Insofar as possible, the missionaries will arrive in the place of the mission on Sunday at the time for vespers. The pastor will see to it that all the bells were rung the previous evening to solemnly announce the mission.
1818 Rule Chapter Two §2
By the Sunday evening, a day of rest, the cows would have been milked and thus the whole village would be free to attend the opening procession. Hence the choice of this moment to begin the mission. The Rule continues:
As soon as the missionaries come into sight of the place where they have been sent, they will prostrate themselves to adore our Lord Jesus Christ and to place themselves under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, the guardian angels of the place, and the patron saints.
1825 Rule Chapter Two §2 art 16
The prostration is an act that we use in the liturgy on Good Friday, in the perpetual oblation of the Oblates, and before ordination. It is a sign of wanting to be nothing so that God can be everything and work through the person.
In the Diary of the mission at Marignane, Eugene describes the arrival of the four missionaries:
We came in sight of Marignane at 4:00 p.m. The faithful and their pastor, on being notified, came to meet us up to the chapel of St. Nicholas. Before reaching it, when we saw the people were coming close, we lay prostrate, following our custom, to adore Our Lord Jesus Christ, to pay him this first tribute of our homage and offer him the works of our ministry, directing our intention for the greater glory of his holy name.
When the parish priest drew near, we directed our steps towards him, and right there where we met we again lay prostrate to adore the cross he bore in his hand. Before offering it to be kissed and placing it in the hands of the Superior of the mission, the Parish Priest gave a short address to the missionaries in which he expressed his joy at seeing them come among his people to show them the way of salvation.
Diary of the Marignane Mission, 17 November 1816, O.W. XVI
Just before reading this reflection, I was spending time with the readings for the Feast of Christ the King. St. Louis University has a very good website for Sunday liturgies by the way. http://liturgy.slu.edu/
But what struck me is in this text and this Feast is that when we find the courage (to move through and beyond fear/to flip the coin) we are brought to the Cross. And the image of prostration does bring me back to me my perpetual vows and the deep prostrations that are done in India before the ever present God.
Om Prabhu Pitane sharanam / Om, homage of surrender to you Lord, the Father
Om Prabhu Sutane sharanam/ Om, homage of surrender to you Lord, the Son
Om Prabhu Atmane sharanam/ Om, homage of surrender to you Lord, the Spirit
Traieka devane sharanam/ O Triune God, homage of surrender to you.