Category Archives: LETTERS

THE OBLATE IS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE A TEAM PLAYER

Henri Tempier had been away from the “slavery” of the administrative work of the Diocese of Marseille for a few weeks, spending time with the Oblate community of Notre Dame du Laus. On his return to Marseille, Eugene wrote to … Continue reading

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GOD IS THERE WITH HIS GRACE

Continuing to encourage the young seminarian, Marius Bernard, in his struggle against temptations, Eugene reassures him that if he is true to his spirit of oblation he will be safe. The person who has made a commitment to living “all … Continue reading

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YOUR CONSTANT DESIRE TO LOVE GOD SHOULD REASSURE YOU

The young Marius Bernard was obviously struggling with temptations – the text does not specify their nature, but they were causing obvious distress in his life.. Eugene counsels and encourages him: There is nothing simpler, more common, my dear friend, … Continue reading

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CHANNELING MISGUIDED ENTHUSIASM

In this letter to Marius Bernard, a 22 year-old seminarian in Aix, we see Eugene treating this young Oblate deacon with much fatherly patience as he corrects him: I make this remark, my dear friend, because I have just been … Continue reading

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WE NEED TO STOP THIS IMPROVISED SORT OF LIFE

From the beginning, the Oblates have always been good at improvising so as to make the mission possible. However, sacrificing structures and regularity eventually catches up to the detriment of the mission. In this letter, Eugene writes to Courtès, the … Continue reading

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WE WILL FIND OUR SUPPORT IN FRIENDSHIP AND IN FRATERNAL LIFE

Whatever Eugene’s occupation was, he was always first and foremost an Oblate. It was in his bonds with the Oblate community that he found the strength to persevere in difficult situations. In Marseille it was the presence of Henri Tempier … Continue reading

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THE AIM OF FORMATION: TO LEARN HOW TO BE FULLY IN GOD

Eugene used to spend the days around the First Friday of each month with the community in Aix. After this particular visit he wrote with joy about his experience with the novices – those men who were involved in the … Continue reading

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THE CROSS OF CHRIST, EMBRACED WITH LOVE, NEVER BRINGS SADNESS

“The cross of Jesus Christ is central to our mission… Through the eyes of our crucified Saviour we see the world which he redeemed with his blood, desiring that those in whom he continues to suffer will know also the … Continue reading

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DESPISED FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE GOOD ACCOMPLISHED IN THE CHURCH

The words of Pope Francis: “Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the church’s credibility,” find echo in Eugene’s writings. We have … Continue reading

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COMMITMENT TO DISCIPLESHIP IN THE CHURCH

Bernard Vachon, an Oblate scholastic, had been ordained sub-deacon. This function no longer exists in the Church but, at that time, it was a definitive commitment to the clerical state towards ordination to the priesthood. Eugene was not present at … Continue reading

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