February 17th is known throughout the Oblate World as “Oblate Day.” It is the day when The Congregation and its Constitutions were formally approved by Rome.  

There is an interesting history of the Congregation's name associated with this event. Eugene founded his community as the Society of the Missionaries of Provence.  As numbers grew and new houses were founded outside Provence, the name was changed to Oblates of St. Charles, the patron saint of the de Mazenod family. This was also the name on the official text of the Constitution presented to the cardinal's commission for approval. However, while in Rome, during the octave of the Immaculate Conception, Eugene decided to change the name, as he explained to avoid confusion with another religious congregation, to the Oblates of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary. The fact was called "Our Marian Baptism" and the Founder himself attributed the change of the Congregation's name to Divine Providence. (Read more: https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/oblates-of-mary-immaculate/)

On February 17, 1826, the new Congregation and its Constitutions were formally approved by Pope Leo XII.  For the Oblates, the Founder’s Preface to the constitutions will always be an unrivalled expression of his charism and a bond of unity for the Congregation.  

“We must lead men to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints” (Preface).

May the Holy Spirit strengthen all Oblates around the world in preaching the Gospel to the poor!

(TJ/DJ/photo:omiworld.org)