and doubt and fear, but I guess that’s where I need to be. Please God that it has not been just the “I” in all of this.