THE MISTAKES OF A SON DO NOT EXTINGUISH THE AFFECTION IN THE HEART OF A FATHER
Canadian-born Oblate Father, Pierre Fisette, had ministered for two years, but had made mistakes and was sorry for them. Eugene summoned this 26-year-old to leave Canada and come to France in 1846, saying: “I am quite disposed to welcome the penitent with paternal feelings.”
Writing to Father Guigues, the Provincial Superior of Canada, Eugene confided:
After such experiences, it is true to say that one must hope against all hope.
Eugene, the ever-hopeful father of his Oblate family, made Pierre accompany him in all his activities for a few days, heard his confession, and introduced him to some of the French Oblates and their ministry, before sending him to work in Corsica.
The one of whom I am speaking was able to see by this attention on my part and the kindnesses that I showed him that “leprosy and all the infirmities” that disfigure a son do not extinguish the affection in the heart of a father.
Letter to Fr Bruno Guigues in Canada, 8 January 1847, EO I n 75
REFLECTION
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” (Ann Landers)
Loving God, help me to share what I am and what I have with those who are in need. May my love for those who are weak or have made mistakes show itself in my actions and words.
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This morning we are faced with Fr. Fisette, an Oblate who I am not familiar with. Eugene loved him so greatly that he called him from Canada to France to experience life as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate with others and then sending him to Corsica – this at time when extra men in the congregation were in short supply and where this could create a burden on the community back in Canada. For sure Fisette would have been left with no doubt that he was loved by the Founder and his community.
Eugene’s language is strong as he shares how the “leprosy and all the infirmities” that were disfiguring his son did not extinguish the love he felt for this particular son.
I remind myself this morning and ask “who am I to judge” only because I turned away from God over and over again; yet never did God stop from loving and caring for me. It took me a long time to figure out where I was being called to go and how to get there. Time and time again my wounds and weaknesses have overshadowed me and yet always I have been loved, forgiven and then lavished by God’s loving presence.
Beloved, help me today as I interact with others to share who I am with all those I meet. May I love them as you love me, with all the dignity, respect and caring that they deserve to receive as children of God.