Category Archives: LETTERS

THE CARDINAL WHO WAS TO BECOME THE NEXT POPE IS WARNED AGAINST THE OBLATES

To add to Eugene’s distress, he discovered that three of the French Bishops, who had originally given letters of approval and encouragement for Eugene to take to the Pope, had changed their minds and written to the Pope to discourage … Continue reading

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TRICKED BY A FUTURE POPE

… our poor Society which will apparently never have peace on this earth, as seemingly those who persecute her take turns to relieve one another so as not to give us time to catch our breath… Exasperated by all the … Continue reading

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IT IS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FALL INTO DEPRESSION

If we believe in a cause, then we are prepared to put up with all sorts of frustrating difficulties to achieve it. This was the attitude of Eugene when faced with the ecclesiastical bureaucracy in Rome. Writing to Henri Tempier, … Continue reading

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IGNORING PERSONAL PREFERENCES FOR THE SAKE OF A GREATER GOOD

Before the Rule of the Oblates could be approved, it had to be studied by a number of cardinals. Eugene began to make contact with each one so as to explain what it was all about. In the meanwhile, I … Continue reading

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WE MUST ACT AS IF SUCCESS DEPENDED ON OUR ABILITY AND TO PUT IN GOD ALL OUR CONFIDENCE AS IF ALL OUR EFFORTS COULD PRODUCE NOTHING

After the Christmas break, our journey through the writings of St Eugene begins again. We had left him in Rome in the process of obtaining Papal approbation for the Missionary Oblates. Nine days after his audience with the Pope, he … Continue reading

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OUR RULE OF LIFE HAS TAKEN ON A MORE AUTHORITATIVE CHARACTER

Earlier in his letter, Eugene had exclaimed, Have you understood, dear friend, and may all of our dear Brothers grasp, the worth of this word uttered by the mouth of the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ! Now he … Continue reading

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I AM ONLY HAPPY BESIDE THOSE WHOM THE GOOD GOD HAS GIVEN ME

On leaving the house of the Archpriest Adinolfi, I said a heartfelt Te Deum laudamus and entered the church where lies the body of Saint Joseph Calasanz, there to thank our Lord and pray him to finish his work. Despite … Continue reading

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YOU, MY DEAR CHILDREN, WHO SERVE THE GOOD GOD WITH SUCH A GENEROUS HEART, HAVE BROUGHT THIS ABOUT

It is the father and founder of the Oblate Congregation who rejoices. It was while Eugene was enthusiastically telling the Pope about the generous missionary zeal and extraordinary pastoral accomplishments of the Oblates that the Pope had recognized this work … Continue reading

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I COULD NOT HOLD BACK MY TEARS, SO TOUCHED WAS MY HEART BY THE POPE’S GOODNESS.

While everyone had assured Eugene that there was no chance of getting more than a recognition of praise for the Oblates from the Pope, the unbelievable had happened! In his Diary he recorded: I went to see the archpriest, Monsignor … Continue reading

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LET US RENEW OURSELVES ESPECIALLY IN DEVOTION TO THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN AND RENDER OURSELVES WORTHY TO BE OBLATES OF THE IMMACULATE MARY

Having described the Pope’s favorable reaction to Eugene’s request for the approbation of the Oblates, he exclaims ecstatically: Have you understood, dear friend, and may all of our dear Brothers grasp, the worth of this word uttered by the mouth … Continue reading

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