Monthly Archives: September 2018

As a person passionately in love with Jesus the Savior, it is no surprise that Eugene had a strong attachment to the devotion to the Sacred Heart. In 1819 he had made the Oblate Church of the Mission the center … Continue reading →

Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod was old, and thus handed over the pastoral visitation of seven outlying towns to his newly-ordained nephew, Bishop Eugene. My dear friend, I am on my way to make a pastoral visitation in a part of … Continue reading →

Writing to Father Guibert at the Marian Shrine in Laus, Eugene asks for prayers for the community. In particular for Casimir Aubert who was preparing himself for his priestly ordination on April 6. He would be the first Oblate to … Continue reading →

In the previous reflection we looked at the letter of Eugene to the Bishop of Gap regarding the Shrine of Notre Dame du Laus. Now Eugene writes to Fr Guibert directly about the same delicate situation. I admired the means … Continue reading →

Bishop Arbaud focused his discomfort with the Oblates on the superior of the community, Father Guibert, whom Eugene vehemently defended. The underlying cause of the Bishop’s unhappiness was not Fr Guibert – but he became the scapegoat to express it. … Continue reading →

We have seen the newly-consecrated Bishop Eugene’s understanding of the dignity of the episcopacy as successors of the apostles – which gave a particular relationship between priests and bishops, and between bishops themselves. He refers to this in his response … Continue reading →

The Oblates had been at the shrine of Notre Dame du Laus since 1819 and, in those 13 years, had made it a flourishing center of mission activities which attracted many pilgrims. The local bishop, who was Jansenist and a … Continue reading →

Eugene accepted to be made a bishop, after consultation with the Oblates, for the welfare of the Congregation. He remained 100 percent Oblate. … you will readily understand that this high dignity, this great character that has been bestowed upon … Continue reading →

Writing to his confidant, Father Tempier, Eugene described his spiritual state after his episcopal consecration. The Holy Spirit, the object of so many saintly people’s prayers, made his appearance on the great day, and I assure you that not a … Continue reading →