Category Archives: LETTERS

THROUGH OUR OBLATION WE ARE INSTRUMENTS OF THE SAVIOUR

I wish you to change the end of our litanies; instead of saying Jesus sacerdos, we must say Christe salvator. That is the aspect under which we ought to contemplate our divine Master. Our particular vocation is such that we … Continue reading

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CO-OPERATORS OF THE SAVIOUR

I wish you to change the end of our litanies; instead of saying Jesus sacerdos, we must say Christe salvator. That is the aspect under which we ought to contemplate our divine Master. Our particular vocation is such that we … Continue reading

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SAVIOUR: THAT IS THE ASPECT UNDER WHICH WE OUGHT TO CONTEMPLATE OUR DIVINE MASTER

The Holy Spirit inspires certain groups and individuals to a deep understanding of one particular word or aspect of God, which then becomes the focus of their way of life and of their ministry. Religious Orders and Congregations and Ecclesial … Continue reading

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FROM MY PLACE OF EXILE

Eventually Eugene’s body could no longer handle the pressure, and he was sent away for an enforced rest. The vow of obedience that he had made to Henri Tempier would no doubt have been used to force him to take … Continue reading

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WHAT IS KILLING ME, IS THE THOUGHT THAT EVERY DAY I HAVE TO DO TWENTY THINGS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT I AM ABLE FOR

Apart from the non-stop activity, Eugene carried the responsibility of nurturing the infancy of the group of Missionaries. The identity of the group was being formed. The methodology and goals of their missionary activities were being worked out as they … Continue reading

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AT PRESENT, I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT WORK

After a pause to reflect on and celebrate the 150 years of the death of Saint Eugene, our daily reflections on his writings resume. We are in the year 1816 and we have reflected on the foundation of the Missionaries … Continue reading

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EUGENE’S UNCLE IN NEED OF CONVERSION

Eugene’s expression of joy at his father’s experience of conversion, concludes with his asking the same grace for his uncle, Charles Louis de Mazenod: Be sure to tell this dear soul that I am helping him with all my power … Continue reading

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CONVERSION MAINTAINED BY FREQUENT USE OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

President de Mazenod’s conversion journey led him to the sacrament of confession. Eugene now invites him to use this sacrament on a regular basis to maintain the force and movement of his conversion. His idea of the sacrament is not … Continue reading

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CONVERSION: LET NOT A DAY GO PAST WITHOUT RECALLING WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU

Eugene continues to write to his father to give him advice on how to maintain the momentum of his experience of conversion. Much of what Eugene says actually reflects his own personal spiritual practices. It invites us to question ourselves … Continue reading

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ONE MUST NOT BE AFRAID OF SHOWING WHAT ONE HAS BECOME BY GOD’S GRACE

Eugene’s father had become seriously ill in December 1815 in Palermo. The event shocked him into reexamining the quality and direction of his life and of experiencing an ongoing conversion. His son, who was no stranger to conversion himself, responded: … Continue reading

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