Author Archives: franksantucci

A new experience for the Founder, who until now had personally known every Oblate: the lifetime commitment of a new Oblate whom he had never met! He writes in his diary: Letter from Father Dandurand from Longueuil. This Father writes … Continue reading →

The community in Canada had been on a bumpy ride with several strong personalities interacting – not always smoothly. By now they had come to a more united lifestyle and Eugene recognized this. At this moment your house at Longueuil … Continue reading →

Continuing to read Eugene’s letter to Father Honorat, we see his good advice on learning from the experience of others. Never complain about a person to someone else. When you have observations to make, make them to the person himself … Continue reading →

Father Honorat, superior of the first group of missionaries to Canada, was inclined to make decisions without consultation. Here Eugene gives him advice which is applicable to all of us in every walk of life. This is not all. I … Continue reading →

Eugene de Mazenod was a man of immediate action, and it frustrated him that communications with Canada took so long as the only means of doing so was by letters which travelled by slow sailing ships. As Superior General his … Continue reading →

Eugene, writing in the third person, as the “Director”, for the official Diary of the Youth Congregation spoke about the importance of his baptism anniversary on 2 August. The Reverend Director reminded the congregants that the next day would be … Continue reading →

In the references that we have to Eugene’s birthday, we see them as occasions for reflection on his life and its direction. Two examples from his diary: August 1, 1841. Nothing special today, except that I am ending my 59th … Continue reading →

I do not believe that there is any other Congregation giving such a moving example in the Church. With this typical Mazenodian hyperbole Eugene began 1843 on an exultant note as he surveyed the missionary activities of his sons. All … Continue reading →

In France it is the custom to send greetings to everyone for the new year (unlike the custom of sending Christmas wishes in some other parts of the world). Eugene responds here to the new year greetings of Father Courtès. … Continue reading →

Bishop de Mazenod suffered when he saw people in Marseilles whose lives were far from good living. Once, for example, passing a group of people who were living lives of dissipation led him to express his pain at their situation … Continue reading →