As the size of the group increased, it was necessary that there be a common Rule to capture the spirit of the group and how to live by this spirit. Eugene’s letters from Paris clearly indicate that he was preparing this text. In his letter on formation issues, he refers to the process again:
In the meanwhile, until we decide what must be added to the Rules…
Those who were coming forward to join the Missionaries were young and mostly straight out of school. A certain amount of discipline was necessary in order to let them be formed into Missionaries.
Eugene wanted them to be clear about how to think and be and live “all for God” – they needed to be trained to live according to the spirit of the cenacle. The advice he gives them on how to behave on their way to classes is aimed at this. Today, 200 years later, some of the prescriptions appear rather strange for us, but let us remember that his only goal was to help them to become missionaries who were “all for God.”
In the meanwhile, until we decide what must be added to the Rules, as soon as the bell for departure has been rung, the student novices must present themselves before the superior to receive his blessing; they will thence proceed to the church to adore Our Lord; after that they will leave and go in silence to the seminary, two by two or three by three, but not in a group. They can however break silence to speak in a low voice and without gesticulating, only with their companion and about class subjects.
Once arrived at the seminary, if it is not time to enter into class, they will go into the church to adore the most holy Sacrament. If they are obliged to wait, they will study their lesson and continue to observe the strictest silence. In class they will follow the seminary rules exactly and will leave as soon as it is ended, again entering the church to thank Our Lord. They can never penetrate within the seminary to speak even with a director without having obtained permission before leaving the house and when they are in the superior’s presence. He will give such permission only reluctantly because the others would be obliged to wait for whomever had gone into the seminary so that all can always return together in silence. In the case of not having foreseen the need to speak with someone at the seminary and this being truly indispensable, permission should be asked from the most senior who would be obliged to refer the matter to the superior on reaching the house; it is to him that they present themselves after having adored the Blessed Sacrament. If anyone commits some fault against the Rule during the walk or at the seminary, he will accuse such to the superior on returning.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 4 November 1817, O.W. VI n. 29
Lest we be tempted to think that Eugene was forming little self-centred pseudo-monks, let us not forget that as a result of their training, these young men became courageous, self-sacrificing missionaries who gave their lives generously to bring the Gospel to countless poor and abandoned people in many countries of the world. They became Oblates in the full sense of the word.
Well….I must say I totally do not understand this new rule. It sounds to me more like being in jail than being in a family. Also I think it would create a society of whistle-blowers squealing on each other rather than a brotherhood.
It is not my idea of what Jesus wanted from His disciples. From what I have been reading from Richard Rohr, it is in fact totally opposed to the karmic law of taking in and giving out. Love (of God and our fellow man) and knowledge of “the word” is useless, stagnant, narcissistic if not shared. God IS love shared. How often I have been humbled and forced to reconsider my position after listening to myself speak to you and after listening to what you have to say.
And yet it seams to have worked…. the Oblates became truly amazing missionaries and flourish to this day.
I don’t understand.
Any thoughts?
John
At first reading I thought about how constraining all of this would be were it a part of my life. But I then thought of my recent retreat where there were times of silence that I tried to be faithful to. It was in those times of silence that there was “no escape”, no distractions and so I had actually stop doing and just be. I then had time to listen and reflect. Those times were times of deepening of coming a little more in touch with who I am, who God created me to become and be. And at the end of the retreat, while I did not want to let those treasured times go, it was time and it was exciting to go out, and give and share and love and to see others doing the same. I felt recharged, renewed and strong.
And I think of the times of community prayer and being where I need to be – again not always “doing”, and the repetition of all of that. And it seems that in the silence and in the repetition, rootedness begins, and there is a building and strengthening that occurs. It sounded a little bit “extreme” what Eugene was calling for, but there is a part of me that would probably have loved a little bit of that structure.
Perhaps it is just coming out of a school mass that makes me sound like a grumpy harridan, but I do see the need for establishing a sense of “DISCIPLine” for new “DISCIPLes”. Personally I believe that the formal rules, especially in formative years (be that for age or position), help to set a solid ground work, that, once the discipline is understood, can be used in other situations. Without the borders that are placed, there is the possibility that focus is lost – since not all of us have the self-discipline to concentrate, at least as we learn what focusing and concentration mean to a given situation.
For those at the retreat who laughed at the thought of certain ones of us “being silent” – we learned, and probably could not have done so without the repeated reminders of the rules….
Well now, here we are a year later and I have just come from being on a retreat. Again I marvel at Eugene’s vision and his forsight. I read and focus a little differently on parts of the writing. I believe there is a wisdom in how Eugene set things up. It all sounds quite strict and yet I think that it was most invaluable training for the men on how to live together in community.
I remember at Madonna House cleaning and setting up the dinning room which would easily seat more than a hundred people. There was a set place on the table for everything including where the salt and pepper shakers would be placed. Of course at first I balked at this and wanted to know why ‘they’ were being so anal and rigid. I can still recall Helen’s gentleness as she explained that by keeping that small bit of order it would mean there was order from one table to the next and that would allow for less chaos in the room when all were seated for their meals. When people came in for dinner all was ready for them and they did not need to look and search for anything. It was a small little service born out of love that we did for our brothers and sisters. It was the idea of trying to make it the best possible way for all of us to be able to eat and discuss and enjoy each other. That order allowed for a great deal of freedom for us to be somehow.
At this past retreat a sense of my call to love through serving those who serve again was renewed, strengthened and perhaps refined. I actually found great joy in being able to do those small things. in setting up the room and the chairs, having everything prepared as people entered into the sessions for it allowed them all to focus on the retreat. It was a small thing and yet that was a small gift of myself to God and to them. It was not demeaning in any way it but rather it did bring great joy somehow. I did it out of love for each of them. And still I found all the time I needed to be a part of the retreat and listen and pray and commune and be – as much as I needed.
Service is not a ‘lessening’ thing, any more than is silence or the following of the rules that Eugene spoke of, for with all of this comes a loving and freedom. It is or can be a grace. Eugene you did things from your own lived and learned experienced as well as by listening and being open to that which God called you. You led/lead us and guide us (for it continues today). My only greatness is and will be in God and it will be in my being small and little and ordinary. (This is now becoming more than just nice and holy words I heard somewhere – for I used to say and secretly hope that I would become great for God – I think that perhaps I have been listening to you and Paul and you are beginning to rub off on me.) I am so grateful for your yes and your sharing that, you continue today to touch and inspire. I ask you to continue to pray for me.