Monthly Archives: August 2015

I AM NO LONGER A CHILD

The de Mazenod men were forced to abandon Venice in November 1897 and flee to Naples. All that Eugene had learnt from the Zinellis was to be put aside for some years as he discovered other attractions and lifestyles in … Continue reading

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HUMAN, CHRISTIAN, SAINT: FROM EXPERIENCE TO CONVICTION AND A WAY OF LIFE

Can I ever thank God sufficiently for getting for me, out of his infinite goodness, help such as this precisely at the most difficult time of life, a decisive time for me, in which were planted by a man of … Continue reading

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INSPIRED BY A MISSIONARY WHO FOUND GOD IN ALL THINGS

I was only twelve years old when God aroused in my heart the first and very efficacious desires to dedicate myself to the mission, to work for the salvation of souls. Letter to Ambroise Tamburini, EO XI n 1292. Bishop … Continue reading

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FROM ROUTINE TO A WAY OF LIFE

Throughout his life, Eugene’s retreat notes and diaries are filled with programs and timetables for a disciplined spiritual routine. He produced spiritual programs for himself as a priest, missionary and bishop. He produced programs for the youth congregation and for … Continue reading

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A DOOR OPENING INTO THE FUTURE

On the journey to accompany his mother and sister as they left for France, the diary of the exile narrates two incidents in the 13 year-old Eugene’s life that indicated a future direction. During this journey, Eugene demonstrated what grace … Continue reading

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FROM A BROKEN FAMILY A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

In 1795, Eugene had the opportunity to take a short journey into Tuscany to accompany his mother, whom family interests were summoning back to France. Already the Marchioness de Dons, her sister, had returned with her son; Eugene’s mother would … Continue reading

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SPIRITUALITY: MAKING GOD’S DREAM A REALITY

Looking back on his time in Venice, Eugene traced the hand of God constructing his life-direction through others: Can I ever thank God sufficiently for getting for me, out of his infinite goodness, help such as this precisely at the … Continue reading

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THE CHILD IS FATHER OF THE MAN

Wordsworth’s expression that “the child is father of the man” is the guiding principle of this section of our study of Mazenodian spirituality. In order to understand the spirituality that has come to us through Saint Eugene, it is necessary … Continue reading

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SPIRITUALITY IS OUR CHRISTIAN LIVING AS GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Continuing the narrative of his time at school in Turin, Eugene speaks about receiving the sacrament of confirmation. The treatment was prolonged, so much so that the time for the general confirmation having arrived, there was a fear that Eugene … Continue reading

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A SPIRITUALITY TO BE BUILT ON THE SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Written in the third person, Eugene’s exile Diary shows the foundation of his lifelong relationship with the Holy Spirit in his spirituality: In the interval between his first communion and his confirmation, namely, between Holy Thursday and Trinity 1792, Eugene … Continue reading

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