聖馬善樂
馬善樂生於1782年8月1日法國南部的一個貴族家庭。八歲時適逢法國大革命，所有貴族家庭和教會人士都受到政府迫害，馬善樂便隨家人逃難到意大利。
馬善樂在異邦流浪，十九歲時才與與家人重返故鄉，看到因連年戰爭，人民的生活陷於極度困苦，青年馬善樂的心靈受到極大打擊。他立志修道，希望能終生為教會、貧苦和有需要的人服務。雖然他的母親極力反對他做教士，但年青的馬善樂並不因此而放棄他修道的志願，經過了七年的祈禱，他的恆心，忍耐和堅決為教會服務和為貧苦人謀福利的志向，最終感化了母親。1808年她母親允許他進入巴黎一間修院，三年後晉鐸，那時他才二十九歲。
晉鐸後，他隨即培育信眾愛主愛人的基督徒精神，他還特派他們到最貧窮的地區照顧貧民，並為他們的子女講解要理。當時有些與馬善樂志同道合的青年神父也加入了他的工作，他們的工作備受當地神長所重視和讚揚。
1815年馬善樂神父被召到馬賽教區擔任副主教，繼而被選拔為主教。由於工作日漸增多，又參與他為窮人服務的神父也日漸增多，他隨即建立一個新修會，專為最貧窮的地區服務。當時雖遭受一些教會人士極力反對，但他並不因此而灰心，他繼續發奮，且加倍祈禱，終於1816年1月29日成立無玷聖母獻主會。十年後，1926年2月17日教宗良十二世正式批准無玷聖母獻主會為一新修會團體 (Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate) 簡稱 O.M.I.或OBLATES FATHERS獻主會)。
馬善樂於1861年5月21日安逝。由於他聖德出眾，於1975 年10月19日，教宗若望保祿二世冊封他為聖人。
無玷聖母獻主會創立後，首先在法國輔助本地主教，隨後到世界各地傳教。目前獻主會有六千會士，分佈在68個國家，大部份分佈在貧窮地區，為貧苦和被遺棄的人服務。
祈禱
全能仁慈的天主，你指引聖馬善樂經歷人生的創痛，達致聖德的生活。求你藉他的榜樣和祈禱，治療我們的傷痛，並賜給我們以諒解、忍耐、愛心與勇氣，去克服人生的困難。因你的聖子、我們的主耶穌基督，他和你及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亞孟。
Saint Eugene de Mazenod
Eugene de Mazenod was born on August 1, 1782, at Aix-en-Provence in France, the son of wealthy aristocratic parents. Young Eugene had a very comfortable life. At eight years old, his idyllic world was swept away by the French Revolution in 1789 when the entire family was forced to flee into exile.
In 1802, when Eugene was 20 years old, he returned to France. It was not until when he was 25, Eugene’s life was gradually being transformed by a “conversion” experience. During the adoration of the cross on Good Friday in 1807, Eugene had a special experience of the love of Christ for him and the forgiveness of sin. This was such an experience that Eugene decided to dedicate his life to Jesus his Saviour. Despite opposition from his mother, he entered the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris in 1808, and on December 21, 1811, he was ordained a priest in Amiens. His dream was to be “the servant and priest of the poor.”
Eugene directed his ministry toward the poorest of the poor. Others joined his labors, and became the nucleus of a religious community, the Missionaries of Provence. Later Eugene was named Bishop of Marseille. There he built churches, founded parishes, cared for his priests, and developed catechetics for the young.
Later he founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and in 1841 the Oblates sailed for missions in five continents. Pius XI said, “the Oblates are the specialists of difficult missions.”
After a life dedicated to spreading the Good News, Eugene died on May 21, 1861. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975. On December 3, 1995 he was canonized by St. John Paull II, who said of the Saint, “His influence is not limited to the age in which he lived but continues its effect on our time… What Saint Eugene wanted to achieve was that, in Christ, each individual could become a fully complete person, an authentic Christian, a credible saint.”
Prayer
Almighty and loving God, you led St Eugene de Mazenod
through the sufferings and challenges of a broken family
to a life of holiness. Through his constant intercession
bless those whose relationships are damaged and broken.
Grant them the gifts of understanding, patience, love
and courage to overcome the problems of life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. Amen.