Monthly Archives: October 2017

Jean Baptiste Mille was 22 years old when he was made superior of the young Oblates in formation in the scholasticate of Billens. Eugene had had no choice but to appoint him because of the crisis in France that had … Continue reading →

I do not agree with Good Friday sermons that last two and a half hours. You went on for a good hour too long. Make no mistake, whatever flatterers may say, long discourses like that are hard for both listener … Continue reading →

In Marseilles the authorities had wanted the removal of the public crucifixes as part of the anti-religious harassment in France. They were met with opposition in what was regarded as a present-day continuation of the humiliation and passion of Jesus. … Continue reading →

Writing to the formation community in Switzerland, Eugene urges them to remember and constantly focus on the presence of the Savior among them – especially bearing in mind the profanations that were taking place in France against religious symbols and … Continue reading →

The community meeting had been successful, except for one member. Only Father Martin, who has no more courage than he has common sense, finds it difficult to reconcile the work that he has been given and the regularity that I … Continue reading →

The Oblate community in Marseilles seemed to have lost its sense of direction and the impression that Eugene gives is that everyone was too frightened to face the issues. I have spent two days at Calvaire in spite of receiving … Continue reading →

You know them, I am your father and how much a father! So, I cannot be satisfied to be treated simply as a superior. From the day that Eugene had founded the Oblates, he had had a sense of spiritual … Continue reading →

Eugene continues to reminisce about the first day of community life of the Oblates, as he writes to the young scholastics. The table that adorned our refectory was one plank laid alongside another, on top of two old barrels. We … Continue reading →

In the midst of religious persecution and all the disappointments and losses that Eugene had experienced for two years, he recalls one of the most important events of our Oblate life. It was the day when the Oblate adventure began … Continue reading →

Eugene had finally returned to Marseilles, where he could experience at first-hand the anti-religious attitude of the authorities. He remained calm, confident that Gd would never abandon the Church or him”and to adore God and his ways even when I … Continue reading →