Category Archives: SERMONS

THE WORLD SEES YOU AS THE REFUSE OF SOCIETY

The last group whom Eugene speaks to is that of the beggars who have no other choice to gain their daily bread. Eugene’s idea of addressing each group was inspired by a sermon of Bossuet, a famous French preacher. Bossuet … Continue reading

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YOU ARE SLAVES OF THOSE WHO PAY YOUR WAGES

Eugene continues to remind his poor listeners how they are regarded by the world – all the time to highlight his central message: “you are more precious in the eyes of God than all earth’s riches.” Servants, who are you … Continue reading

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WORKERS, WHO ARE YOU?

Having thundered the statement: “Christians, know then your dignity, with St. Leo I will call you sharers in the divine nature,” Eugene now addresses various categories of poor people showing them how in the light of what God teaches them … Continue reading

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THE HAPPINESS THAT IT IS USELESS TO SEARCH FOR OUTSIDE GOD

This text is almost autobiographical because it describes Eugene’s own journey before and after his conversion. The vocabulary he uses is the same as that of his own conversion as he describes his Good Friday experience: his realisation that God … Continue reading

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LET YOUR EYES SEE FOR ONCE BENEATH THE RAGS THAT COVER YOU

Eugene’s conversion encounter with the God of love led him to begin to see his own dignity and that of others through the eyes of the Crucified Saviour. Continuing to reflect on the first Madeleine sermon, one sees how his … Continue reading

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COME NOW AND LEARN FROM US WHAT YOU ARE IN THE EYES OF FAITH

Remember that the text that we have is made up of notes for preaching (hence the common use of “etc” in the text). Eugene did not function well from a prepared text – he wrote the key ideas and then … Continue reading

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GRANT THAT I MAY REAWAKEN MANY FOOLISH PEOPLE FROM THE FATAL INDIFFERENCE THAT BRINGS THEM TO THEIR DOOM

Eugene continues his sermon by presenting the indifference of the post-Revolution French to God and invites “you poor of Jesus Christ” in the Madeleine to come to the instructions where they will be enlightened. Question the milling crowd that jostles … Continue reading

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THE POOR ARE BEING EVANGELIZED, PAUPERES EVANGELIZANTUR

The best-known and most-quoted of Eugene’s sermons is the first one, of which we have his preaching notes. In the opening extract, Eugene gives the reason for the Lenten preaching in Provençal: In the course of this holy season there … Continue reading

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