Monthly Archives: February 2018

LET THEM ENCOURAGE THE PENITENTS BY THEIR WARMTH, AND BY SHOWING A SYMPATHETIC HEART

Eugene emphasizes these powerful words to all those who exercise the ministry of being instruments of God’s mercy. He speaks primarily of confessors, but surely it also applies to anyone who deals with the brokenness of others as a listener, … Continue reading

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THE UNFORTUNATE INMATES OF PRISONS HAVE A RIGHTFUL CLAIM ON US

Eugene’s memo to himself as he meditates on the Oblate Rule: Yet again: We are never to forget that one of the principal ends of our Institute is to help the most neglected souls. For this reason, the unfortunate inmates … Continue reading

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WE MUST MAKE IT EVIDENT THAT WE ARE PENETRATED WITH WHAT WE TEACH, AND THAT WE HAVE BEGUN TO PRACTICE, BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSTRUCT OTHERS

Eugene underlines another passage from the Rule that he finds important to refer to constantly: …we shall not attain it (the conversion of souls by preaching), however, unless we renounce our own personal glory, and repress in the depth of … Continue reading

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PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND EXAMPLE AS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL MINISTRY

In his retreat reflections using the Oblate Constitutions and Rules, Eugene copied out some of the passages of the Rule that he wished to keep before his eyes regularly in the future as a reminder. It is the exemplary quality … Continue reading

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HEALING THE WOUNDS OF A VACUUM

In his meditations on the Oblate Rule of Life, Eugene reflected on how the Missionaries had responded to a ravaged Church, fifteen years earlier. Through their ministry they hoped to heal and make up for the vacuum left by the … Continue reading

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17 FEBRUARY 1826: THE CHURCH RECOGNIZES THAT EUGENE’S FOUNDATION IS A GOD-GIVEN CHARISM FOR US TODAY

Eugene wrote this good news from Rome to his Oblate brothers in France: My dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation of Cardinals and specifically approved the Institute, … Continue reading

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I AM CONFOUNDED, ASTONISHED, RAVISHED BY OUR LOFTY DESTINY

It is all there: seeking to imitate the virtues and example of our Savior Jesus Christ. If only one could engrave these words on one’s heart, have them written everywhere to have them always before one’s eyes. The more I … Continue reading

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ENGRAVE THESE WORDS ON ONE’S HEART, HAVE THEM WRITTEN EVERYWHERE TO HAVE THEM ALWAYS BEFORE ONE’S EYES

For the rest this wonderful paragraph that we cited above and which cannot be meditated on too much, is simply the development of what is expressed in a single line in article 1 the end of the Society. There it … Continue reading

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A PERSONAL RULE OF LIFE?

A Rule of Life! Eugene and his first companions had come together as a missionary community in 1816. Two years later they captured the essence of their experience of God, their community life and mission in the Constitutions and Rules. … Continue reading

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THIS IS WHAT WE MUST BE

We continue to explore Eugene’s reflection notes on the contents of his retreat using the Oblate Rule for meditation. The Rule of Life contains all the elements of the Oblate vocation. In the judgement of the Church, this is what … Continue reading

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