Monthly Archives: September 2015

A SEARCH FOR ANSWERS

Posted on September 30, 2015 by franksantucci

Since his return to Aix, Eugene was in continual contact with his mother’s cousin, François Joseph Roze (Joannis), to whom she was very attached and whom Eugene always referred to as “my uncle.” Roze was an educated man with a … Continue reading →

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AN INSTANTANEOUS GOOD FRIDAY CONVERSION – MYTH OR REALITY?

Posted on September 29, 2015 by franksantucci

For most of us, the religious experience of a significant awareness of God’s presence that leads to personal conversion is a long and slow process – usually we are not even fully aware of the meaning of what has been … Continue reading →

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REDISCOVERING THE TREASURES WITHIN

Posted on September 28, 2015 by franksantucci

When some of the disciples pointed out to Jesus that the crowd that he was teaching was hungry, he replied: “Feed them yourselves” (Matthew 14:16 From the richness within you, you need to feed others. This is the starting point … Continue reading →

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I FLED HIM, DOWN THE NIGHTS AND DOWN THE DAYS

Posted on September 25, 2015 by franksantucci

“The decline of Eugene’s spiritual life first manifested itself in the form of mediocrity, becoming more pronounced in the form of an ever more pervasive lukewarmness and culminated in what Father de Mazenod would call ‘open desertion’.” In this way, … Continue reading →

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I GET ANGRY WHEN I SEE THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE DRAINING AWAY IN IDLE OBSCURITY

Posted on September 24, 2015 by franksantucci

The hectic social activities after Eugene’s return from exile, which we have been looking at, gradually began to lose their attraction. Questo paese non mi conviene. [ed. This is no place for me.], and that is why I have a … Continue reading →

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TURNING A MIRROR INTO WINDOWS THROUGH EDUCATION

Posted on September 23, 2015 by franksantucci

Eugene’s formal education had been controlled by the events surrounding him. At the age of 6 he started his education at the Royal Bourbon College in Aix until the political events of the revolution interrupted this two years later in … Continue reading →

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HOUNDING CREDITORS AND ALLOWING THE POOR TO TOUCH HIS HEART

Posted on September 22, 2015 by franksantucci

I have taken a lot of time to describe some of the activities of the young Eugene that will shed light on his conversion and his future life and spirituality. His social life, pleasures and search for a girl with … Continue reading →

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YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW INTERESTED I WAS IN ALL THIS

Posted on September 21, 2015 by franksantucci

Despite Eugene’s lack of interest, his mother and her cousin Roze never gave up trying to find him the rich girl of their dreams. Eugene wrote about once such incident to his father: Last night someone came to officially ask … Continue reading →

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I WANT HER TO BE RICH, VERY RICH AND GOOD

Posted on September 18, 2015 by franksantucci

Leflon tells us that Eugene “began looking for a way to establish his own living quarters. His first solution was one his mother had in mind: a profitable marriage which would enable him to live lavishly on the revenues of … Continue reading →

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I CANNOT COMMIT THIS FOLLY WITH A WOMAN WHO DOES NOT RESTORE MY FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

Posted on September 17, 2015 by franksantucci

Pielorz (The Spiritual Life, p. 110-111) describes Eugene’s marriage plans. We may be shocked as we read this, but we need to bear in mind the culture and customs of two centuries ago in France where marriages were arranged. His family, … Continue reading →

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