-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE OBLATE RULE OF LIFE, WHAT IS ST. EUGENE SAYING TO US? (C1-10)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK: IN THE DAILY PRESSURES OF OUR ANXIETY AN INEXHAUSTIBLE TRUST IN GOD’S GOODNESS
- Mildred March on A SUMMARY OF TEN YEARS OF OBLATE MINISTRY
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on FAITH-FOCUSED INVESTMENT GROUPS: A PRESENCE WHERE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POOR ARE BEING MADE (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on VIVAT: A PRESENCE WHERE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POOR ARE BEING MADE (Rule 9a)
Archives
Meta
-
Category Archives: LETTERS
VOCATIONS: SOME ARE DRAWN TO ANSWER THAT CALL THROUGH THE JOY AND GENEROSITY OF OUR LIVES
After that brief recapping of the life of St Eugene, I resume the ongoing reflections on his letters in chronological order. This means that there is no specific order in the themes dealt with. I remind you that if you … Continue reading
THE DELIGHT THAT IS MINE WHEN I AM WITH OUR OBLATES IS WORTH MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
At the end of October each year the Oblate community in Aix would have their annual retreat, and this year Eugene had come from Marseille to join the community for it. He wrote to Henri Tempier in Marseille: If it … Continue reading
THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE EVIL ONE
Often in Eugene’s writings we come across the struggle between good and evil where ministry is concerned. Console yourself by realizing that it is a new trick of the enemy of all good from whom it would not be reasonable … Continue reading
A LIFE-LONG FRIEND AND CONFIDANT OF THE FOUNDER
We are beginning to make the acquaintance of the first generation of Oblates who came in after the initial founding group. These are names we will frequently come across in the writings of Eugene – Oblates who have left their … Continue reading
HELPING YOUNG ZEALOUS MISSIONARIES TO BE CREDIBLE SIGNS OF THEIR MESSAGE
Eugene writes with advice to the 26 year-old Hippolyte Courtès, the young superior of Aix and the one responsible for the formation of the new Oblates, (most of whom were around his own age). The letters of this period show … Continue reading
THE MISSIONARY DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER
Jacques Marcou was 23 years old and had been ordained less than a year. In those days the studies for the priesthood were very rudimentary and took two years (as opposed to a minimum of 7 today). For this reason … Continue reading
A CANDIDATE WHO HAS NO IDEA OF HOW WE DO THINGS
Now that he was in Marseille, Eugene kept in regular contact with the superiors of the Oblate communities to ensure a unity of spirit. His letters are full of practical details referring to situations and people. In a particular way … Continue reading
DARING TO CROSS FRONTIERS
From the very beginning, Eugene’s expansive spirit saw beyond his present frontiers towards other areas of missionary outreach to the “most abandoned.” In 1818 he had written in the first Rule of Life: Even though, because of their present small … Continue reading
THE GOODNESS OF A PERSON SPREADS IN ALL DIRECTIONS
Writing from Nice: I have already a priest who is willing to join but perhaps they will give him grudgingly as he is the director of the seminary; he is an angel of virtue and a charming man. Letter to … Continue reading
YOU ACT AS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BODY
Eugene was always concerned about the health of the Oblates, but never concerned about his own. Here, the community of Aix tries to convince him that he must not pretend that he does not have a body with needs. Rey … Continue reading