Category Archives: LETTERS

A FLASH OF IRRITATION

The mission in the village of Ventabren, 10 miles from Aix, was the first of the 1824 parish missions and lasted from January 11 to February 8. Eugene was able to participate for the first ten days. Tempier must have … Continue reading

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CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTIONS ARE MUCH MORE USEFUL TO THE UNEDUCATED THAN BEAUTIFUL SERMONS

During the months of October and November, the Missionaries had joined the Jesuits for a mission to the city of Gap, near the Alps. The language of the mission was French and in this connection Eugene refers to a letter … Continue reading

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IN PREACHING, COUNT A LITTLE MORE ON THE HELP OF GRACE RATHER THAN ON YOUR EXCESSIVE EFFORTS

Marius Suzanne was 24 years old and learning the work of preaching missions. In this letter Eugene guides him by giving him feedback from some of his listeners during the mission in Gap The Bishop of Gap has written to … Continue reading

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GUIDING A GROUP OF YOUNG ENTHUSIASTS

Even though the major part of Eugene’s time and energy were now spent on serving the Church in Marseille, his foremost preoccupation was always the Missionary Oblates. As Founder and Superior General he took an active interest in everything connected … Continue reading

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OBLATION FOR LOVE OF THE CHURCH

The first couple of years of Eugene’s presence in Marseille as Vicar General were demanding because there was so much to be done to re-establish the diocese after the absence of a bishop on the spot for over 20 years. … Continue reading

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MEN OF THE BISHOPS – AS MISSIONARY RELIGIOUS IN COMMUNITY

For the sake of peace, Eugene concludes his letter to the Bishop of Fréjus by accepting the fact of the men who have left the Misisonaries to return to the diocese. For, when all is said and done, since those … Continue reading

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LOYALTY TO THE BISHOPS AS OUR FATHERS AND NATURAL GUARDIANS

We continue reflecting on Eugene’s letter to the Bishop of Fréjus on the crisis which he had provoked by removing his men from the Missionaries. In earlier entries we have seen the collateral damage that this caused. Through the imprudence … Continue reading

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HOW MUCH AUTHORITY DO BISHOPS HAVE OVER THE OBLATES?

We have been following the saga of the Provencal bishops nearly destroying Eugene’s Missionaries. We have seen how Eugene managed to calm the storm with the Archbishop of Aix and among the Missionaries within the Society itself. His next step … Continue reading

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17 FEBRUARY 1826: THE CHURCH RECOGNIZES THAT EUGENE’S FOUNDATION IS A GOD-GIVEN CHARISM FOR US TODAY

On 18 February 1826, Eugene wrote this good news from Rome to his Oblate brothers in France: My dear friend, my dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation … Continue reading

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I WILL FAITHFULLY KEEP MY VOWS WHILE TRYING TO CONFORM MY EXTERIOR CONDUCT TO WHAT THE BISHOP PRESCRIBES IN ORDER NOT TO DISTURB THE PUBLIC ORDER.

As Eugene reflects on the conflict with the surrounding bishops regarding the status of the Oblates in their dioceses, it becomes the opportunity for him to clarify his thoughts of the meaning of their vows. Firstly he points out that … Continue reading

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