Category Archives: LETTERS

ALL FOR GOD THRU MISSIONARY GENEROSITY

1822 was a busy year for Eugene and the Missionaries, with sixteen weeks of intensive mission preaching (at Signes -beginning of January to mid-February, at Lorgues -February 17 to March 31, and at Barcelonnette -April 20 to May 20). Before … Continue reading

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A COLLECTIVE SPIRITUALITY OF COMMUNION

The year 1822 saw the Missionaries of Provence fully engaged in evangelization in Aix, Notre Dame du Laus, Marseille as well as in the preaching of several prolonged parish missions. Eugene, as the father of this missionary family, rejoiced in … Continue reading

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I TOOK PRECAUTIONS TO LET THE SPIRIT OF GOD ACT WITHIN YOU

Respectful of God’s work in the young Marcou, Eugene promised him his support as he responded to God’s calling: Now, just as much as I took precautions to let the Spirit of God act within you, under the direction of … Continue reading

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SATISFACTION AT THE DIRECTION THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE

Jacques Joseph Marcou was 14 years old when he attended the very first meeting of Eugene’s Youth Congregation in 1813. From that moment his life had been closely associated with Eugene, who had accompanied him in his spiritual and Christian … Continue reading

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MISSION GLIMPSES IN LA CIOTAT

Eugene and some of the Missionaries were fully involved in the seven-week long parish mission at La Ciotat. Some extracts from the few letters he had time to write to the people closest to him give us some glimpses of … Continue reading

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ONGOING PASTORAL CONCERN OF THE WITNESS OF A UNITED MISSIONARY COMMUNITY

During the time that Eugene was preaching the mission at La Ciotat, the community in Aix had sent him greetings for his feast day. As he responded to this gesture of community solidarity, he reflected on the ideal of unity … Continue reading

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ONGOING PASTORAL CONCERN THRU THE MINISTRY OF THE AIX HOUSE

The last mission of 1821 was from November 4 to December 23 in La Ciotat, a fishing and shipbuilding town at the edge of the sea. While engaged in this, Eugene was in communion of thought and prayer with the … Continue reading

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IN THE LIGHT OF CRITICISM, A REMINDER THAT IT IS GOD THAT THE MISSIONARY WORKS FOR

I have reflected in detail on this letter of Eugene because it gives us an idea of the realistic difficulties facing the Missionaries in their animation of parish missions. The letter ends rather harshly as Eugene reminds the pastor: “This … Continue reading

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ONGOING PASTORAL CONCERN ABOUT THE REALISTIC RESULTS OF A MISSION

How does one measure one’s effectiveness is working with people – particularly when the activity is spiritual? The Missionaries did this by counting the numbers of people who came to confession and communion as an indication. The pastor of Brignoles … Continue reading

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ONGOING PASTORAL CONCERN ABOUT LACK OF PERSEVERANCE

Parish missions had the ability to rouse up enthusiasm while they were taking place, and afterwards there was a tendency to lose fervor gradually. This touches into everyone’s experience of entering into new challenges with enthusiasm and the necessity to … Continue reading

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