On this rather cool Tuesday evening we gathered in the chapel of the Provincial House to celebrate a community Mass for Fr John Hannah OMI who died last week. Traditionally we gathered some thirty minutes before for our Oblate Oraison. In the tradition of our Congregation we have this daily period of silent prayer in the evening when the local Oblate community comes together around our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Founder St Eugene de Mazenod “invented” this practice so that in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament the Oblates can live their union as a community at the local level and as a moment of union with all the Oblates across the world. During Oraison we don’t have any spoken prayers but silently we focus on Jesus who has called us to be his Oblates.
As we gathered for this Oblate spiritual exercise like we do every day, I realised that Fr John’s Oblate crucifix was placed in front of the altar. The crucifix was his silent companion from the day he made his final vows as an Oblate in 1957. During those thirty minutes my eyes kept travelling from the tabernacle to the crucifix as I was drawn to savour what is called in the Catholic Church Communion of Saints. It has nothing to do with sentimental remembering those who are gone but it is a powerful experience of unity in Jesus Christ.
With Fr John’s passing his crucifix now can be taken up by a new candidate who hears Jesus’ calling to be an Oblate. The man will have a powerful relic.
As we gathered for this Oblate spiritual exercise like we do every day, I realised that Fr John’s Oblate crucifix was placed in front of the altar. The crucifix was his silent companion from the day he made his final vows as an Oblate in 1957. During those thirty minutes my eyes kept travelling from the tabernacle to the crucifix as I was drawn to savour what is called in the Catholic Church Communion of Saints. It has nothing to do with sentimental remembering those who are gone but it is a powerful experience of unity in Jesus Christ.
With Fr John’s passing his crucifix now can be taken up by a new candidate who hears Jesus’ calling to be an Oblate. The man will have a powerful relic.
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