After visiting the first community to be established outside of Aix, the Marian shrine of Notre Dame du Laus, Eugene wrote this description of the place and of the evangelization that the Missionaries would undertake from there:
We have formed an establishment at Notre Dame du Laus thus bringing ourselves into direct relations with the dioceses of Gap, Digne, Embrun and Sisteron.
We have become the guardians of one of the most celebrated shrines of the Blessed Virgin where the good God is pleased to manifest the power that he has granted to this dear Mother of the Mission.
At this moment the Missionaries did not have a specifically Marian identity, but working at Laus this started to be expressed as they came to understand that Marian shrines did form a part of their missionary outreach. Until now the Missionaries had gone out to preach missions, but here the pilgrims came to them and so the sanctuary became a place of permanent mission with the people coming to them.
More than 20 000 souls flock there every year to renew themselves in spiritual fervour in the shelter of this truly impressive shrine and which inspires one with something indefinable but which marvellously draws one up to God.
Letter to Fr. Pierre Mie, October 1818, EO VI n.31
How often have we sat and heard the same Gospel proclaimed every three years, but on one particular Sunday, it is as if we are seeing, hearing and experiencing the words for the first time?
It is not the Gospel this morning, but rather is Eugene speaking to his sons and daughters followed by one of his sons sharing a deeper sense of what Eugene was saying and sharing that with all of us – daughters and sons alike.
“Mother of the Mission” and “The aim of the sanctuary was the same as that of the parish missions: to bring the most abandoned to conversion and to a life of fullness in God.” How did I not register the words “Mother of the Mission” yesterday which seemed to jump out from the screen this morning?
God gives us what we need, and when necessary shines God’s light on it.
Mary the Mother of God, in full communion with the saints – all in Communion with God. Is this not the aim of all teachers and formators as they are called to instill within us a deeper sense of “who we are in the eyes of God”?
This is but one small image of Ongoing Formation. My heart smiles out of joy and gratitude. This is but one of the ways that God shows us life, and for those of us who are members of the Oblate/Mazenodian Family it is the way that we are called to show and share with others.