EUGENE, MARTYR OF CHARITY
© Laurent Girard / Studio Mazenod (2011) – Tableau du Jean-Jacques Martin
I encountered among these poor prisoners whom I helped spiritually and materially… only grateful souls, hearts full of affection who responded perfectly to the caring charity that I felt for them
Diary, 31 March, O.W. XX
I have all my life desired to die a victim of charity. You know that this crown was withheld from me right from the first days of my ministry. The Lord had his designs since He wanted to trust me to give a new family to His Church; but for me it would have been a greater value to have died of the blessed typhus which I had contracted while serving prisoners.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 12 September 1849, O.W. X n.1018
I have entirely got over an illness that brought me to death’s door and from which I recovered only through the countless and very fervent prayers that were made for me to the good God in every quarter of the town…
It was at the barracks where some 2000 Austrian prisoners were held that I contracted what they call jail fever. On the morning of St. Joseph’s feast day I was close to the end…
Letter to his father, 17 June 1814, O.W. XV n. 126
Final perseverance, and even martyrdom or at least death while tending victims of the plague, or any other kind of death for God’s glory or the salvation of souls.
One of the intention for which he offered his first Mass, O.W. XIV n.100
We must help men to be reasonable, then Christians, and then help them to become saints.
Préface