THE GREAT UPHEAVAL WHICH HAS RUINED ALL THE INDUSTRIES, RESTRICTED ALL SOURCES OF CAPITAL
The 1848 Revolution had not only had political consequences, but had affected the Missionary Oblates. Eugene wrote to Fr. Faraud in Canada:
You will have learned that an unexpected revolution has saddled us with a republic which up to now has done us no good and much harm already if only in terms of stagnation instead of prosperity. We were making wonderful progress, our houses were multiplying and the number of vocations increased each day. But now that financial resources are failing, we have to stop this growth for lack of the ability to feed and lodge so many people. It is really a shame!
For the same reason I find myself forced to postpone the sending of new missionaries to the beautiful island of Ceylon where Fr. Semeria is stationed with Frs. Keating and Ciamin, as well as a lay brother. We could do marvels in that country for the conversion of 1,100,000 infidels and the instruction of 150,000 Christians but it takes not less than 2000 francs per person for the voyage and the Propagation of the Faith suffers from the great upheaval which has ruined all the industries, restricted all sources of capital and in consequence diminished all revenues.
Letter to Fr Henri Faraud, in Canada, 10 May 1848, EO I n 95
REFLECTION
A very clear illustration of how the Oblate charism lived out in the mission was always in relation to the prevailing political and social situation. This is why every 6 years, in a rapidly changing world, the Congregation has a General Chapter to ask the question: “Which are the new faces of the poor today” and how can we respond realistically with the means at our disposal.
“The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.” (Vatican II Gaudium et Spes 1)
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I look at the question of “how can we respond realistically with the means of our disposal” when we look at the new faces of the poor today? No matter our state of life or where we live, whether we be religious or lay…
I am reminded that it is our way of “being” that determines our way of “doing”.
I think of how in our time the world continues to rapidly change just as it did in the times of Eugene, and while some of our ways of doing are no longer possible, our very way of being allow us to “be” more than we ever dreamed.
I find myself daily looking at the logo of the 37th General Chapter and finding ourselves in the midst of those walking together as pilgrims of hope in communion. It is not just a nice saying, but rather a way of being; of what our doing looks like and how it is exemplifies how God sees us.. This life which over time, takes on a way of becoming a living sacrifice born of love
Lord, it is in sharing Eugene’s way of being and loving that we recognize ourselves in that picture, and while the cross that we wear may be small, it is there. It is in the light of the cross that we walk together…