Monthly Archives: October 2020

Continuing to write to the discouraged missionaries: Discouragement is a weakness. If you analyse it well, you will find it is caused by self-love. The Lord, in giving you the lofty mission of sowing, planting and watering, has reserved to … Continue reading →

Father Mille and a team of Oblates were preaching a parish mission in the village of Malijai. Few people attended their ceremonies, and they were deeply discouraged. My dear friends, I share the pain brought to you by the indifference … Continue reading →

Father Tempier had been Eugene’s first and closest companion since 1815. Eugene went to confession to Tempier every week. This time, Tempier had forgotten and Eugene gently reprimands him, but with a sense of loving humor in his words. After … Continue reading →

Responding to the needs of the most abandoned, Bishop Eugene wrote in his diary: Circular letter to announce the establishment that I have been thinking about for a long time for female domestics. His concern was also focused on those … Continue reading →

Always aware of the needs of the most abandoned in his diocese, Eugene was concerned about the poor girls who came in from the countryside to look for work as domestics in the city. Coming from the rural villages they … Continue reading →

On February 12, 1840, the 91-year-old retired Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod became seriously ill. His nephew Eugene did not leave his bedside until his death on 22 February. He later wrote that he mourned the untimely death of my dear … Continue reading →

In France it is customary that people wish each other for the New Year – whereas in several other countries this is done for Christmas. For the Bishop this meant hours of meeting people formally to exchange greetings and good … Continue reading →

Another example, from Eugene’s diary, of his being constantly aware of the needs of the most abandoned in his diocese, and taking practical steps to respond: I went to get the Prefect in my carriage to show him the second … Continue reading →

Nine months after the diary entry we reflected on yesterday, Eugene wrote about the success of the penitentiary for juvenile delinquents. The Brothers of St Peter in Chains cared for these abandoned youth between the ages of 10 and 18. … Continue reading →

Missionary Oblate, Eugene de Mazenod, dedicated his life to bringing the Gospel to those who were most in need. During his years as Bishop of Marseilles he preached the Good News of salvation through his closeness to the most abandoned … Continue reading →