Having reflected on his own conversion experience, Eugene’s retreat meditation moves to his priesthood and the necessity of leading others to the same conversion through the quality of his priesthood
But to work for the salvation of souls, I must be holy, very holy:
1. because without that it would be of no avail to try to convert anyone. How can one give what one has not got? It is from one’s superabundance that one must give;
2. a mediocre virtue would not survive in the atmosphere of the world, even when one lives there with a life-style like mine.It is absolutely necessary that the brilliance of the priest’s virtues be so bright as to dissipate all the trash that rises up around him, as to pierce the densest of clouds. Isn’t that precisely what I told myself when I entered the clerical state, as I drew near to this priesthood that I should have considered only from afar and very afar? So it must not be forgotten. Let us make use of every means God gives us to reach this end of the priesthood, which is perfection.
Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130
LJC et MI
As we prepare for the Chapter calling forth “conversion” the word “superabundance” calls me to hold in tension our/my emptiness-poverty and woundedness. For it is the darkness and void of space that the fullness of grace pours in. Eugene might call this “Mercy”. This past Sunday’s reading from Luke 14 speaks of Humility.
From a prayer that we chanted daily at Aanmodaya Ashram, from the “Ishavasya Upanishad” The literal meaning of this mantra is: “That is full, This is
full, Fullness arises out of Fullness, If Fullness is taken away
from Fullness, Fullness remains OM Peace, Peace, Peace”. A Paradox!
That’s the rub: our living example is more powerful than our words!
Although Eugene is speaking very much for himself, as a cleric, as a priest – I really find that this applies also to many of us who are ordinary lay people, some with families, some not, some who make up this God-given Mazenodian family, however we come to be a part of it.
We seem to want to shy away from the word ‘holy’ sometimes, like it is not real or possible or popular, it is perhaps too ‘old-fashioned’. I looked up the word and it says “dedicated to God”, “set apart”. That would be all of us, because we have been baptised and so are set apart, we are dedicated to God. It may be though that sometimes with many of us it is just a little more hidden than it is with others. For us, and I speak here to lay people, we do not usually wear a uniform, and there are no big or even little symbols for us to wear or carry. So many faces of people I know and love pass before me, ordinary people, who by the very nature of their lives have become extraordinary. They are holy, very holy people. We are each of us called to be holy. And we are identified simply by the examples of our lives.
I recognize and agree with what Eugene is saying here. For him it was to be living out his life, as a priest and as a Bishop, as Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, as father to all of us who are called to be a part of this Mazenodian Family. He strove always to give his all to God.
I believe and try to live how God calls me, to live out my life as a lay woman, as a daughter in this Mazenodian Family, striving to be the best that I can be, to love as I am loved, to give my all, to become and be my all for God, in the light and charism of St. Eugene. As an Oblate Associate I try to do that in a specific and intentional way, as I am called. That is the beginning of holy.
On this 5th day of Christmas I quote St. Eugene “Let us make use of every means God gives us to reach this end of the personhood, which is perfection.” We are all called to be holy and how wonderful is that!
I think the problem with “holy” is that it is such an obscure word. After all, what is it to be holy? I consider some of the most unlikely people, perhaps not even Christian, to be holy while others (I am thinking of some priests I know) who you would expect to be holy, simply are not or at least keep their holiness well hidden.
I don’t know about you but for myself, I do not consider myself to be particularly holy. Perhaps humility just doesn’t allow that. And yet I think it is a matter of perception – just how we live out lives, in a way we consider quite normal (nothing special), others see as holy.
I don’t know Eleanor; just my thoughts on being holy.