Monthly Archives: April 2021

HOW COULD MY HEART NOT BEAT AT THE MEMORY OF THESE ADMIRABLE PERSONS WHO DEVOTED THEIR SPARE TIME TO MY RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, AND WHO FORMED ME IN VIRTUE?

Venice was a place that recalled harsh memories for Eugene of difficulties of being an exile, of the separation of his parents, of financial deprivation and of fear of the revolutionary armies of France. We needed to distract ourselves from … Continue reading

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OH! YES, HIS SOUL IS IN HEAVEN, I SEEM TO HEAR EACH ONE RESPOND TO ME

On his journey to Italy with his sister, Eugene revisited Venice. He had spent three years there some 50 years earlier as a young adolescent. Arrived in Venice. The day did not go by without our going to visit the … Continue reading

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IT CONCERNS THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO MY AFFECTION AND TO MY DEVOTION

Eugene’s sister, Nathalie, had five children. One had died in 1825 at the age of 12, the other in 1829 at the age of 19 and now the third, Louis de Boisgelin had just died at the age of 27. … Continue reading

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THE JOY OF SENSING THAT ONE BELONGS TO THIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHICH HAS GOD FOR FATHER AND ALL BAPTIZED PERSONS AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS

In communion with the suffering Catholics in Spain, which we have seen above, Eugene wrote a pastoral letter to his diocese. Yes, my dearly beloved brethren, you cannot merely watch without taking interest in the sad situation. A portion of … Continue reading

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THEY COME AMONG US TO SEEK ASYLUM AND THE HELP TO WHICH THEIR SUFFERINGS ENTITLE THEM

Writing to the priests of his diocese, in 1840, about the civil war in Spain, Bishop de Mazenod made them aware of the suffering of their fellow-priests in exile from persecution: Since a number of years the disorders happening in … Continue reading

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I WILL EXPRESS MY HORROR FOR THE SCHISM INTO WHICH SOME DESIRE TO DRAG THE CHURCH OF SPAIN

Bishop de Mazenod’s “heart as big as the world” was not limited to the missionary zeal of the Oblates sent outside of France. He had a sense of communion with the Church throughout the world, especially in areas where there … Continue reading

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THE FIRST CANADIAN OBLATE

Writing to the Bishop of Montreal about the Oblate missionaries, Eugene said:  I await impatiently some news of the first mission that our fathers have given in the parish where you have placed them… I have learnt from Father Honorat … Continue reading

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MISSIONARY DEDICATION OVERCOMES PERSONAL PREFERENCES

St. Eugene wrote to the Bishop of Montreal to thank him for the warm and fatherly welcome he had given to the newly-arrived Oblates. Their letters prove to me that they know and appreciate the sentiments you manifest to them … Continue reading

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IF YOU DEPART FROM THIS RULE OF WISDOM YOU WILL SOON BE LIKE INSIPID SALT

Continuing form our previous entry, we see how Eugene recommended that Louis Dassy not get carried away by his zeal for archaeology. The point he makes is relevant to all of us in our multi-tasking society: do some of our … Continue reading

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IF YOU FEEL YOU COULD COMBINE THE DUTIES OF YOUR NEW JOB WITH THOSE OF YOUR VOCATION

In the previous entry we saw how the talented and enthusiastic Fr Louis Dassy had become involved in archaeological pursuits. It was an honor for him that the academic world valued his competence. Eugene, however, was concerned that this young … Continue reading

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