Cor Unum: Grateful Remebrance

Constitution 43 states that “We will keep alive the memory of our deceased and not fail to pray for them.” It is a beautiful tradition among us to do so according to the prescribed prayers when an Oblate or one of his immediate family members passes away (cf. Appendix C.43). Many communities celebrate Mass together once a month for all the deceased members of the Congregation. Every day we also pray for the members of our charismatic family.

We need to remember with gratitude those who have gone before us in our Oblate vocation. I fondly recall the custom in my home Province of visiting the Oblate cemetery during the annual retreat. In a prayerful atmosphere, the elders would recall the names of each Oblate buried there. It was a moment filled with affection and gratitude for their witness. We would pray for them, and I would even say that we prayed with them. In this way, we continue to strengthen the bonds between the “community in heaven” and those of us who walk in hope, proclaiming the Gospel to the most abandoned, following in the footsteps of St. Eugene. November is a special time to experience Oblate fraternity with our community in heaven.

By Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI