Category Archives: WRITINGS

Father Courtès in Aix en Provence was very generous in taking on priestly ministerial commitments for himself and the community in the city. Eugene reminds him to focus on why the Oblates were founded in that city All these occasion … Continue reading →

Eugene, writing to Fr. Courtès, the superior of the community in Aix en Provence, speaks of the new Oblate he has sent to the community: Jean Francois Allard. We will be hearing a lot more about him in the future … Continue reading →

The Marian shrine of Notre Dame du Laus had been our first foundation outside of Aix in 1819. From that time on, the ministry of the shrine had grown and it became a popular pilgrimage and center of mission. Its … Continue reading →

Continuing to write to the discouraged missionaries: Discouragement is a weakness. If you analyse it well, you will find it is caused by self-love. The Lord, in giving you the lofty mission of sowing, planting and watering, has reserved to … Continue reading →

Father Mille and a team of Oblates were preaching a parish mission in the village of Malijai. Few people attended their ceremonies, and they were deeply discouraged. My dear friends, I share the pain brought to you by the indifference … Continue reading →

Father Tempier had been Eugene’s first and closest companion since 1815. Eugene went to confession to Tempier every week. This time, Tempier had forgotten and Eugene gently reprimands him, but with a sense of loving humor in his words. After … Continue reading →

Responding to the needs of the most abandoned, Bishop Eugene wrote in his diary: Circular letter to announce the establishment that I have been thinking about for a long time for female domestics. His concern was also focused on those … Continue reading →

Always aware of the needs of the most abandoned in his diocese, Eugene was concerned about the poor girls who came in from the countryside to look for work as domestics in the city. Coming from the rural villages they … Continue reading →

On February 12, 1840, the 91-year-old retired Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod became seriously ill. His nephew Eugene did not leave his bedside until his death on 22 February. He later wrote that he mourned the untimely death of my dear … Continue reading →

In France it is customary that people wish each other for the New Year – whereas in several other countries this is done for Christmas. For the Bishop this meant hours of meeting people formally to exchange greetings and good … Continue reading →