Author Archives: franksantucci

The Oblates had been preaching a parish mission in a village of Provence and were experiencing hardships and lack of success. Eugene commented in his diary: Letter from Fr. Courtès. He gives me the worst news about the mission of … Continue reading →

Father Hippolyte Courtès was one of the first Oblates and Eugene had much confidence in him and in his preaching abilities. For this reason, he sent some of the young Oblates to live in his community in Aix en Provence … Continue reading →

Fr Etienne Semeria was a successful mission preacher in Corsica, (see: https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=4685) and Eugene intended to recall him to Marseilles to look after the large number of Italian dockworkers in the city. “Shortly after his arrival in Marseilles as vicar … Continue reading →

Father Honorat had not had an easy time as the founder and superior of the first Oblates in Canada. Despite this, Eugene acknowledged the admiration he had for this dedicated Oblate …I perceive quite well in you the religious man … Continue reading →

Young Father Bermond gave Eugene many headaches as a result of his critical attitude and spirit of independence. In 1844 he had just been given an obedience to move to a new community in another part of France and had … Continue reading →

From the beginning Eugene referred to the scholastics, preparing themselves for priesthood, as “the Oblates” – he recognized in them their desire to give all to God. They had studied in various places, but now Eugene brought them back to … Continue reading →

As a Missionary Oblate, community life was an essential aspect of Bishop Eugene’s life. He understood the difficulty of living and working alone without fraternal encouragement. Without a link to a supportive community the priest could succumb to problems. His … Continue reading →

Each one must know by heart the prayers in use in the Congregation. Begin at once to require it of scholastics and have them recited as soon as they are known. Letter to Father Charles Bellon, 30 August 1844, EO … Continue reading →

Some religious congregations, during the time of Eugene, stressed religious commitment as “dying to oneself” by dramatically having a funeral pall for the candidates to lie on when they professed their vows. Eugene did not tolerate this spectacle, but referred … Continue reading →

Helping people to become “Human, Christian, Saints” was the Oblate ideal. Eugene thus stressed the human foundations necessary to achieve this. But I see that in everything we have to start again from the beginning with the very first principles … Continue reading →