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Recent Posts
- YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
- THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
- I RECOMMEND KINDNESS IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
- YOU WILL NO DOUBT THANK ME FOR MY PATERNAL ADVICE; IT WILL PROVE TO YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
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- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on I RECOMMEND KINDNESS IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on YOU WILL NO DOUBT THANK ME FOR MY PATERNAL ADVICE; IT WILL PROVE TO YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
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Monthly Archives: June 2010
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
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
AS I USED TO ASCEND THE PULPIT … I DID NOT FORGET TO BEG THE MASTER PRESENT TO SPEAK HIMSELF BY MY MOUTH
Father de Mazenod’s first recorded activity in 1813 is his series of Lenten sermons in Provencal in the Church of the Madeleine. He tells his friend, Charles Forbin Janson, about its success: Each Sunday in Lent I have preached in … Continue reading
MY WHOLE AMBITION WAS TO CONSECRATE MYSELF TO THE SERVICE OF THE POOR AND OF THE YOUTH
Eugene continues his 1839 reflections on his vocation. Having spoken about the motto and coat of arms he had sketched at the seminary, with the Cross and crown of thorns above the overturned insignia of power and status, he proceeds: … Continue reading
A WOODEN CROSS AND A CROWN OF THORNS ARE ABOVE THIS COAT OF ARMS
In his 1839 Diary, Eugene continues to reflect on his vocation. As a son of Aix’s “high society” he could have aspired to a high position in the diocese, because his father had been President de Mazenod of the Court … Continue reading
CALLED TO DEVOTE MYSELF TO THE SERVICE AND TO THE HAPPINESS OF MY NEIGHBOUR WHOM I LOVED WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST FOR MEN
Twenty eight years after his priestly ordination, Eugene reflects on the event and on the spirit with which he began to live his priestly vocation. He reads it always in the light of his conversion experience when he became aware … Continue reading
MY CHIEF OCCUPATION WILL BE TO LOVE HIM, MY CHIEF CONCERN TO MAKE HIM LOVED
After his return to Aix as a young priest, Eugene lived in his mother’s house, together with Brother Maur (Trappist monk whose monastery the revolution had detroyed). A couple of months after his arrival, he did his annual retreat. As … Continue reading
A NEGATIVE FRAME TO HIGHLIGHT A POSITIVE VOCATION
Eugene was not content to remain sighing about the state of the clergy – in founding our Congregation he envisaged a concrete response to the situation. Part 3 of our first Rule (1818) dealing with the aims of the Oblates … Continue reading
WHY DID EUGENE EXPRESS HIMSELF SO STRONGLY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PRIESTHOOD?
Fr. Bill Woestmann gives us a good background to understand the strong language of Eugene and the urgency of having good priests in a Church that was in crisis. He writes: “For a real understanding of de Mazenod’s intention, the … Continue reading
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EUGENE CONTINUES TO REFLECT ON HOW TO COUNTERACT THE EFFECTS OF BAD PRIESTS
“The Church, that glorious inheritance purchased by the Saviour at the cost of all his blood, has in our days been cruelly ravaged… … The truth of the matter is that for a century already, through devilish tactics, an effort … Continue reading