OBLATES AND
CHRISTIAN UNITY OCTAVE
JANUARY 18-25
The word "octave" comes from the Latin word for eight. The Church Unity Octave is 8 days of special prayer for the reunion of all Christians. At the Last Supper Jesus prayed for his followers "that they all may be one." But Christians have sometimes forgotten that we are all one body with Christ as our head. We think of ourselves instead as Eastern or Western, Protestant or Catholic.Jesus and disciples

The church prays for Christian unity all during the year. But during the week of the Church Unity Octave we pray with special concern. We ask that all Christians might be able to work together. The Octave ends on January 25, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

In his Lenten Pastoral Letter of 1860, St. Eugene DeMazenod taught: "Jesus Christ had to asociate mankind to himself mystically so as to form one whole with it while allowing the personality proper to each person united to him to subsist. And just as there is only one person in Jesus Christ, all Christians should form with him but one body, whose head he is and whose members they are... "

The 1982 Constitutions reflect the more explicit ecumenical characteristic of the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council: Our efforts will be characterized by a genuine desire for unity with all who consider themselves followers of Jesus, so that, according to his prayer, all may believe that the Father has sent him (cf Jn. 17:21). (Constitution # 6)

Prayers for this Octave are often published in each diocese.


OBLATES AND THE
FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL - JANUARY 25


Anniversary of the Founding of the Congregation

The founding of the Society of the Missionaries of Provence was announced in October 1815; but only on January 25, 1816, did Fathers deMazenod, Tempier and probably Icard come together in the abandoned Carmelite monastery in Aix-en-Provence and begin living in common. In February of 1816 they were joined by Fathers Deblieu and Mie.
St. Paul
The Founder celebrated this anniversary each year. On January 24, 1831, he wrote to Father Mille and the novices and scholastics at Billens: "Tomorrow I celebrate the anniversary of the day, sixteen years ago, I left my mother's house to go and set up house at the Mission. Father Tempier had taken possession of it some days before. Our lodging had none of the splendor of the mansion at Billens... My camp-bed was placed in the small passageway which leads to the library; it was then a large room used as a bedroom for Father Tempier and one other... It was also our community room. One lamp was all our lighting and, when it was time for bed, it was placed in the doorway to give light to all three of us. The table that adorned our refectory was one plank laid alongside another, on top of two old barrels. We have never enjoyed the blessing of such poverty since the time we took the vow."

Father Fabre in 1865 asked that the day be marked with "sentiments of gratitude to God and affection for our dear Congregation."

The Spirit prompted the first Christians to share everything. Under the influence of that same Spirit we hold all things in common. Our members adopt a simple lifestyle, remebering that it is essential for our religious institute to give collective witness to evangelical detachment. (Constitution 21)

The Oblate congregation never developed a specific rite for this anniversary. Its message has been incorporated into the celebration of Oblate Day, February 17. Conversion, community, poverty and such themes remind us of St. DeMazenod's zeal to preach God's Word tot he poor are appropriate subjects for community prayer on this day.