“Let us stand together, let us be for God alone, and we will be strong.” Hammered from all sides, Eugene reflects out loud to his closest companions on the situation facing them. He is convinced that God has called them to live their oblation among the poor of Provence, and so they have to face all difficulties with patience in order to be true to this vocation.
Although I wrote you at some length the other day, my dear friends and good brothers, I take up my pen today once more to speak to you about my dispositions and reassure you properly concerning myself. I am perfectly at peace and disposed with all my heart to continue the good work begun. I am disposed not to leave the Midi [ed. Provence]where our ministry can be most fruitful…
If it is absolutely impossible to reach an agreement at Aix and if the Archbishop deludes himself to the point of depriving his diocese of all the good we could do there, we will go elsewhere. It would cost me dearly to abandon Aix but the sacrifice would not be in vain. Nevertheless I think that we ought not to decide this except as a last resort; the Archbishop will decide. …
I believe, for that matter, that it would be better to practice patience and bide our time while things work out for the best. Let us stand together, let us be for God alone, and we will be strong.
Letter to Henri Tempier and Emmanuel Maunier, 22 October 1817, O.W. VI n.26