Crucifix of St Eugene de Mazenod There are some significant events we like to celebrate and one of such events for us Oblates is Good Friday. On a Good Friday in the early XIX century Eugene de Mazenod went to church like lots of Catholics still do. He had an interesting mindset back then. He was planning marriage though in his mind he wanted a pretty girl, which can be understood, but he also wanted a wealthy girl who would secure his financial future. Not a very romantic plan rather a selfish plan. However that Good Friday the Future Founder of the Missionary Oblates walks into his parish church, probably he didn’t know that God was to reveal to him a different plan. As the veneration of the cross started he was moved to tears. What surfaced with the tears was God’s love for him. Eugene, in the midst of the Church, met the living Christ. It transformed him so profoundly that he never again went to the plans of a well of marriage but set out to discern the will of God for him. It was the beginning of awakening of his vocation to the priesthood. A few years ago when he was looking for companions to establish the Community of Missionaries he wrote to one of them: “Read this letter at the feet of your cross.” He hoped that the priest could experience the same transformation he underwent that Good Friday when his life took a new turn. Later he did this for other Oblates as he gave us a missionary cross to be worn on our cassock, the cross which has got the power of transformation. It did transform Eugene de Mazenod.
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