Author Archives: franksantucci

What more sublime purpose than that of their Institute! Their founder is Jesus Christ, the very Son of God; their first fathers are the Apostles. They are called to be the Saviour’s co-workers, the co-redeemers of mankind 1818 Rule, Part … Continue reading →

Eugene’s own conversion experience had been the awareness of God’s boundless love and mercy: Blessed, a thousand times blessed, that he, this good Father, notwithstanding my unworthiness, lavished on me all the richness of his mercy Retreat Journal, December 1814, … Continue reading →

The next section of the Rule of 1818 moves to the logical conclusion of preaching: helping the listener to come to a personal encounter with God as Savior. Preaching should make people aware of their need for conversion, best expressed … Continue reading →

It goes without saying that it is never permitted to receive even the least recompense for preaching, or the administration of the sacraments, or any other ministry. 1818 Rule Part 1, Chapter 3, §1 Preaching The Missionary co-operator of the … Continue reading →

Thanks to the work of many contributors, we now have the published writings of St Eugene in chronological order in English at http://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?page_id=2362 

The central aim of preaching for Eugene was to instruct and to give a message that would lead people into a deeper relationship with God and one another: Experience proves that it is possible to attain this desirable end, the … Continue reading →

We go back to 1822. In the midst of all his concerns for the survival of his newly-founded Missionary family, Eugene celebrated the feast of the Assumption. It was a day which was to leave a permanent impression on the … Continue reading →

We should see to it that, when our sermons are over, they, instead of presuming to bestow foolish admiration on what they have not understood, will rather return to their homes instructed and well disposed, instructed, and able to repeat … Continue reading →

The Missionaries, who spent a large part of their ministry in preaching the Gospel, needed to be clear about their priorities: we must seek only to instruct the people, to be attentive to the needs of the majority of the … Continue reading →

As an outstanding preacher himself, Eugene had no patience with the flowery preachers who had style and played with words but had no solid content. His diary entries spare them no criticism, and in his Rule he wanted to ensure … Continue reading →