EUGENE AND THE RESURRECTION: THE SOUNDS OF JOY THAT RE-ECHOED IN MY EARS AND PENETRATED TO THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART

 

Easter Day found us in the Church at 4:00 a.m. to sing Matins, Lauds and Prime. After Prime, a first High Mass was sung at which the seminary received communion…
We returned at 10:45 for the second High Mass at which I was again the cross-bearer. The ceremony did not finish until 1:30. Vespers began at 4:00 p.m., then the sermon, then benediction, in short we did not get back to the seminary until 8:30. Adding up all these hours you will see it works out at twelve, but you would have a job to work out the amount of happiness I felt during this time that seemed to me to flash by like a minute.
 I was so happy, in the superb Temple I found myself in, at the sounds of joy that re-echoed in my ears and penetrated to the depths of my heart;

Letter to his mother, 4 April 1809, EO XIV n 50

This entry was posted in WRITINGS. Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to EUGENE AND THE RESURRECTION: THE SOUNDS OF JOY THAT RE-ECHOED IN MY EARS AND PENETRATED TO THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    “I was so happy, in the superb temple I found myself in, at the sounds of joy that re-echoed in my ears and penetrated to the depths of my heart”

    A friend asked me yesterday if I had a good Easter, and I could only say yes, but I could have repeated Eugene’s words. Although I did not spend so many hours as he in the Church I did find immense joy, running deep within me – it was so quiet that it deafened me to all else and it was in this way that I moved and ‘was’. I expressed it in the joy that filled me as I saw and talked with the members of my parish community, that I prayed with and gave glory to God, singing with utter joy – a response coming straight from my heart. It all began on Passion Sunday and continues today. The words of the Exsultet, being chanted by a cantor so as to allow my heart to experience them continue to echo within my being.

    That same friend also asked me if I am happy in myself, in my life, with who I am. Again the only response could be ‘yes’! A yes born out of wonder and joy, awe and gratitude.

    “We must lead men to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.” “Evangelizare pauperibus misit me: pauperes evangelizantur.” These two phrases echo along with Eugene’s sentiments being lived out, part of my own reality. Easter is ongoing – it is not yet over. What a gift is Easter!

Leave a Reply to Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *