THEIRS IS A LIFE OF PRIVATIONS, HEROIC MORTIFICATION, FATIGUE AND DANGER, WITH NO CONSOLATION AT ALL FROM THE BISHOPS

The Oblate mission in Oregon was difficult and challenging. To complicate matters, the local Bishop was not very encouraging nor understanding of the Oblate way of mission. For this reason, Eugene wrote to the Vatican with this request:

Please bear with me if I come back to the Oregon mission. I was not able to hold back my tears as I read the latest letters from these missions. Rest assured that the Jesuits and the Oblates are doing everything, but theirs is a life of privations, heroic mortification, fatigue and danger, with no consolation at all from the bishops. On the contrary, they are afflicted by all kinds of disheartening episodes and constraints. Therefore, I feel it to be of the utmost importance to appoint the provincial superior of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Fr. Pascal Ricard, as bishop of Nesqually. He already lives in that town and will be ready with his men to serve the indigenous peoples in that region as well as the Europeans and Americans who live in various settlements. The independence thus gained will enhance the good of these Missions which need a fixed site in order to avoid losing all courage.

Eugene was writing with a bishop’s understanding in making this request.

Please believe me, dear Monseigneur, I am a bishop and believe that I understand the great responsibilities of my sacred character. I would sacrifice my life a thousand times over for the glory of God and the salvation of souls and I would rather see my hand wither than to write even a single syllable contrary to that end, the sole object of my every thought.

To Bishop Barnabo, Secretary of the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide, 8 October 1849, EO V n 11

REFLECTION

“The purpose of our Institute is the exact same one that the Son of God had in mind when he came down on earth: the glory of his heavenly Father and the salvation of souls.” (Eugene de Mazenod)