Monthly Archives: June 2010

COME AND SHOW YOUR WOUNDS TO THE ONLY DOCTORS WHOM GOD HAS ESTABLISHED TO CURE THEM

The sermons at the Madeleine were Lenten in character to prepare his listeners for Easter resurrection. After the first sermon where Eugene had laid the foundation of their dignity in the eyes of God’s love, his themes for the following … Continue reading

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COME AND BE RENEWED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE CHURCH

Eugene’s listeners at the Madeleine are invited not only to receive the Word of God, but to enter into deeper relationship with God through all that the ministry of the Church offers them. “Our churches are your places of refuge. … Continue reading

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COME AND LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD PLACED WITHIN THE GRASP OF THE SIMPLEST

Eugene continues to express his joy, “I cannot help being touched when I see the eagerness of the poor to hear my voice” and explains his approach to preaching. He is imitating St. Paul and wishes to preach the Gospel … Continue reading

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MY VOCATION TO BE THE SERVANT AND PRIEST OF THE POOR TO WHOSE SERVICE I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DEVOTE MY WHOLE LIFE

Four weeks later, Eugene begins his Sunday Lenten sermon to the poor in the Church of the Madeleine with a heartfelt expression of gratitude to his listeners for the way in which they have been receptive to the message he … Continue reading

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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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