EVERYWHERE THE MISSIONARIES ARE ADMIRABLE FOR THEIR ZEAL AND THEIR CHARITY

Posted on January 8, 2025 by franksantucci

In sending more missionaries to Ceylon, Eugene wrote to the superior of that mission.

I have no doubt that you will be very happy with the Fathers whom I am sending you… As for Fr. Mouchel, I do not think any missionary has ever had so clear a vocation. He has already studied English a good deal, and you can look on him as a man truly devoted… 

Everywhere they are admirable for their zeal and their charity. If it is hot in Ceylon, it is certainly cold on Hudson’s Bay, and all our missionaries on missions to the Red Indians, whether they are French, Irish or Canadian, are certainly leading a harder life than the one that he is so weak as to complain about.

Then he shares family news from North America:

We have as yet no news of Fr. Lempfrit’s arrival in Oregon, and it takes eight months for a letter to arrive. I recently sent them some shoes, some shirts, some trousers and so on. They have nothing, living among those Indians.

Letter to Fr Etienne Semeria, 21 February 1849, EO IV n. 10

REFLECTION

“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light” (J.K. Falconer)

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1 Response to EVERYWHERE THE MISSIONARIES ARE ADMIRABLE FOR THEIR ZEAL AND THEIR CHARITY

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate says:
    January 8, 2025 at 14:15

    My habit is to try and recognize what Eugene shares with us in the here and now, and how we care for each other. Love will demand that we serve each other, in ways that are at times noisy and messy as well as joyous and full of light. Whether we be in different roles we still work together and help out with the many small ways of love. I am reminded of R 37a which speaks of journeying together in reciprocity.

    We yearn to walk in the light of the Lord, together rather than alone, to love and serve, to share and nourish, while at the same time receiving and being nourished.

    I do not know who JK Falconer is, but I dare to want to join him in the dark and noisy messiness of the world (it is here where we find ourselves standing in the shadow of the Cross). It is here that we recognize ourselves in the other and so look to God with hope and perseverance. It is from within the darkness that we see the light – while those who like to stand in the limelight become blinded by it.

    We thank St. Eugene for sharing with us the light the Spirit’s gift so that we can then turn and share it with those around us…

    Reply

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