Monthly Archives: April 2013

CHANNELING MISGUIDED ENTHUSIASM

In this letter to Marius Bernard, a 22 year-old seminarian in Aix, we see Eugene treating this young Oblate deacon with much fatherly patience as he corrects him: I make this remark, my dear friend, because I have just been … Continue reading

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WE NEED TO STOP THIS IMPROVISED SORT OF LIFE

From the beginning, the Oblates have always been good at improvising so as to make the mission possible. However, sacrificing structures and regularity eventually catches up to the detriment of the mission. In this letter, Eugene writes to Courtès, the … Continue reading

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WE WILL FIND OUR SUPPORT IN FRIENDSHIP AND IN FRATERNAL LIFE

Whatever Eugene’s occupation was, he was always first and foremost an Oblate. It was in his bonds with the Oblate community that he found the strength to persevere in difficult situations. In Marseille it was the presence of Henri Tempier … Continue reading

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THE AIM OF FORMATION: TO LEARN HOW TO BE FULLY IN GOD

Eugene used to spend the days around the First Friday of each month with the community in Aix. After this particular visit he wrote with joy about his experience with the novices – those men who were involved in the … Continue reading

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200 YEARS TODAY – THE BEGINNING OF OUR OBLATE YOUTH MINISTRY

In Eugene’s Diary we read: On the 25 April, 1813, Low Sunday, were laid the foundations of the holy Association of Christian Youth. The Director of this nascent congregation called to his side … [7 names follow]. After laying out … Continue reading

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THE CROSS OF CHRIST, EMBRACED WITH LOVE, NEVER BRINGS SADNESS

“The cross of Jesus Christ is central to our mission… Through the eyes of our crucified Saviour we see the world which he redeemed with his blood, desiring that those in whom he continues to suffer will know also the … Continue reading

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DESPISED FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE GOOD ACCOMPLISHED IN THE CHURCH

The words of Pope Francis: “Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the church’s credibility,” find echo in Eugene’s writings. We have … Continue reading

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OUR LIFE IN ALL ITS DIMENSIONS IS A PRAYER

Eugene concludes his retreat by drawing up a daily program for himself. He does this to be in communion with the Aix Oblate community, but it is the basic program of life and prayer that he followed throughout his life. … Continue reading

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WE FULFIL OUR MISSION IN AND THROUGH THE COMMUNITY TO WHICH WE BELONG

During his retreat Eugene recalls that community was one of the non-negotiable constitutive elements of the Oblate vocation and way of life. He was living in community with Henri Tempier in Marseille, but the point of reference was always the … Continue reading

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I BELONG ABOVE ALL AND PRINCIPALLY TO THIS OBLATE FAMILY

Wherever he was, and whatever he was doing, Eugene was always first and foremost an Oblate. It was as Oblate that he was a priest, and later he was first Oblate and then the bishop of a diocese. His Oblate … Continue reading

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