Eugene’s priest friend, Forbin Janson, had gone to visit Rome and Eugene continued his battle of regularizing the festering division in the Archdiocese of Aix, by appealing to him to inform the Cardinals in Rome.
Tell them clearly that the time is ripe to bring about the triumph of true principles. There is no more place in the Church for an episcopal aristocracy than there is for a priestly democracy. All should submit to the head according to the institution of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Letter to Forbin Janson, June 1814, EO XV n. 125
Leflon comments. “The young priest’s Provencal fire, which made it impossible for him to accept any half measures in dealing with compromise and cowardice, brought him to the point of lecturing the Roman cardinals, and even Pius VII. Obviously, the fever of the country had taken hold of him.” Leflon II, p. 10
Sometimes I have to remember that Eugene was a man of his times. I am conflicted this morning as I read parts of this for some of the wording seems to be so ‘unbending’, so rigid. I think for a moment of how Eugene made it all work for himself – rather than taking a prominent role in the Church in Aix he decided to work with the poor, the sick, the prisoners – as a priest. That did not lessen him as a priest in any way. It seems to me here that his emotions (if I can catch it all up into one word) which were fueled in part by his zeal and passion were running full force, which are attributes not confined solely to those from Provence.
I remember back when I was still working (as in career), my saying over and over (and being a little ‘pushy’ about it) to my boss that some things being done at work were wrong, how some people were being treated was wrong and that she should take it to the top boss and tell him how to change the way things were done. Her response to me was much less arrogant than my words to her and I got the message. If that system would not change then I would have to find new ways of dealing with it. I need to be tempered with less judgement and more mercy if I can word it that way.
Eugene was reacting, however he was also responding in how he acted. I far too often react, and it is in only after that I can find a way to respond.
thank you Frank for continuing with these text.
we get to see founder in his zeal and see him as one of his time with his cultural baggage.
may we find our voice on behalf of the poor, immigrant and all of creation at this time in history. This is our time to stand up, speak out and witness what is in our hearts.