ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU NEVER WRITE ME WHEN GREATLY PERTURBED BY SOME OPPOSITION OR OTHER DISTRESS
Although the local superiors outside France are only obliged to write to me every three months, I shall be very glad to hear from you more often.
All I ask is that you never write me when greatly perturbed by some opposition or other distress. You can see the disadvantage. It could be that the next day your pain will dissipate, while I, who will share it, will suffer for a month. I have often been caused much sorrow by failure to avoid falling into this error.
I would also wish that all exaggeration be avoided. One must always see questions under their different aspects, speaking to me dispassionately, keeping in mind the good of souls and the true interests of the Congregation. Then I need to be made aware of the issues in such a way that I can grasp them as if I were on the spot.
Letter to Father Jean Baudrand in Canada, 30 September 1849, EO I n 124
REFLECTION
Here we sense the frustration of the Founder who needed to be put in the picture of every mission so that he could be a guide and animator according to the charism God had given him. He had to wait one month for letters to arrive from eastern Canada and a month for his reply to reach them.
His advice of allowing oneself to calm down before saying or writing something after an emotional confrontation or disappointment makes a lot of sense. How often have we regretted our words or reactions the next day when we have calmed down.
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We come together to sit at the feet of St Eugene de Mazenod who is continues to be relevant today, almost 200 years after he founded the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate.
Eugene’s letter to Father Jean Baudrand in Canada shows the kind of love that is possible when it first comes from God and then is shared with all those that he meets. Again today I am reminded of how Eugene’s response to love and call is to walk with his sons, family, Church and God as Founder, Father, Priest and Bishop, Friend… He tried to guide all who God chose to send to him. Like Jesus and the Prodigal Son’s father – Eugene dares to go out to meet people where they are at; when he invites us to stand at the foot of our crucifix and then walk with him and his ever widening circle of sons and daughters.
His legacy to us all: “I die happy because God deigned to choose me to found in the Church the Congregation of the Oblates. Among yourselves practice charity, charity, charity; and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls.” (Father Fabre on the death of the Founder)
Eugene’s invitation to walk in his footsteps,” allowing ourselves to become stepping stones for the world to walk on…”