Within a short time of starting his youth work, Eugene became aware of the need for a Rule of life:
With the Association purged of all its questionable members, and with a daily-growing fervour continuing to manifest itself, the Director judged the time right to draw up a regulation to embrace all the duties that they have to fulfil, both as Christians and as congregants and which might furnish them the means to sustain their piety, to study as they should, in a word to achieve salvation amidst all the danger that surrounds them on every side.
Diary of the Youth Congregation, 2 February 1814, O.W. XVI
As the Youth Congregation grew in numbers and in activities, it was necessary for Eugene to produce a further and more detailed version of the Regulations sometime between 1816 and 1818, which was referred to as the “Statuts”. This shows that this youth group was not an informal attempt at keeping the youth occupied within a church environment, but a serious association whose purpose was the achievement of the fullness of life.
From its members it required a high level of commitment to its ideals and obedience to its rules. The rules set out clearly and minutely how things were to be done according to Gospel values.
“In youth we learn; in age we understand.”
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach