Once the decision had been made, and Eugene had requested this new name, he was filled with joy at having done the right thing.
Oblates of the Immaculate Mary. But this is a passport to heaven! How have we not thought of it sooner?
Letter to Henri Tempier, 22 December 1825, EO VI n 213
Why had he not thought of it before? In the coming days I will explore some of the texts that show the place of Mary in Eugene’s life before this decision.
Eugene “seems to become aware of the fact that, even if he had always loved Mary, he had not yet understood the essential role she played in the plan of Redemption. In searching for the patron who best expressed the goal of his Congregation – that is a person walking in the footsteps of Christ, committed to the apostolate of service and to the instruction of the poor – he had not thought of Mary. While in Rome, he understood who Mary really was. The title of the Congregation was thus born from a discovery that, in order to respond in an authentic way to the urgent needs of the Church, its members should identify with Mary Immaculate “to offer themselves” to the service of God’s plan of salvation like she did.” Casimir Lubowicki, “Mary” in the Dictionary of Oblate Values, http://www.omiworld.org/dictionary.asp?v=9&ID=1056&let=M&pag=4
Today: “Mary Immaculate is patroness of our Congregation. Open to the Spirit, she consecrated herself totally as lowly handmaid to the person and work of the Savior. She received Christ in order to share him with all the world, whose hope he is. In her, we recognize the model of the Church’s faith and of our own.” CC&RR Constitution 10
I am used to thinking of a patron/patroness as a well known and highly regarded person who is very wealthy and who bankrolls another, most often an artist or musician, an actor or even a young person involved in some type of sport. There is always the idea of some level of excellence at whatever is being done and supported a certain level of fame and status of the person doing the supporting.
I look at Mary, a lowly handmaiden who from all accounts did not have great monetary wealth, and who for the very reasons that we turn to her [her oblation, her yes to God] must have been shunned for sure by many in her family, her friends, her village. Where would Joseph have been in this story without the intervention of the Spirit of God? And Mary’s response to it all? This was a young girl and not a woman who through years of life had acquired great wisdom and grace, a young woman who once having said yes to God and then offering yet again her all for God continues to remain rather hidden and ordinary. She did not allow herself to get all ‘puffed up’ and put on airs, but rather set about living as she must and giving all of the glory to God. “For the mighty Lord has done great things for me, and his mercy will reach from age to age.” She continues to sing of the faithfulness of God throughout the ages. This is the Mother of God and guardian of the Oblate family and of all who are a part of it.
Mary Immaculate, who remains hidden in the background, meeting the very ordinary of each day in the spirit of her oblation. “She received Christ in order to share him with all the world, whose hope he is.” How do I receive Christ? Do I try to keep him as my own, or do I as Mary did open my heart to share him with the world? Why have I not recognized and thought of this before now? I have, but I have also let it slide to the background only to be brought into the light with this invitation to ponder deeper and look once again at who Mary is in my life, in our lives. “In her, we recognize the model of the Church’s faith and of our own.”
I am so grateful for this place, this shared conversation and how through it we are led into deeper relationship, with God, ourselves and all who come here. Thank you Frank for all that you give to us every day.