To form “one heart and one soul” is a concept dear to the heart of the Founder. As the size of the Congregation grew, so did he become increasingly insistent on this unity. For Eugene, his missionary family was the most beautiful family in the whole world and he wanted it to be the most united. Today this is why I find the concept of the “Mazenodian Family” to be especially apt in describing all those, lay and religious, who feel called to live the charism and spirituality of St. Eugene.
The one heart and one soul was formed by an equilibrium in lifestyle: a part of the missionary’s life was to be spent in active mission (the conversion of souls) and the other was to be spent in individual formation, prayer and study so as to be better missionaries. In effect, the missionaries were so moved by the needs of the poor that they generously gave most of their time to direct evangelization activities, and not sufficient to the latter. Eugene’s constant call was for a greater balance: BE in order to DO.
Happiness awaits us in this holy Society which will have but one heart and soul. One part of the year will be devoted to the conversion of souls, the other to seclusion, study and our individual sanctification.
I say no more for the moment; it suffices to give some intimation of the spiritual delights we will taste together…
… But I hope that it will be the same with us as with the disciples of St. Philip Neri who, free as we shall remain, would die before thinking of leaving a congregation for which they have the same affection as for their mother.
… All depends on how we begin. We need perfect unanimity of sentiments, the same goodwill, the same disinterestedness, the same devotedness – that sums it up.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 9 October 1815 O.W. VI n 4