A CHAPTER OF REGRETS AND SORROWS

From the moment that Eugene set foot in Marseille as the Vicar General of his uncle, he began to suffer. The diocese had been vacant for two decades, and so there was a lot of reform to be undertaken. This involved stepping on the toes of people who had established their comfort zones and were unwilling to change for the greater good of the diocese. Bishop Fortuné was an old man, and while he made all the decisions it was up to Eugene and Tempier to put them into practice – sometimes at great personal cost. Three days after their arrival in the city, Eugene wrote to Courtès in Aix

I will not launch into a chapter of regrets and sorrows, it would be unending. Marseilles might have been too much to bear for me if they had seen me coming with a favorable eye and if they had rendered me the justice I know is mine; you can imagine what it must be when I consider that Lucifer would not have been more damnable, if he had come to take away their souls…
But do not believe that his uproar intimidates me nor everything with which they threaten me. It is to the Princes, to the King, to the Pope that they want to write; the liberals have already done this. All this noise is made in support of three priests, I almost say three rebellious ones.

Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 13 August 1823, EO VI n. 112

Yvon Beaudoin explains the background to this letter

M. Rodet and the Missionaries of France established at Marseilles had campaigned against the nomination of Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod. He, after having consulted M. l’abbé Jean Marie de la Mennais, Vicar General of the Grand Almoner, asked M. Rauzan to recall his missionaries. On the entry of the new Bishop to his diocese, Sunday, August 10th, the Missionaries of France were still there and some of their supporters engaged in public demonstrations against him. Their resentment was especially against Father de Mazenod whom they held responsible for the measures taken by Bishop Fortuné, even if in reality it was the personal decision of the latter to proceed thus. (Footnote 2 in EO VI n. 112)

 

“You get used to the rejection and you don’t take it personally.”   Daniel Craig

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1 Response to A CHAPTER OF REGRETS AND SORROWS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Interesting – just as some things happened 200 years ago they happen today. I guess mankind doesn’t really change all that much. Our humanness continues in spite of our best efforts. We do it to ourselves and to those around us.

    I think for myself I need always and scrupulously look at myself, and my actions – what is behind them. Am I following good counsel or just trying to fill a personal need? Where does that need come from? Am I getting caught up in another’s struggle and trying to make it my own? God give me the grace please.

    We hear often of how we need to walk in that liminal space, that narrow space between two sides – when we are a part of both. It is not easy for sure. When I hear someone else talking about it I am full of agreement etc but when it comes to my reality – you can hear me telling God what I think of it.

    I am not sure I agree with Daniel Craig – it can be personal and it does hurt. But I guess we simply need to walk through it.

    I did discover something good in my recent personal “trials and tribulations” [which of course I am now able to fathom why they seemed so huge at the time] though. I discovered that although it is actually difficult and sometimes painful to share with others in my community my weaknesses, my wounds and what can drive me, it is also very freeing. It requires great trust, in God and in those with whom I share. The “what-ifs” could stop it before it begins – I mean what if I am judged and found wanting, what if I am rejected? But – what if I am loved?

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