Monthly Archives: May 2010

HOW SENSITIVE A HEART I HAVE, OVERLY SO IN FACT…

The last entry from Eugene’s self-description spoke about the strength of his character. Today’s extract continues with the other side of this coin: his extreme sensitivity. This side of his character was increased by his being Provencal – a southern … Continue reading

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THE ABSOLUTE, RESOLUTE AND WILFUL CALIBRE OF MY CHARACTER

Eugene recalls his childhood and sees there the origin of the strong character that was characteristic of him all the days of his life. Without this, would he have achieved what he did for the Church, the Oblates and the … Continue reading

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THE CAPACITY TO OBSERVE PEOPLE DEEPLY

This short paragraph from Eugene’s self-description provides a key for understanding why he was not sidetracked from living his ideals by the negative reactions of others. The harsh events of his 26 years of life had taught him to observe … Continue reading

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I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY FRANK

I continue to reflect on Eugene’s self-evaluation for his spiritual director on entering the seminary. Today I find more revealing than the text that he presented, the lines scratched out in his rough copy of the document (underlined here): I … Continue reading

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I CANNOT ACCEPT THE LEAST COMPROMISE IN ANYTHING TO DO WITH DUTY

More character insights from Eugene’s 1808 self-evaluation at the age of 26: If I am in the wrong and someone tells me off with a superior or triumphalistic kind of attitude, I will not accept it, and come up with … Continue reading

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I WOULD NOT LET ANYTHING STAND IN MY WAY TO OVERCOME EVEN THE MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLE

On entering the seminary, the 26 year-old Eugene wrote a “self-evaluation” for his spiritual director. Reading it from the vantage point of what we know about his life, it is interesting to see how he refers to the struggles within … Continue reading

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A PROJECT THAT CERTAINLY COMES FROM GOD

Eugene had done a thorough process of discernment – and had been told by his spiritual director that his priestly vocation was “as clear as the noonday sun.” Once he had understood this as God’s will, he never wavered in … Continue reading

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WHEN THE VOICE OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS THREATENS TO BE LOUDER THAN GOD’S VOICE

Madame de Mazenod had ambitious plans for her 25 year old son. He consequently didn’t have the guts to tell her face-to-face that he wanted to go to the seminary. So he chose a roundabout way and gets her cousin, … Continue reading

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THERE IS NOTHING INSTANT ABOUT CONVERSION

If we take Good Friday 1807 as a highpoint in Eugene’s conversion journey and search for a direction in his life, then this is the first text after that event that shows that he believes himself called to “a more … Continue reading

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