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Recent Posts
- IT IS IN THIS STATE OF HOLY ABANDON THAT I WAITED
- EUGENE PLACED THE RULE AT THE TOMB OF PETER AND IMPLORED HIM AND SAINT PAUL AND THE OTHER HOLY POPES WHO ARE BURIED IN THE SAME PLACE, TO ACCEPT AND BLESS THEM.
- THE CUSTOM WAS TO ENCOURAGE, NOT TO APPROVE
- THE DECISIVE MOMENT WHEN THE POPE RECOGNIZED THE WORK OF GOD IN OUR CHARISM
- THE GOODNESS, THE PLEASANT MANNER AND COURTESY OF POPE LEO XII
Recent Comments
- 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)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WE SHOW A VERY HUMAN FACE OF JESUS TO THE WORLD, ONE FULL OF COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on JUSTICE, PEACE AND THE INTEGRITY OF CREATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVANGELIZATION (Rule 9a)
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Category Archives: LETTERS
USE ALL THE MEANS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE CALLED TO
Throughout his life Eugene insisted on correct and meaningful celebrations of the liturgy. In his own case he used the liturgical texts as a basis for his prayer in the retreats he made in preparation for receiving the sacrament of … Continue reading
ZEAL IS THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE DEACON
The father of the Oblate family rejoices because one of the youngest members has been ordained a deacon – as the final step before priestly ordination. Eugene underlines to this scholastic the importance of a coherent spirituality which will bear … Continue reading
INTERDEPENDENT IN OUR LIVES
From Marseille Eugene kept in contact with all the Oblates in Aix and in Laus, and showed interest in the life and spirit of each community and its members. The only way to communicate regularly was by writing letters. Because … Continue reading
GOD DEMANDS THIS ENORMOUS SACRIFICE OF ME IN VIEW OF A GREATER GOOD
Eugene had been born in Aix en Provence, it had been the scene of his first ministry as a priest (especially the youth ministry) , it was the place of foundation of the Oblates and the city where his mother … Continue reading
IT IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY HALF OR THREE QUARTERS OF YOUR LISTENERS
The aims and methods of Oblate preaching were always clear: break the Word of God for the most abandoned by speaking simply in their language. In Eugene’s time it was the Provençal language – and only rarely did he permit … Continue reading
AFTER A MISSION YOU MUST FEEL THE NEED TO BE RECOLLECTED AND TO THINK A LITTLE OF YOURSELF
As proud as Eugene was of his young Missionaries and their zealous achievements, he also worried that they would burn themselves out because of their generosity. After a mission, it is good to spend several days in a regular community. … Continue reading
CHRISTIAN JOY COMES FROM KNOWING GOD AND FROM TRYING TO FOLLOW GOD’S WILL
We have often seen Eugene’s special fatherly affection for the members of his Youth Congregation who became Oblates. The newly-ordained Jacques Marcou stood out because he had been a founding member of the youth, eleven years earlier. Addressing him by … Continue reading
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERATE OF THE DAILY WELFARE OF THESE POOR PEOPLE
Scholastic brother Marius Bernard, who was preparing for his diaconate ordination, was part of the mission team. They had him teaching catechism three times per day, but Eugene saw this as an exaggeration that was putting undue demands on the … Continue reading
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO ASSEMBLE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
Eugene had participated in the first ten days of the mission in Ventabren. He then had to return to Marseille and left it in the hands of the two young priests and the scholastic brother Marius Bernard. A week later, … Continue reading
YOU ARE MISSING YOUR AIM AND RENDERING YOURSELF USELESS
The mission in the village of Ventabren gives us an indication of how Eugene guided the young Oblates in the ways of doing an Oblate mission. It was preached by Fathers Jean Baptiste Honorat (aged 24 and a priest for … Continue reading