Finally, all the necessary documentation had been arranged and Fortune de Mazenod was ordained bishop in Paris on 6 July 1823. Writing to Tempier on the day before the event, Eugene said:
This time I will use a right of which I scarcely remember the name, having lost to such an extent the ability to use it: I opt for my freedom. With a place in the gallery, I will enjoy at my ease a spectacle so touching for me and I will abandon my soul to the spirit of God so that he may direct its sentiments as he pleases, in the hope that I may receive benefit and consolation.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 5 July 1823, EO VI n. 110
In our chronological exploration of Eugene’s writings, this text reminds us that Eugene and his uncle had been in Paris for over 5 months to arrange for the reestablishment of the Diocese of Marseille and for Fortune’s ordination. More important, however, is the attitude of prayer with which Eugene approached the ordination ceremony. He would have had strong emotions, but he opted to empty himself so as to be receptive to whatever God wanted to inspire in him during the ceremony.
“What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.” Meister Eckhart
OMG – once again I am ‘blown away’ with Eugene. His time of freedom. And I am sure his time of great joy to see Fortuné installed as Bishop – something he has worked so hard for, and has given up much for. The time has come for him to celebrate. To celebrate, not just with Fortuné but with his God, always there with him. Were this me in this scenario, I think that I would certainly turn towards God and share my joy `with`. But this is much, much more.
I see this as quite intentional on Eugene`s part. His celebration is to turn towards God, as you said Frank, to empty himself so as to allow God to fill him. Eugene`s “all for God” has now taken on a greater, deeper sense. This so that his next steps will be truly as God would have him be and move, rather than just himself. Incredibly intentional, allowing not only for his desire to be his ‘all’ for God, but deliberately moving, putting himself into such a space as to make that ‘lived’.
I pause for a minute to look at myself. Is this how I celebrate in the joy of others? Is this how I try to give and live my all for God? I am thinking what a father and friend and inspiration Eugene was and is. I am reminded of this words; “we must help them to become saints”. He did this by his very life in very real ways, and he continues it today, his spirit, through his sons and I dare say his daughters, but through his sons in their sharing of his life and writings and ways of being and then living that out themselves each in their own way dare I say, as ordained by God.
I continue to be amazed at how God works and speaks through others, all others. And how I need to sometimes check and find tune my antena so that I hear and realise His voice [and not just my own]. I am humbled by the love and understanding of those around me and I thank God for His love pour out.
So much of what we read in the bible can be lost in what we “think” the speaker means – this what the prophet meant by this and this is what Jesus meant by that. Sometimes the speaker means exactly what he or she is saying. For me this letter from Eugene falls into that same category so I chose to look at it just as it was written. I see a man, the man, who has realized he is tired and has decided to give himself a break so rather than be involved in the ceremony, he chooses to just sit back (in the gallery) and watch and enjoy and take it all in.
I don’t know John. I do imagine that Eugene did sit back and enjoy all of it, on one level – but I do believe it was much more than that. I think Eugene was pretty specific in what he wrote about abandoning his soul to God. I would hate for someone to to describe my times of prayer as just relaxing and resting from working hard. To remove God from the equation is not healthy, and I think we can then miss the grace that is available to us, if we but recognize it.