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- MY HEART OF A FATHER WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU WHO ARE DOUBLY MY SON
- WE MUST DISCOVER ALL THESE ADVANTAGES IN THE BLESSED CONGREGATION THAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO US
- YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
- THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
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- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on MY HEART OF A FATHER WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU WHO ARE DOUBLY MY SON
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on WE MUST DISCOVER ALL THESE ADVANTAGES IN THE BLESSED CONGREGATION THAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO US
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
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“A father’s communication with his many children… that is one of the most agreeable occupations of my life” 1857
I take heart that Eugene knew from the inside out what he was talking about. Eugene was a man who was enthusiastic – his life was filled with passion, and he never seemed satisfied to offer halfway measures to God or anyone else. The amount of sentiment, emotions that he felt were not an indication of his love for God and hope of reaching perfection (holiness); he was faithful as much as possible to the rhythm of his daily prayer, and then moving to correct his failings.
I am reminded of the Jesus in Matthew 5 that if we are offering our gift at the altar (perhaps in prayer) and we remember that we have and continue to hurt, ignore, or treat others as being less than ourselves that we must first make things right with those others before offering our praise and words to God.
Both Jesus and Eugene were talking about human weakness and how we must move past the finery of thoughts and words that we can be inclined to use to cover ourselves. There are in Eugene’s words the makings of a life-long practice on our journey to holiness.
I think of how empty I can feel when for no reason other than busyness or laziness that I skip and miss my daily prayer. It is like I am missing the deepest part of myself. It is in my treatment and regard for others that my true self becomes visible and speak of my relationship with God.
I must do more than simply carry around my cross and quote the words of our Rule of Life; I must find a way to live them fully.