Fr. Midathada Mariadas MSFS

(This is the third part of his Doctoral Dissertation in Pastoral Theology)

His Pastoral spirit is the fruit of his pure love of God. In the ordinary and biblical sense, the spirit is the "life-breath" that animates one's life, conduct, words and deeds and inspires and vivifies others for the same purpose. Zeal is the overflowing of love. His pastoral zeal, characterized by meekness and humility, was the predominant virtue which gave vigour and vitality in his pastoral life and ministry. It was his fervent pastoral zeal for souls that prompted him to engage himself in the perilous task of going in search of his erring sheep and bringing them back to the true fold of Christ. And again, it was his ardent pastoral zeal that motivated him to devote himself to the noble work of tending his faithful flock on the green pastures and at the limpid fountains of the love of God and of the love of neighbour. In a word, it was his inexhaustible pastoral zeal that urged him to spend himself in the service of his entire flock.

True to the definition of pastoral theology, his pastorale was a "paschal action" in its totality, meant to build up the Mystical Body of Christ, both exter­nally and internally, extensively and intensively. The Christian paschal mystery has a double facet; death and resurrection, death to sin and to its unpleasant consequences and, on the other hand, resurgence and revival in the triumphant love of the Risen Saviour. In other words, it is a redemptive act, accomplished by the spirit of renewal in the love of the Crucified and Risen Lord. With the same reviving spirit the Bishop of Geneva purified and reformed the traditional pastoral means through an apt ped­agogy and created quite a few new appropriate concerns with his own original spirit and pedagogical orientations. Thus his indomitable pastoral spirit covered all the sectors of the people of God: priests, religious and laity, both men and women, in order to make of them all an elite in the Church of Christ according to the principle of hierarchy of charity.

This work is divided into two principal parts corresponding to the two main phases of his life: (1) From his birth till his episcopal consecration, 1567-1602; (2) The entire period of his episcopate as the Pastor of the diocese of Geneva, 1602-1622. Only the second part is published here.

These two parts are further divided into five chapters. The first part contains three chapters. While it has the capital title of his ecclesiastical vocation, the first chapter briefs the general historical background of his time and gives a good account of his integral, human, Christian and mystical forma­tion at different stages of life, at home and at the various schools of La Roche. Annecy, Paris and Padua. This long and complete formation had stood him in good stead as an adequate preparation and prelude for his genuine ecclesiastical vocation.

The second chapter sets in relief the realization of his authentic vocation amidst wordly prospects and oppositions from the side of his beloved and good old-aged father. Monsieur de Boisy. His resolute will, strengthened by the grace of God, led him to the altar of God, not only to become an ecclesiastic, but also ecclesial, to belong to the Church, all in all by all means.

The third chapter treats about his ecclesial mis­sion as young priest and Provost of the Cathedral Chapter of Annecy towards the separated brethren in the diocese of Geneva. It detects his undaunted missionary zeal, effective means and methods and brings to limelight his phenomenal success that had merited for him the title of "the Apostle of the Chablais".

The second part, presented here, comprising the fourth and fifth chapters, dwells upon the overall pastoral concern of the Bishop of Geneva, beginning with his episcopal vocation and consecration.

The fourth chapter deals with his pastoral min­istry for perfect renewal and reform of his diocesan clergy and that of the monastic life. It also exposes his religious mentality in a revolutionary manner by the new foundation of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary with its specific spirit and charism.