OUR GREAT PLAGUE IS IGNORANCE – WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO COUNTERACT IT

Posted on October 10, 2024 by franksantucci

From the beginning of our existence, the aim of Oblate preaching was to catechize: to teach people who the Savior is and to educate them in the contents of our faith. Fr Hippolyte Courtès had started a course of teaching catechism in Aix. Eugene encouraged him:

I see no difficulty in the course you have taken. It would have been difficult to refuse such a proposal which, besides, fits rather well into the objectives of our Congregation. In practice, you will have to oversee this teaching by laypeople which can be rather imperfect and insufficient. You will have to know how to make this catechism interesting, for it must be something more than an ordinary catechism. For that you will need to draw up a plan of instructions, which will certainly be based on what is elementary, but which will go a little more deeply into the science of religion. Our great plague is ignorance. We must do all we can to counteract it.

Letter to Fr. Hippolyte Courtès in Aix, 10 January 1849, EO X n 995.

REFLECTION

“Being a catechist is not a title; it is an attitude of abiding with him, and it lasts a lifetime!  It means abiding in the Lord’s presence and letting ourselves be led by him.” (Pope Francis)

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1 Response to OUR GREAT PLAGUE IS IGNORANCE – WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO COUNTERACT IT

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate says:
    October 10, 2024 at 13:35

    A title is just a title that suggests a way of being and doing. There are boundaries and measurements as to who gets to carry a title and in moments of doubt we might tend to see only the limits and measurements…

    I am reminded of the little shepherd boy who brought the sheep he tended to meet the baby Jesus. He was among three great kings from around the world who brought extravagant gifts to the Babe and I wonder if he didn’t feel a little unworthy and out of place; a little imperfect and insufficient.

    My heart sings this morning as I read the words of Pope Francis as he speaks of an attitude of abiding in him who is our crucified Saviour. Not that I have ever been a catechist, but I do get to share my experience of God as a daughter of Saint Eugene; a daughter with whom St. Eugene has shared his charism and who is allowed to give formation to others who feel called to share in this life-style.

    And I find myself being held in the most tender of embraces as I get to choose if I want to join those Kings or be another of the sheep to be tended. Choosing to remain and abide in love I have received a great miracle for I have been taught to see who I am and to share that experience in the light of Oblate/Mazenodian Family. This is who God has created me to be and in that light there is wondrous grace and joy as I join in the dance of life with my Beloved.

    What could be more perfect?

    Reply

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