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Recent Posts
- I COULD NOT HOLD BACK MY TEARS, SO TOUCHED WAS MY HEART BY THIS GOODNESS. IT IS SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY AND WE CAN ONLY BE DUMBFOUNDED BEFORE GOD AT THIS PROTECTION
- “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
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
PARISH MISSIONS: ONLY INSOFAR AS THEY HAD IMBUED THEMSELVES WITH JESUS CHRIST, WERE THEY CAPABLE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL
Eugene’s letters to his Oblates concentrated largely on practical issues regarding the missions – since they were the communications of the superior keeping the ship on course – however, underlying every counsel and practical aspect, one finds the most important … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: THE EXEMPLARY LIFESTYLE OF THE MISSIONARIES AS THE KEY INGREDIENT OF THE MISSION
In order to achieve the goals of mission preaching, Eugene laid down the foundational principle: the preacher himself had to know the Saviour and imitate him. Just as Eugene’s own mission was a communication of his own experience of God, … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: AIM AT THE CONVERSION OF THE PARISH AS A WHOLE
While the missionaries aimed at personal conversion, their ultimate ideal was to help the whole parish to grow together. The local pastor was involved in the mission – at no stage did the missionaries take over the running of the … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE MISSIONARIES
Since the missions are one of the principal ends of the Institute, all will strive principally to fulfil this task well. 1818 Rule, Chapter Two, §1, Article 1. During Eugene’s lifetime the Oblates in France had animated some 3000 parish … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: EMPLOY YOUR ZEAL IN FAVOUR OF THE POOR ABANDONED MOUNTAIN PEOPLE RATHER THAN WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THE PROUD CITIZENS OF DISDAINFUL CITIES
They “will devote themselves to providing spiritual assistance for the poor people scattered over the country districts, and for the inhabitants of the small rural villages deprived of spiritual help.” 1818 Rule, Chapter 1, §1 article 1 Between 1816 and … Continue reading
WHAT HAPPENED ON 25 JANUARY 1816 – FINALIZING THEIR “VISION STATEMENT”
What did the newly-formed group of Missionaries do on 25 January 1816? A few weeks’ before, Eugene had written to Henri Tempier about his program for this day: At this meeting we will draw up the Rule which we will … Continue reading
25 JANUARY 1816: RECALLING THE FOUNDING STORY
The all-important first day of community life for the Missionaries was obviously a story often repeated in all its details. In his Memoires, Father Tempier, described it as: “This memorable day that I will never forget for as long as I … Continue reading
IF I HAD FORESEEN ALL THE TROUBLE, WORRY, ANXIETY AND CONFUSION THIS ESTABLISHMENT WOULD THROW ME INTO, I BELIEVE I NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD THE ZEAL TO UNDERTAKE IT
Having spoken about the dilapidated state of the church, where the rain poured in as much inside as outside, Eugene refers to the sad history of the uses of the former church of the Carmelite Sisters in its recent history. … Continue reading
WHAT IF THE CARMELITES WANT THEIR CHURCH BUILDING RETURNED TO THEM?
The recent extracts from Eugene’s writings dealt with bringing together the missionaries necessary for his project. During this time he was being kept busy with the material concerns of the building that he had just bought. He was exhausted in … Continue reading
THE HUMAN FACE OF THOSE INVITED TO JOIN EUGENE IN REALIZING HIS DREAM
Not all approached by Eugene had the same sentiments as Henri Tempier. In this letter to his friend, Forbin Janson, Eugene gives vent to his feelings in a frank, and rather humorous, description of the reactions of some of his … Continue reading