Eugene wrote to one of the Oblates about the reaction of the mother of the 23 year old Jean Chares Pandosy to her son being sent to Canada from France.
They have all set off with joy in their souls and have greatly edified everybody here. There was no exception, least of all in the case of one of their mothers, that of Pandosy, who gave the example of a Christian heroine. In the midst of tears she cried: “How can I not thank God for the grace of choosing my son to make known Jesus Christ to the unbelievers!” They are now on their way across the ocean, having left at the beginning of this month.
Letter to Fr Pierre Aubert, in Canada, 3 February 1847, EO I n 81
REFLECTION
“Let every mother realize that she has no greater blessing than the children who have come to her as a gift from the Almighty; that she has no greater mission than to rear them in light and truth, in understanding and love.” (Gordon B. Hinckley)
Perhaps a moment to pause and pray for our mothers and other mother-figures in our lives to whom we owe so much
There is but one and only one,
Whose love will fail you never.
One who lives from sun to sun,
With constant fond endeavor.
There is but one and only one
On earth there is no other.
In heaven a noble work was done
When God gave us a Mother.
An Irish blessing
Fr. Frank Santucci OMI currently holds the Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies and is assisted by Fr. David Muñoz OMI. They are teachers at OST, and have Oblate and lay students following their online courses in many parts of the world. They are involved in promoting St. Eugene de Mazenod’s charism, spirituality and mission at many levels in the United States and throughout the countries where the Oblates and lay members f the Mazenodian Family are present. Father Frank has been producing these daily guided readings to the writings of Saint Eugene de Mazenod since 2010. They are published in English, French, Spanish and Polish, visit: http://www.eugenedemazenod.net/