SAINT EUGENE, VICAR GENERAL OF MARSEILLE  – IN HIS OWN WORDS

1823 : nomination as principal Vicar General of his uncle, Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod. It was a difficult work of restoration and rebuilding a diocese that had not had a resident bishop for 21 years. For Eugene, who was a dynamic preacher and loved being in the field of evangelization, having to be an administrator in an office (and often a disciplinarian to correct abuses) entailed great personal suffering and sacrifice for him. He did it for love of the Church.

I must resume my post. This will be, I hope, again to do my duty there, to try by my every zealous effort to bring a little bit of life back into a dead diocese whatever appearance of health it may have; there will no doubt be new crises, there was never a reform without hurting, wounding plenty of people! No matter; have God alone before us, the honour of his Church, the salvation of the souls entrusted to us; consult only the divine Wisdom, trample on human wisdom, and God will be our help. But one must have much virtue to sacrifice one’s peace for one’s duty, to face the hatred and persecution of men precisely so as to do good for men. This virtue is acquired and conserved only by union with God, prayer and meditation, etc., walking always before God and keeping one’s eyes on heaven alone and its rewards which are none other than God himself. Lord! Grant me the grace of being ever more deeply imbued with these thoughts!

Retreat notes, May 1824, E.O. XV n.156

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1 Response to SAINT EUGENE, VICAR GENERAL OF MARSEILLE  – IN HIS OWN WORDS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Last weekend I read the following post on Facebook: “Lord, make to shine on me a ray of your celestial light so that I may know myself as I am in your sight.” It was attributed to St. Eugene de Mazenod. I instinctively copied it because it brings to light what Eugene has been saying – in his own words.

    Eugene’s words today reminded me of that quote and so it is open before me. Eugene, through Frank, sharing his struggles, his challenges of daily living. Only and because of his immense love of God and the Church. He dared to say out loud to God how difficult this was, of the sacrifice he was offering out of love just as Jesus had done before him. He speaks from his deepest reality.

    “…one must have much virtue to sacrifice one’s peace for one’s duty, to face the hatred and persecution of men precisely so as to do good…” The backdrop to that statement is of Eugene during his Good Friday conversion experience; standing before Jesus on the cross – “so as to do good…”

    “…walking always before God and keeping one’s eyes on none other than God himself…” Eugene was able to see himself as he was through the eyes of his Beloved. Acknowledging before God the strife and struggles even as he continued to move forward.

    We are called also to acknowledge the love that is our life’s response, the sacrifice that is born only and always out of love whether they be doubts, questions, or facing that which has the power to shut us down if we deny it. Seeing ourselves through the eyes of our crucified Saviour. Nothing then becomes too difficult.

    Our cry joins that of Eugene: “Lord! Grant me the grace of being ever more deeply imbued with these thoughts!”

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