RIMOA MEETING ANGERS AUGUST 2016 Presentation by Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs The Mission of Our Lady of Charity according to Saint John Eudes By way of introduction, some of the 'values' that John Eudes put forward for our specific mission are summarised below; they are based on his practice and his writings: A soul (= a person) is worth more than a world. Demonstrating a profound respect for their fundamental dignity. Zeal for the salvation of souls / the lives of people: in the 'Fundamental Constitution' of Our Lady of Charity, zeal is expressed with the words "imitate as far as possible... the most ardent love of the Heart of Jesus, Son of Mary, and of Mary, Mother of Jesus, for the souls created in the image and likeness of God, and redeemed by the precious blood of His Son". In other words, zeal must be rooted in mercy, in the Heart of God touched by our sufferings and anguish. Accept that the Cross is part of the work of the mission, and at the same time believe in the power of the Resurrection, at work in each person. We rely on Mary, she is our model, since we are the Daughters of her Heart. Discern with others, and take action with them. Do everything we possibly can for our part, and completely trust in God, relying on His Holy Will. To begin with, it is worth mentioning that John Eudes never actually lived in a house of Our Lady of Charity, in close proximity to the women who entered there. It was through his missions that he became aware of the situation of these women and he sought a way to respond to their distress; this led to the founding of Our Lady of Charity. He corresponded with the community and with some of the sisters, but for various reasons he was kept more or less distant from the community, except during the last few years of his life when he made regular visits to the community at Caen. He was only acquainted with the early foundations of his Institute, he never visited Rennes after its official foundation, nor Guingamp, nor Hennebont (founded during his lifetime). How did John Eudes understand the mission of Our Lady of Charity? From his point of view, the core mission was, of course, to continue the mission of Jesus, and especially his zeal for the salvation of lost and abandoned souls. The most important text concerning the mission of Our Lady of Charity is known as the "Fundamental Constitution", which outlines the purpose of the Institute and, as such, its Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 1
specific mission. This is the text in which Saint John Eudes most clearly expressed how he saw the place of our Congregation in the Church. He emphasised that, like all Congregations, Our Lady of Charity has, " the same general and ultimate purpose, to serve and glorify God by the practice of the evangelical counsels... and by seeking to imitate perfectly all the other virtues of our Lord and His most holy Mother." He then describes what is unique to the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity: "But its own special end, which distinguishes it from the others, is to imitate as far as possible, by the help of divine Grace, the most ardent love of the Heart of Jesus, Son of Mary, and of Mary, Mother of Jesus, for the souls created in the image and likeness of God, and redeemed by the precious blood of His Son... This is the root of the charism of Our Lady of Charity, where its mission finds its meaning: it is not primarily about 'doing' something! It is primarily about imitating the love of the Heart of Jesus and his Mother, a Heart that burns with love for life and for the salvation of all people who have been created in the image of God and saved by the blood of the Son of God. It is essential to primarily go to this source. It is by drawing from this source, and from Jesus' special love for "lost and abandoned souls", that we can understand why John Eudes talked about the need for an Institute which was specifically devoted to work for their salvation and for their lives, an Institute whose members were to devote all their strength and every aspect of their lives to these people. Here is what he wrote on the subject, both about the individuals "for whom" the Institute of Our Lady of Charity was founded and about how to work with them and for them: They (the sisters) apply themselves whole-heartedly, by their example of holy living, by the fervour of their prayers, and by their efficacious teaching, to the conversion of girls and women, who after falling into a disordered life of licentiousness, are touched by God and willing to depart from the state of sinfulness, to do penance under their guidance, and to learn more readily the way of serving His divine Majesty, and of saving themselves." The mission of Our Lady of Charity is to welcome women who have lived, objectively speaking, and according to the moral values of the time, a "disordered life". Sexual sin, particularly among women, was considered the worst of sins... But what we see here, is that these women were "touched by God", and willing to "do penance"; we must support their journey of "conversion" and offer them ways of "serving His divine Majesty, and of saving themselves": we are not involved in social action, but essentially in a role of salvation! However, this does not mean that we should not focus on the whole person... Being involved in the work of salvation is not only (nor primarily) about 'doing' things: John Eudes begins by mentioning "their example of holy living": this means that, whatever we do, it is life itself that is given to these women. Of course, there will be those who can lead by example, but it is not simply just that: in a community, the Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 2
example of holy living and of each individual sister, as laid down for them by obedience, is necessary for the mission of the community, because everyone is a member of the same body and it is the body that is on a mission. He then referred to the life of prayer: this is a reminder that the conversion of one person, their change in lifestyle, does not come from us but from God, and that our intercession is essential - we must unceasingly take them before and into the Heart of God. Only thirdly does he address "their efficacious teaching": this covers all actions undertaken, by word or deed, to offer these women the opportunity to change their lives, to become whole again. And these specific actions can vary enormously depending on the period, as well as undoubtedly on the country... so only the two first ways to serve these women are valid at all times and in all places! John Eudes went on to describe the uniqueness of Our Lady of Charity: "For as there are in the Church of God, nursing sisters called to care for sick bodies, so also there must be sisters, whose monasteries are, as it were, hospitals for receiving sick souls and for nursing them back to spiritual health." Hospitals for receiving sick souls! This is a beautiful expression by John Eudes, and one which should appeal to Pope Francis who sees the Church as "a field hospital to accommodate all the wounded of life". We are all too well aware that there are many 'sicknesses of the soul' and of the heart, at all times and in all countries... John Eudes then launches into a number of points which justify the need for such a foundation, and which might encourage the sisters to commit themselves to it: This work is most pleasing to God, "for nothing is dearer to His Heart than the salvation of souls. "It is a work which includes all other possible good works, both corporal and spiritual." "That one soul is worth more than a whole world, so that to help it out of the abyss of sin is a greater thing than to bring a world into being out of nothing. This is an often quoted phrase! Even John Eudes himself used it many times, including the superlative: a soul is of more value than one hundred, than one thousand, than one hundred thousand worlds! For him, this is an affirmation of a basic value: the inalienable dignity of each individual person. "One single soul is more precious in God's sight than all the bodies in the universe." This still remains our approach. If we nourish a soul, a heart, a mind, if we strengthen it, if we deliver one soul from the slavery of sin to bring it to the life of grace, what beautiful work! It is better than carrying out the greatest austerities and mortifications of the body... It is more pleasing (to God) than suffering martyrdom. John Eudes goes on to say: "The most Godly of all things, is to cooperate with Him in the salvation of souls and Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 3
especially of those who are lost and helpless, for our Lord said that He had come, not for the just, but for sinners." Cooperate with God in the salvation of souls: this is a beautiful way to describe our mission, while still stressing that this is not 'our' work but God's work, who alone can save. This expression also highlights the importance of our mission: we work with God - he wants to need us! If Our Lady of Charity is in the Church, it is in order to labour together in this work of salvation, and to engage in it according to what is required of each person: "That this was the purpose for which the Institute was founded and established in the Church, they have not entered in this Congregation to save themselves alone, but to cooperate in the salvation of souls in the way laid down for them by obedience." John Eudes reiterates that this work does not belong to us, but that we have the grace "to be associated in this work with our Lord Jesus Christ, with His most holy Mother, with His Apostles and so many great Saints". He adds (and this is one of the reasons for introducing the fourth vow, which 'kept' the sisters in this unique mission, despite its difficulties) that, " so long as they apply themselves to the Exercises of such a holy Institute, God will bless them with great Blessing, spiritual and temporal, for there is no one on earth whom He loves more than those who cooperate with Him in the salvation of souls." John Eudes ends the description about the mission of Our Lady of Charity by stating that, this is the first and principal one of their Constitutions, the most important of their obligations; it is the spirit and soul of their Institute, the way which God has marked out for them to go to Him and to become pleasing to His divine Majesty." It is important to take note of this latter expression: the way which God has marked out for them to go to Him. This means that to engage fully, with all your heart, in the mission of Our Lady of Charity, you must enter into a genuine spiritual experience, which gives you access to the Heart of God. There is no need to seek to do other things, as one might sometimes be tempted to do! John Eudes concludes by drawing on the consequence of these fundamental affirmations and by summarising the essential work of the sisters: "They must therefore strive, heart and soul, with care and industry, to become worthy of cooperating with Jesus Christ our Lord, in the work of saving the souls that He redeemed with His blood. They must embrace lovingly all the hardships and difficulties which are to be met in this vocation, for the love of Him, who suffered such outrage for this. In this way let them become true daughters of Our Lady of Charity; for the most perfect way of exercising charity is in saving souls from perdition and leading them to eternal salvation." We should note that the expression "zeal for the salvation of souls" is not used in this Constitution, even though it is the phrase that describes the purpose and character of Our Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 4
Lady of Charity! Yet, zeal is present in many ways, of course, since it is a passion that burned within John Eudes throughout his missionary activity... So, where can we find this expression?? To begin with, it is interesting to note what John Eudes wrote at the beginning of the "Dedicatory Letter" addressed to the religious of Our Lady of Charity (OC X, 245-247). He reminded the Sisters that their Congregation, " was established for the same purpose for which the Divine Saviour came into this world, that is to call not the just but sinners to repentance, and to seek and to save that which was lost." We know from the Gospel of Luke that Jesus said he had come to "set the earth on fire", and in the parables found in Luke 15, Jesus described three people who searched for/tirelessly waited to find "what was lost"... The expression 'zeal for the salvation of souls' is found several times in the "Wishes and Prayers for the Religious of Our Lady of Charity", which is the text following "the Humble Glory of the Religious of Our Lady of Charity" (preface to the Constitutions): No. 6: John Eudes prays that the hearts of the religious are living images of the Heart of Jesus and Mary, of their love, of their humility... and of their ardent zeal for the salvation of souls. This text is followed by an exhortation to the religious of Our Lady of Charity to dwell in the motherly Heart of Mary, living her life... "and above all that her zeal for the salvation of souls may devour you". In the Constitutions, work for the salvation of souls is mentioned regularly, more often, in fact, than zeal for the salvation of souls ; however, it is mentioned twice in Constitution 40, concerning the Mistress of Novices, including this extremely important text: "She shall inspire the Novices with a most burning love for the salvation of souls; and with great zeal in praying often that God would bring back the strayed and the erring to the paths of salvation..." Constitution 50, concerning the admission of the novices, uses the word 'love' rather than 'zeal'. "No young person shall be received for the purpose of entering the Congregation... who does not testify... a more than ordinary love for the salvation of the Penitents..." Constitution 52 instructs that sisters selected as Mistress of the Novices and as Mistresses of the Penitents are "extremely zealous for the end of the Institute." The description of the fourth vow does not mention zeal for the salvation of souls, nor does the formula for the renewal of vows, which instead refers to working, in accordance with obedience, for the conversion and instruction of the girls and women in the house. On the other hand, the Annals of Our Lady of Charity mention John Eudes visits to the community at Caen towards the end of his life: "He was eloquent in all that he said, he seemed to surpass himself when he talked about our fourth vow: "The special grace of your vocation, my dear Daughters, is the zeal for the salvation of souls." On 3 June 1666, after having received papal approval for Our Lady of Charity, John Eudes Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 5
gave an exhortation to the sisters at Caen on the occasion of the renewal of vows: "You are indispensably obliged to use all your care, industry, prayers and above all the example of a holy life so as to draw to your spouse the souls he has already redeemed at the price of his blood." (OC XII, 159) Several of John Eudes' letters to the sisters in the community at Caen, or to other friends, also mention zeal for the salvation of souls: A letter to Madame de Camilly (March 1644), in which John Eudes advised her to discern if a particular candidate had a vocation, and one of the criteria to consider was if she had zeal for the salvation of souls. A letter to Madame d'argouges (1678) on the projected establishment of a foundation in Paris: "To win a soul for God is greater than to conquer a hundred thousand worlds, for a single soul is of higher value than that of many worlds." When the community at Caen received Episcopal approval on 8 February 1651, John Eudes wrote to them about his joy, and urged them to have but one heart with Mary, their Mother, and to engrave in their own hearts a perfect likeness of all her virtues, including zeal for the salvation of souls. A letter to the community in December 1661 also mentioned zeal for the salvation of souls among the holy virtues to be practised; and a further letter written in 1666, after receiving Pontifical approval, recommends that the sisters have: "above all, above all, above all, zeal for the salvation of lost and abandoned souls.'' On the establishment at Rennes (1670): Rennes was the second foundation of Our Lady of Charity to be established, 32 years after the early beginnings at Caen! In 1666, Mother Patin replied to a request from the Bishop of Rennes by saying that it was too early to send sisters elsewhere (at that time there were 16 professed); but she gave the Bishop of Rennes the name of Marie Heurtaut, who had spent more than four years in the community, between 1657 and 1661. Consequently, Marie Heurtaut went to Rennes and took care of the Penitents while making preparations for a foundation of Our Lady of Charity. But on two occasions in 1670, Mother Marie du Saint- Sacrement Pierre, the first superior, refused to send any sisters, even after a letter from John Eudes expressing his surprise about her initial refusal: Is it because there are none who wish to come? Could they have so little charity? It wasn't until 1673 that two sisters were sent from Caen to officially start the foundation! Letter to his niece in 1672: John Eudes reminds her that it is a great grace to be engaged "in the work which is the most pleasing on earth to [Jesus and Mary], that is to say, the great work of the salvation of souls". And he invited her to acquire all the virtues necessary, including zeal for the salvation of souls. The letter for the Feast of the Assumption (written before 1656): this letter is particularly important for understanding how John Eudes saw the vocation and the mission of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. Lectionary No. 26 provides some important excerpts. The letter was probably written in response to concerns expressed by sisters who might have been tempted to be discouraged by the difficult mission. The founder reminds them about the Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 6
objective of their Institute, somewhat in the same terms as in the Fundamental Constitution: to labour for the salvation of lost souls, as obedience demands of each one, and to devote all aspects of their lives - so they can be true daughters of the Heart of Mary. And that they have, "...but one and the same vocation with the Mother of God. For, just as God chose to form his Son within her, and in the hearts of the faithful through her agency, so too he called you to the holy community in which you are now so that his Son might live in you, and through you restore him to life again in the souls in which he has been allowed to die... for the same end has He placed you in His holy house, with many graces in readiness for you. Ah! My dearest Sisters, how holy is your vocation! How immense is the goodness of God toward you in having called you to a truly apostolic Order! " John Eudes then addresses the difficulties that the sisters must suffer and which they must expect because they displease the 'evil spirit', who will place before your eyes the troubles and difficulties you must encounter as you carry out your mission. Yet there is no state in life exempt from suffering! This is what happened to Jesus too. Cast your eyes upon him, and you will see what he suffered to save our souls. And therefore, you must realise that you cannot claim to be associated with him in the work of the salvation of souls without having to experience some suffering! John Eudes then goes on to ask, should we not die of shame at the sight of our own weaknesses and cowardice? "The slightest difficulties dishearten us, the smallest trials discourage us, flies become elephants for us." We cannot enjoy the advantages of our holy religion and refuse the cross! Devotion is not an idle life... It involves self-denial, 'bearing one's cross, following in the footsteps of Jesus when he himself was seeking out lost souls' anything else is pure illusion! "The broad road leading to heaven is the way of the cross, that it is the only one... How can you be numbered among his members and spouses unless you conform to him? Must a new Gospel be written for you or do you want God to send another Messiah, one of honey and roses?" To this John Eudes adds: Would you prefer to go to heaven... alone leaving your poor sisters on the road to hell because you are so frail that you are afraid to make the effort to lend them a helping hand?" This is a very important statement: it is not about suffering for the sake of suffering, but rather about following Jesus: both taking the sufferings of others into his heart and effectively working to liberate them this cannot be achieved without difficulty or suffering (see the three steps of mercy). And for those who fear getting their hands dirty by reaching out to those wounded by life, John Eudes forcefully adds: "It is impossible for Our Lord to allow anyone to fall who, out of love for him, helps others to rise... trust in him who has called you to this divine work. If you mistrust yourselves and rely wholly on him, he will not withdraw and allow you to fall." Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 7
What tremendous trust! What conviction that a vocation receives all the necessary graces! John Eudes ends his letter by urging his daughters to, " be true daughters of her Holy Heart all aflame with love and zeal for the salvation of sinful souls who cost her the precious blood of her Son Jesus. " If we want to understand the profound meaning of our vocation and the path to be followed to achieve it, we should frequently meditate over this letter! We can now review the 'values' listed at the beginning: The first four (the infinite worth of every person; zeal for the salvation of souls, rooted in Mercy; the Paschal Mystery; and the role of Mary) are somehow the "Theological Foundation" of our specific vocation; it is worthwhile to assess how we take them into account today... The last two (take action with others; rely on God) address how we carry out this mission, and one as much as the other compels us never to refer to "my" mission! Marie Françoise Le Brizaut, rgs 8