I WAS DOING IT TO PREPARE AN APOSTLE WHO WAS DESTINED TO EVANGELIZE

Posted on October 31, 2024 by franksantucci

Before going to the cathedral for the office, I ordained Fr. d’Herbomez to the priesthood in my chapel. I had invited all the Oblates present in Marseilles to be present at this very touching ordination because I was doing it to prepare an apostle who was destined to evangelize the tribes of Oregon. More than one among our Oblates was jealous of the destiny awaiting our new priest, because I know that many would be no more afraid than he is of all the privations and all the sacrifices to be made in this difficult mission.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 14 October 1849, EO XXII

REFLECTION

“Our founder is Jesus Christ, and our first fathers are the apostles,” was Eugene’s understanding of the origins of the Missionary Oblates. Each Oblate was seen as a cooperator of Christ the Savior as an apostle in way of life and mission (cf. Mk 3:14). Today, every member of the Oblate Charismatic Family can claim the same identity – each according to their particular state of life. We are all contemporary apostles.

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1 Response to I WAS DOING IT TO PREPARE AN APOSTLE WHO WAS DESTINED TO EVANGELIZE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate says:
    October 31, 2024 at 12:56

    We are formed and invited to love, and to enter into relationship with all others, especially those who are our brothers and our sisters. We are invited to know, claim and live who we are, who God has created and called us to be.

    I am reminded of Mary Magdalene and how she dared, how she had the courage to love and allowed herself to be sent to the Apostles. While I have never thought about myself as an apostle, or in the same league with Mary Magdalene, I have certainly thought that of others. Perhaps we should look with truth and daring at who we are in the eyes of God – without measure of worth, intelligence and/or abilities. What would it look like if we all glimpsed ourselves in the light that God sees us. We just might be surprised.

    Perhaps another look at the love and formation, the sharing of our hearts that calls us together as community. We come here each morning (or evening) to listen to Eugene de Mazenod share with us who as his sons and daughters we are called to be. Perhaps we just need to run through our various human characteristics before letting go of them so as to find space in our hearts for the love that is just waiting to burst forth…

    Reply

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