Monthly Archives: March 2013

PAUSE FOR EASTER

Eugene de Mazenod will speak to us again on Monday 8 April. I unexpectedly have to be away from San Antonio and thus have had to anticipate and lengthen the Easter pause for this website. Since Eugene has been speaking … Continue reading

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COMMITMENT TO DISCIPLESHIP IN THE CHURCH

Bernard Vachon, an Oblate scholastic, had been ordained sub-deacon. This function no longer exists in the Church but, at that time, it was a definitive commitment to the clerical state towards ordination to the priesthood. Eugene was not present at … Continue reading

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THE POPE: A FATHER WITH THE FACE AND THE HEART OF CHRIST.

Chosen from on high to represent throughout the earth the Sovereign Pastor of souls, he sees the militant Church ceaselessly obliged to bear the brunt of terrible attacks and sustain rude combats. He feels all the anguish of the spouse … Continue reading

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USE ALL THE MEANS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE CALLED TO

Throughout his life Eugene insisted on correct and meaningful celebrations of the liturgy. In his own case he used the liturgical texts as a basis for his prayer in the retreats he made in preparation for receiving the sacrament of … Continue reading

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ZEAL IS THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE DEACON

The father of the Oblate family rejoices because one of the youngest members has been ordained a deacon – as the final step before priestly ordination. Eugene underlines to this scholastic the importance of a coherent spirituality which will bear … Continue reading

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INTERDEPENDENT IN OUR LIVES

From Marseille Eugene kept in contact with all the Oblates in Aix and in Laus, and showed interest in the life and spirit of each community and its members. The only way to communicate regularly was by writing letters. Because … Continue reading

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GOD DEMANDS THIS ENORMOUS SACRIFICE OF ME IN VIEW OF A GREATER GOOD

Eugene had been born in Aix en Provence, it had been the scene of his first ministry as a priest (especially the youth ministry) , it was the place of foundation of the Oblates and the city where his mother … Continue reading

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IT IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY HALF OR THREE QUARTERS OF YOUR LISTENERS

The aims and methods of Oblate preaching were always clear: break the Word of God for the most abandoned by speaking simply in their language. In Eugene’s time it was the Provençal language – and only rarely did he permit … Continue reading

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AFTER A MISSION YOU MUST FEEL THE NEED TO BE RECOLLECTED AND TO THINK A LITTLE OF YOURSELF

As proud as Eugene was of his young Missionaries and their zealous achievements, he also worried that they would burn themselves out because of their generosity. After a mission, it is good to spend several days in a regular community. … Continue reading

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CHRISTIAN JOY COMES FROM KNOWING GOD AND FROM TRYING TO FOLLOW GOD’S WILL

We have often seen Eugene’s special fatherly affection for the members of his Youth Congregation who became Oblates. The newly-ordained Jacques Marcou stood out because he had been a founding member of the youth, eleven years earlier. Addressing him by … Continue reading

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