Category Archives: LETTERS

FORMATION: BE CLOSE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE

The Oblates who accompany the novices need to be fully available to them and not absent because of other preoccupations (no matter how worthy these could be). In our demanding mediatic world of today, this could also be seen as … Continue reading

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FORMATION: FASHION THE CANDIDATE WITH A MASTER’S HAND

At the time of Eugene, the novitiate was the first step in becoming an Oblate missionary. It was an intense year in which the candidate concentrated fully on allowing God to “fashion him with a master’s hand.” The guiding instrument … Continue reading

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FORMATION: YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE NOVITIATE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT

Henri Tempier’s letter not only referred to Vachon’s misbehavior, but also to the fact of 5 novices having left the novitiate without making the commitment of vows. This caused Eugene to make some serious reflections on the novitiate formation of … Continue reading

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IN A STORM WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON THE IDEAL

Reflecting on the effect on the Oblates of the misbehavior of Vachon, Eugene concludes that the only way to survive hard blows was to keep their attention firmly focused on the Oblate Rule of life. Living every aspect of one’s … Continue reading

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A FATHER’S DISAPPOINTMENT

My very dear friend, I arrived this morning at Rome too late to have the happiness of saying holy Mass… This is the first day since my departure from Genoa that I have been deprived of this consolation. This inconvenience, … Continue reading

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HARDSHIPS ENDURED SO AS TO CELEBRATE DAILY MASS

My very dear friend, I arrived this morning at Rome too late to have the happiness of saying holy Mass, although I had remained fasting until two o’clock, after having spent the night stretched out in the carriage hired from … Continue reading

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COMMUNION WITH OTHERS

Eugene describes the carriage journey from Genoa to Rome to Henri Tempier. I was so happy during my journey! The Lord had made me experience so much happiness at the altar to which I ascended every day, in spite of … Continue reading

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SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

We resume our exploration of Eugene’s journey to Rome in 1825 to ensure the continuity of the Oblates. His main reason for stopping in Turin was to meet with the leaders of the congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin … Continue reading

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GOING BACK TO HIS OLD SCHOOL

On leaving France, Eugene travelled to Turin, where he wrote: we spent several hours going through, from cellar to attic, their beautiful college of the Nobles, while waiting for Father Rector to return. Letter to Henri Tempier, 8 November 1825, … Continue reading

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COLLECTING TESTIMONIALS FROM WITNESSES OF OBLATE MINISTRY

The purpose of Eugene’s journey to Rome was to seek an official Church approbation of the Missionary Oblates. His Society was tiny, and so he had to back up his request by showing the important evangelizing role that it was … Continue reading

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