Category Archives: DIARY

THE SAVIOR’S LOVE VERSUS MOTHER’S LOVE

Thirty years later, Eugene still vividly remembered the struggle he had in order to go against his mother’s opposition to his vocation. Her reaction, and that of his grandmother, must have been very extreme for him to use such strong … Continue reading

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AND SO ENDED EUGENE’S EXILE…

Eugene’s Diary narrates the events that changed his life when he was 20 years old: Eugene’s relatives in France were continually urging his father to reach a decision to let him return to his native land. The country was in … Continue reading

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I HAVE LOST MY MOTHER!

The Duchess of Cannizzaro was Eugene’s adoptive mother in Palermo. She was generous to the poor, and Eugene helped her to distribute alms to the needy. I experienced it indeed at her death [which took place May 1, 1802] when … Continue reading

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THE SERVANTS AND THE VALETS HASTEN TO ANTICIPATE ANYTHING I COULD DESIRE

The arrival of the French armies and a riot in Naples brought an end to the misery of the de Mazenods’ stay in Naples. They were able to flee to Palermo in Sicily. On arriving there, young Eugene’s fortunes changed … Continue reading

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IF YOU TALK TO SOMEONE IN THEIR LANGUAGE, THAT GOES TO THEIR HEART

The year spent in Naples was to be an experience of poverty, loneliness and boredom for Eugene. I learned German for three months. In so short a time I made such great progress in that difficult language that my teacher … Continue reading

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NURTURED BY AN OPPRESSIVE YEAR OF GLOOMY MONOTONY

In January 1798, the 16 year-old Eugene and his father and uncles arrived in Naples. My stay in Naples was for me an oppressive year of very gloomy monotony. I did not have my good friends the Zinellis any more, … Continue reading

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I AM NO LONGER A CHILD

The de Mazenod men were forced to abandon Venice in November 1897 and flee to Naples. All that Eugene had learnt from the Zinellis was to be put aside for some years as he discovered other attractions and lifestyles in … Continue reading

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HUMAN, CHRISTIAN, SAINT: FROM EXPERIENCE TO CONVICTION AND A WAY OF LIFE

Can I ever thank God sufficiently for getting for me, out of his infinite goodness, help such as this precisely at the most difficult time of life, a decisive time for me, in which were planted by a man of … Continue reading

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INSPIRED BY A MISSIONARY WHO FOUND GOD IN ALL THINGS

I was only twelve years old when God aroused in my heart the first and very efficacious desires to dedicate myself to the mission, to work for the salvation of souls. Letter to Ambroise Tamburini, EO XI n 1292. Bishop … Continue reading

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FROM ROUTINE TO A WAY OF LIFE

Throughout his life, Eugene’s retreat notes and diaries are filled with programs and timetables for a disciplined spiritual routine. He produced spiritual programs for himself as a priest, missionary and bishop. He produced programs for the youth congregation and for … Continue reading

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