21 May, Wednesday

Acts 15:1-6; Ps. 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5; Jn. 15:1-8.

Some Notes on St. Eugène de Mazenod

1. Eugène de Mazenod, OMI (born Charles-Joseph-Eugène de Mazenod (1782 - 1861) was a French aristocrat and Bishop who founded the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was born into a wealthy aristocratic family in Aix-en-Provence on 1 August 1782. He was baptized the following day. His father, Charles Antoine de Mazenod, was one of the Presidents of the Court of Finance, and his mother was Marie-Rose Joannis. His schooling was interrupted by the French Revolution and the family fled to Italy, leaving its considerable wealth behind. He was then only 8 yrs old.

2. As refugees in Italy, the family was powerless and poor and had to move from place to place to look for work. His mother and sister returned to France. Her mother got a divorce to be able to regain their seized property. In Venice, a holy priest, Don Bartolo Zinelli, took special care of Eugène. The young Eugène spent many hours each day studying under Don Zinelli, who greatly influenced his academic and spiritual development.

3. But the French army chased the refugees to Naples, then to Palermo in Sicily. There he became a companion of the sons of the Duke and Duchess of Cannizaro. He rediscovered his noble origins and lived a lavish style of life, taking to himself the title "Comte," Count de Mazenod. At the age of 20, he returned to Aix-en-Provence to live with his mother and enjoy the pursuit of pleasure and money, and a very rich girl who would bring a good dowry. But gradually he became aware of the emptiness of his life and began to be engaged in serious reading, personal study, and charitable work among prisoners.

4. His journey to personal renewal reached a climax on Good Friday in 1807, when he was 25 years old. Looking at the Cross of Jesus, tears streamed from his eyes as he realized the gravity of his sinfulness. "Blessed, a thousand times blessed, that He, this good Father, notwithstanding my unworthiness, lavished on me all the richness of his mercy," so he wrote in his retreat journal.

5. A year later, he began his studies for the priesthood at the Saint-Sulpice Seminary in Paris and was ordained a a priest at Amiens on 21 December 1811. Returning to Aix, he wanted to be "the servant and priest of the poor." So, he requested an assignment to evangelize the poor, prisoners, youth, and the inhabitants of poor villages. To the poor he spoke the Provençal language. His goal was to lead them to "develop themselves fully as humans, then as Christians, and finally to become saints." In 1816, he invited other priests to join him as the "Missionaries of Provence" in his total oblation to God and to the most abandoned. "Let us do some good while we have the time," he said.

6. In 1818, the missionaries decided to become a religious congregation, united through religious vows. Changing their name to Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, with the motto, "He has sent me to evangelize the poor," they received papal approbation on 17 February 1826.

In 1832, Fr. de Mazenod was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop. In 1837 he became Bishop of Marseille, succeeding his uncle, Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod. He was made a Peer of the French Empire. In 1851, Pope Pius IX gave him the pallium. In 1854, he participated in the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception.

7. As Founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he sent Oblate missionaries to Canada, the United States, Mexico, England, Ireland, Algeria, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He led and inspired his missionaries for 35 years as Superior General until his death. Through all his pastoral activities, he remained a man of intense daily prayer and asceticism.

Because of Eugène's missionary zeal and daring, a visiting bishop said, "I have met the apostle Paul."

8. On 21 May 1861, at age 79, Bishop Eugène Joseph de Mazenod returned to the Lord. His last words summed up his life: "Practice well among yourselves charity, charity, charity, and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls." Beatified by Pope Paul VI on 19 October 1975, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 3 December 1995 who described the new Saint as "marked by a heroic degree of faith, hope, and apostolic charity.... one of those apostles who prepared the modern age, our age." St. Eugène is the patron Saint of dysfunctional families.

9. 1st Reading, Acts 15:1-6 -- The Council of Jerusalem. Some Jewish converts insisted that the Gentile converts should follow the Mosaic law. "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved" (v. 1). So Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to consult the "apostles and presbyters." There, they were welcomed (vv. 2-5). "The apostles and presbyters met together to see about this matter" (v. 6). Under the leadership of Peter, supported by James, the Council decided to side with Paul and Barnabas, that the Mosaic practice of circumcision should not be followed by Gentile converts.

10. Gospel, Jn. 15: 1-8 -- The Vine and the Branches. "I am the the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you" (vv. 1-3). "Remain in me as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing" (vv. 4-5). "Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them" and burn them (v. 6). "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples" (vv. 7-8).

11. The parable of the Vine and the Branches describes the intimate union between Christ and his disciples. Remain in me, abide in me, dwell in me are various translations that tell of absolute necessary union with Christ on pain of spiritual death. For us, his disciples, Christ is our Way and our Life.

12. Prayer --

O God, in your mercy, you blessed your Bishop Saint Eugène de Mazenod with the zeal of an apostle to preach the Good News to the nations. Grant that by his intercession, we may be filled with the same spirit, and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the service of the Church and the salvation of all. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (Collect for the Mass).

Halleluiah! Halleluiah!! Prayerful Easter blessings and best wishes, God bless!