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Recent Posts
- “THIS SOCIETY PLEASES ME; I KNOW THE GOOD IT DOES… MY INTENTION IS NOT MERELY THAT THESE RULES BE PRAISED BUT THAT THEY BE APPROVED” (POPE LEO XII)
- 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
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
REVIVAL
After our short pause, we return to the activities of Eugene and the Missionaries of Provence in 1819. We had just concluded reflecting on the writings on the mission preached in Barjols. To keep the momentum moving, the Missionaries usually … Continue reading
LOOKING BACK WITH SATISFACTION
The mission in Barjols ended on 20 December but the fervor of the people continued after the departure of the Missionaries, as Eugene wrote with satisfaction: The parish priest at Barjols tells me that during the past 18 years he … Continue reading
DISTURBING THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH THE WORD OF GOD
The mayor, assistants, judges, notaries, lawyers, businessmen, manufacturers, middle class people, everyone is moving, each trying to outdo the others. Letter to Fortuné de Mazenod, 22 November 1818, O.W. XIII n.20 Despite what Eugene wrote about the positive reaction of these … Continue reading
IF YOU KNEW ALL THAT THE GOOD GOD IS DOING HERE THROUGH OUR MINISTRY
Already a few days into the mission in Barjols, we find the Missionaries in full swing. They were successfully reaching out to persons who had been away from religious practices for decades: Here we are in the confessional, without stirring, … Continue reading
WEAVING IT ALL TOGETHER TO ENSURE A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
Unable to preach, Eugene continued to do the “announcements” .To understand what this means we need to look at the role of a “master of ceremonies” or of a television “anchor person” – it is the person who kept the … Continue reading
CHECKS AND BALANCES
Although he had to stay behind in Aix, Henri Tempier played an important role in the Barjols mission. On questions of health, he was the only one who had any hold on Eugene and he had forbidden him to tire … Continue reading
HAVING TO ACCEPT A BODY WITH A WILL OF ITS OWN
As we have seen in previous entries, Eugene’s dynamism and generous zeal had led him to periods of exhaustion and illness. His journal shows how ill-health had been a teacher regarding his way of doing things. Now at Barjols, it … Continue reading
LIMITATIONS: CONVERTING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE
Illness and loss of voice made Eugene unable to participate fully in the Barjols mission and he had no choice but to accept and make the best of the situation: One must be patient, since the good God wishes this … Continue reading
THE FRUSTRATION OF FACING LIMITATIONS
By temperament Eugene was a talented leader who was used to being involved in everything – today we could use the expression of tending towards “micromanagement” to describe this. Having arrived in Barjols, full of enthusiasm, ready to preach and … Continue reading
COMMITMENT BRINGS COURAGE
Two months earlier, Eugene had accepted to do the parish mission in the town of Barjols because he recognized its urgency: More than fifty pastors are asking insistently for a mission… However, I am inclined to give you preference. It … Continue reading