The writings of Eugene de Mazenod that I present each day reflect the many tasks he was involved in: Superior General of the Oblates in France and Canada, the one responsible for the personnel, mission, and community life of all the Oblates and at the same time, bishop of the second largest diocese of France.
Separated from his missionaries in Canada by the Atlantic Ocean, he was particularly concerned to maintain the God-given spirit and mission of the Oblates whom God had led him to found. Faithfulness to this charism would ensure missionary success. It is clear in this letter to Father Guigues, the new superior of the Canada mission.
Nothing you might tell me could bring me more pleasure than the witness you have rendered to the good dispositions and virtues of all our Fathers. I pray God that he keep them in this attitude of mind that you have recognized in them. It will enable them to do wonders everywhere they are sent.
The first superior had been Fr Honorat, who had done his best to establish the new mission, but who had suffered from many difficulties and obstacles.
It would be so easy to judge and say – wow look at how Honorat failed and how Eugene had to step in and make Guigues the new Superior. Yet here he is telling Guigues that he expected nothing less of Honorat than the good that he was doing.
Fr. Guigues recognized the goodness of the men, their particular gifts and how they used those gifts and he reported this back to Eugene. It was these recognized gifts that Eugene was saying would enable them to do the wonders he obviously had expected of them in Canada.
I realize as I sit here that Guigues had the gift of seeing yes what needed to be done, but more importantly he was able to see the goodness and the strengths of those he was sent to visit and assess.
It is not necessarily about what others cannot do, but in recognizing in others what their strengths and gifts are and then finding ways to promote that. Is this not how God sees us? Is this not how we are called and sent to be where we will be able to use the gifts we have been given; to be met with family, friends, superiors and bishops who will find ways to help us develop our skills, thus promoting us and enabling us to do the wonders wherever we are sent?