17th February
Anniversary of the Approval of the Congregation and Rule
17 February, 1826, ten years after the foundation of the Oblate congregation, the congregation and its Rule were officially approved by the Church. From the Rule and Constitutions, it states that these "...set out a privileged means for each Oblate to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. They are inspired by the charism lived by the Founder and his first companions; also, they have received the approval of the Church. Thus, they allow each Oblate to evaluate the quality of his response to his vocation and to becomea saint.”
The preface to the Oblate Rule sets out advice on how “…those who want to follow in the footsteps of their divine Master Jesus Christ (should) conduct themselves…
They must strive to be saints.
They must walk courageously...
They must wholly renounce themselves…”
As members of the De Mazenod Family, the above words of St Eugene to the Oblate priests can apply to us as well. As we mark the anniversary of the Church's official recognition of St Eugene’s vision - for an order of priests willing to “oblate” themselves or fully lay down their lives in order to bring others to Christ -let us spend a moment asking ourselves: How do we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, how can we present Him to those we come across each day?
How can we more readily lay down our own life for the other?
