Canadian-born Oblate Father, Pierre Fisette, had ministered for two years, but had made mistakes and was sorry for them. Eugene summoned this 26-year-old to leave Canada and come to France in 1846, saying: “I am quite disposed to welcome the penitent with paternal feelings.”
Writing to Father Guigues, the Provincial Superior of Canada, Eugene confided:
After such experiences, it is true to say that one must hope against all hope.
Eugene, the ever-hopeful father of his Oblate family, made Pierre accompany him in all his activities for a few days, heard his confession, and introduced him to some of the French Oblates and their ministry, before sending him to work in Corsica.
The one of whom I am speaking was able to see by this attention on my part and the kindnesses that I showed him that “leprosy and all the infirmities” that disfigure a son do not extinguish the affection in the heart of a father.
Letter to Fr Bruno Guigues in Canada, 8 January 1847, EO I n 75
REFLECTION
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” (Ann Landers)
Loving God, help me to share what I am and what I have with those who are in need. May my love for those who are weak or have made mistakes show itself in my actions and words.
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/