WE RISKED COMPROMISING THEIR SALVATION AND THAT OF THE SOULS THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GUIDE

Posted on September 16, 2024 by franksantucci

As the Canadian missions were increasing, so was the demand for Oblate missionaries. Eugene had agreed to send scholastics to Canada to fulfil this need, but on condition that they finish their studies in Canada. The demands of the missions did not allow this to happen, and so the missionaries were not properly prepared nor spiritually mature enough. Eugene was thus forced to make a decision to stop this practice.

I cannot in conscience approve the policy you follow in Canada of conferring Orders in advance on youngsters lacking knowledge and who will suffer all their lives from this deficiency in education. So I have decided to send no more members other than those who have finished their studies and who have spent sufficient time within our houses to form themselves in the practice of religious virtues.

I prefer a thousand times to make you wait rather than have you reproach me with not having provided for the needs of our members and with having risked compromising their salvation and that of the souls they do not know how to guide, as well as the reputation of the Congregation. When I consented to send you, at your request, raw Oblate recruits, it was because I was firmly persuaded that you would train them both in ecclesiastical knowledge as well as in piety.

Letter to Bp Bruno Guigues in Ottawa, 25 March 1849, EO I n 114

REFLECTION

The generosity of these young men led them to plunge into a demanding ministry without the necessary skills. It was their salvation and that of others that was in danger.

For us, too, our salvation can be fragile is we do not nourish our faith through reading, reflection and prayer.

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1 Response to WE RISKED COMPROMISING THEIR SALVATION AND THAT OF THE SOULS THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GUIDE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate says:
    September 16, 2024 at 15:49

    In yesterday’s Gospel it was Peter who dared to respond to Jesus’s question – “who do you say I am?” He responded that Jesus was the Christ. In today’s Gospel we have the Roman centurion who humbly told Jesus that he did not need Jesus to come personally to his home to heal his beloved slave, all he wanted Jesus to do was to speak the word.

    For ourselves, we must give thanks to God for all the nourishment God lovingly lavishes upon us.

    I think of how much I love to do Jigsaw Puzzles, but if the pieces of the puzzle have no model or image to guide me how will I be able to share it with others?. We do not give thanks when we look in a mirror to learn who we are because we must be able to recognize ourselves in the eyes of others.

    Eugene invited the young men in Aix to come and learn who they were in the eyes of God. It takes time and struggle, challenge and surrender to God and our sisters and brothers… it takes learning and experiencing mature adult faith if we are going to stand at the foot of our crucifix before we read the rest of Eugene’s invitation to us.
    For those of us who continue to stand at the foot of our crucifix, we must know Eugene’s Rule of Life in order to share in his charism as his sons and daughters.

    Reply

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