“O my God, teach me to be generous,
teach me to serve you as I should,
to give without counting the cost,
to fight without fear of being wounded,
to work without seeking rest,
to labour without expecting any reward,
but the knowledge that I am doing your most holy will.”
Feast of Saint Peter. General ordination, the largest number that I have ever done. I gave the tonsure to [thirteen], minor orders to [twenty-four], I ordained [nine] sub-deacons, eight deacons and three priests. It is true that four Capuchins and one Oblate have since received tonsure inclusively to the diaconate. The ceremony began at 6 o’clock and finished at 10:30 o’clock, enough time so that the Chapter was able to say its office and to sing Solemn Mass.
As if there was nothing, I was obliged to set off again at 3 o’clock for St.-Barnabe where I had to first give the sacrament of confirmation to the children of the parish, then bless the foundation stone of the new church, and finally bless two clocks on the site, all with a dreadful wind which did not prevent the crowd from keeping its footing, but which was very uncomfortable.
I do not know until when I will be made to do these feats of strength to which I give myself as long as I can manage. In fact, I am not fatigued at all, but watch out in several years! I am enjoying my rest.
His last act of the day was to visit the Sisters of Compassion , who had been founded in Marseilles to look after the spiritual needs of domestic workers in a particular way (see https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=5105)
Before departing, I visited the establishment of the new Sisters of Compassion… It’s essentially for this work that I have adopted this new Order or, to say it better, that I have let it develop under my auspices and my authority.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 29 June 1845, EO XXI
What do my busy days look like? Where do I get the strength to manage?
I can’t help but think of Fr. “Chicho” (as I think of him), the new Superior General, who accepted to serve over the telephone yesterday. I idly wonder if he is not saying his own version of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s prayer today and in the coming days. When I saw who had been elected to be the new Superior General my eyes filled at being able to witness the very real living out of the Holy Spirit at work. Their source of strength – the same as mine. Walking with others rather than alone strengthens me.
This morning we received word that earlier today Brother Wayne Jarvo, OMI died. Wayne was very dear to me – he was for me a model of what my life might look like as a member of the Mazenodian family, of what loving service looked like. Later I will go to noon Mass today in thanksgiving for Wayne’s life of loving service and for having been a part of my life (which he will remain, but now just in a slightly different way).
Yesterday I was fitted for and got a ‘walker’ to use. I had to first let go of trying to do everything on my own and so using it for the first time I discovered a new freedom in being both balanced and supported, able to stand straight and tall, and move with a certain freedom and dignity. The discovery was a gift of pure joy. Today is the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” in Canada. I will take part in a “Walk to Acknowledge Truth”. Wearing my orange shirt which reads “Healing Begins Now” in the Algonquin language I will walk very slowly a short part of the way as I am still learning to use the walker properly.
There will always be new things that arise and God gives me all that I need to be and do as I must. It is the ‘being’… that comes from the Spirit, from the Beloved. I dare to repeat St. Ignatius’s prayer:
“O my God, teach me to be generous,
teach me to serve you as I should,
to give without counting the cost,
to fight without fear of being wounded,
to work without seeking rest,
to labour without expecting any reward,
but the knowledge that I am doing your most holy will.”
(St. Ignatius of Loyola)