Monthly Archives: July 2012

START IN THE HUB, LIVE IN THE HUB

The demanding nine week-long mission to the city of Marseille ended on 27 February 1820 and two weeks later we find the Missionaries fully immersed in the mission to their own city of Aix en Provence that lasted five weeks … Continue reading

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CELEBRATING GOD IN THE STREETS

The second major manifestation was the closing of the mission in Marseille with the procession and the erection of the commemorative Cross of the mission. Bearing in mind that less than 30 years before, the city of Marseille had been … Continue reading

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IN THE FULL LIGHT OF GOD

The mission of 1820 was aimed at the whole city of Marseille. In practice the twenty Missionaries of France and six Missionaries of Provence concentrated all their efforts on the individual parish units, but there were two major manifestations for … Continue reading

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CALMING A POTENTIAL POLITICAL BOMB

Leflon tells the story The Founder’s influence over these “modern-day Goliaths” and over the people in the port districts enabled him to intervene effectively in preventing bloodshed when the assassination of the Duke de Berry became known; since the royalism … Continue reading

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TEACHING THOSE DEPRIVED OF SPIRITUAL THINGS HOW TO SEE DIFFERENTLY

In the 1820 mission, we find Eugene and his Missionaries keeping strictly to the ideals of their Rule of life: Article 2. That is why the members of this Congregation will work under the authority of the Ordinaries on whom … Continue reading

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A CITY NOT INHABITED BY SAINTS

Being a Provencal with a fiery temperament, Eugene was able to understand and handle the sometimes-volatile reactions of the working class of Marseille during the mission. He loved them and was able to get through to them as Leflon narrates … Continue reading

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STRUGGLING FOR HARMONY IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

Let us rejoice then mutually over all the good done by our brethren in the four quarters of the world. With us, it is wholly a question of solidarity. Each works for all and all for each. Oh! how beautiful, … Continue reading

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THE TALENT FOR BEING CLOSE TO THE POOREST OF THE CITY

Marseille was a large city with a varied population, for whom different missionary methods were needed. Leflon describes the differences between the Missionaries of France and the Missionaries of Provence in approach to the 1820 city mission: Now, in order … Continue reading

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A PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR THE POOR

The first months of the year 1820 were taken up with two important missions to the cities of Marseille and Aix en Provence. Together with the group of the Missionaries of France they were to work at the renewal of … Continue reading

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BEING FORMED AS MISSIONARIES IN THE MYSTERY OF THE SAVIOR

Coincidentally, as I reflect on today’s text, I am in Paris and have spent the morning in the footsteps of Saint Eugene as a seminarian. The Seminary of St. Sulpice is no longer there, but the famous church is. It … Continue reading

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