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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
A FATHER’S CONCERN
Eugene’s joyful pride in the generosity of the young students and novices is tempered by the dreadful apostasy of the wretch who could not be brought back to his duty by the example of conduct as edifying as yours Yvon … Continue reading
FATHER OF A LIVING COMMUNITY OF CONSECRATED PERSONS
In the centuries after Saint Paul, the spiritual concept of a ‘father’ was used for those who had administered baptism to the new Christians. With the rise of monasticism, and from the time of St Jerome onwards, the commitment to … Continue reading
ONE FATHER IS MORE THAN A HUNDRED SCHOOLMASTERS
With the arrival of younger members to the community, we find the development of a very special relationship between Eugene and his Oblates: the concept of his being the father of his religious family. It was the characteristic quality that … Continue reading
I DO NOT KNOW YOU PERSONALLY, BUT I AM BOUND TO YOU FOREVER AS YOU ARE TO ME
Today we are celebrating an important event here in the church of Oblate School of Theology. One of our young Oblates, Juan Manuel Gaspar is making his oblation for life as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. At a joyful … Continue reading
A COMMITMENT TO A NEW WORLD FREED FROM SELFISHNESS AND OPEN TO SHARING
The young Missionary students who were preparing for the priesthood at Laus had fully understood the meaning of the spirit of oblation. They wanted their self-giving to God for mission to be as generous as possible. They had already expressed … Continue reading
PUTTING OUT THE LAMP
From the time that Eugene was 9 he had been in exile outside of revolutionary France. Most of the ensuing eleven years had been spent with his father – seven of them without his mother who had left them to … Continue reading
WHERE THERE IS MOURNING, THERE IS DANCING
After a few days of illness, Eugene’s father, President Charles Antoine de Mazenod died on the 10 October 1820. The biographer Rey recounts that “Father de Mazenod showed an admirable filial piety. He devoted himself with an infinite dedication to relieve … Continue reading
HOW CONVINCED ARE YOU THAT GOD IS ALIVE?
A childhood friend of Eugene’s, Felix d’Albertas, had expressed difficulties about the quality of his faith. Eugene responded: One sentence of your last-but-one letter, dear Felix, really upset me. I cannot bear to think you are not perfectly happy and … Continue reading
HEADING FOR TEXAS!
From tomorrow, the source of this daily reflection will be changing address from Provence to Texas. As I travel today to begin a new ministry in San Antonio I am grateful for the privilege of becoming part of this great … Continue reading
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BEING PREPARED TO GIVE EVERYTHING FOR THE SALVATION OF ANOTHER
Immediately after the first Mass of Hippolyte Courtès, Eugene wrote to the 20 year old Adrien Chappuis. He had been a member of the Youth Congregation and had wanted to become a Missionary as well. His behaviour as a law … Continue reading