Category Archives: WRITINGS

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 →

One of Eugene’s guiding principles when he founded the Missionaries was to bring the most abandoned to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. In order to achieve this goal it was necessary that the minsiters of the Gsopel be holy … Continue reading →

We do not know the background to this admonition regarding the scholastics in Marseilles, but Eugene writes to one of the formators, Father Bellon, that the situation must be remedied because future Oblate priests are primarily religious and need to … Continue reading →

The scholastics (whom Eugene always referred to as “the Oblates”) were studying at the Marseilles Major Seminary, together with the diocesan seminarians. Father Tempier had been the Superior and Formation Director since 1827. At the same time he was also … Continue reading →

Eugene was always conscious that the Missionary Oblates were not his creation, but a gift of the Holy Spirit. For this reason he insisted on the importance of understanding and living by its spirit. Father Temper was due to go … Continue reading →