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- 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
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- 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
AS I USED TO ASCEND THE PULPIT … I DID NOT FORGET TO BEG THE MASTER PRESENT TO SPEAK HIMSELF BY MY MOUTH
Father de Mazenod’s first recorded activity in 1813 is his series of Lenten sermons in Provencal in the Church of the Madeleine. He tells his friend, Charles Forbin Janson, about its success: Each Sunday in Lent I have preached in … Continue reading
WE ARE PRIESTS FOR THE CHURCH ALONE AND SO EVERY MOMENT OF OUR TIME IS HERS
After his ordination, Eugene spent a semester as a formator at St. Sulpice Seminary because the Sulpicians had been expelled by Napoleon, and so the senior ordained seminarians took over the seminary until a more permanent solution could be found. … Continue reading
A SENSUAL PRIEST IS IN MY EYES A DEFORMED MONSTROSITY
Starting off with some observations on how the future” Father de Mazenod will dress,” Eugene touches on two themes that will be important for him in the future. The first is his criticism of priests who do not live by … Continue reading
ORDINATION: A JOYFUL AND GENEROUS OBLATION
Eugene reflects on the experience of his ordination to the sub-diaconate, particularly his thoughts during the Litany of the Saints. Although he is not yet an “Oblate”, it is the language of joyful and generous oblation that dominates his descriptions … Continue reading
FOR A PRIEST THE VALUE OF A SINGLE SOUL RANSOMED BY THE MAN-GOD
In continuing to try to convince his mother of the value of his vocation, Eugene uses the idea of the co-operator of the Saviour’s whole ministry being worthwhile even if he only brings one person to know salvation. He then … Continue reading
A PRIEST GIVES HIS LIBERTY AND LIFE FOR A SUFFERING CHURCH
Eugene the seminarian reflects on the meaning of priesthood in an abandoned Church: The number of seminarians has risen considerably this year; I really think we are close to a hundred. Among the candidates we pride ourselves on, we can … Continue reading
I WILL HAVE THE CONSOLATION OF LEAVING BEHIND ME A PHALANX OF GOOD MISSIONARIES
When Eugene died there were 414 Oblates (6 Bishops, 267 priests, 88 brothers) spread around the world. In 1854 he had written about this: “I will have the consolation of leaving behind me a phalanx of good missionaries who spend … Continue reading
A PROJECT THAT CERTAINLY COMES FROM GOD
Eugene had done a thorough process of discernment – and had been told by his spiritual director that his priestly vocation was “as clear as the noonday sun.” Once he had understood this as God’s will, he never wavered in … Continue reading
WHEN THE VOICE OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS THREATENS TO BE LOUDER THAN GOD’S VOICE
Madame de Mazenod had ambitious plans for her 25 year old son. He consequently didn’t have the guts to tell her face-to-face that he wanted to go to the seminary. So he chose a roundabout way and gets her cousin, … Continue reading
THERE IS NOTHING INSTANT ABOUT CONVERSION
If we take Good Friday 1807 as a highpoint in Eugene’s conversion journey and search for a direction in his life, then this is the first text after that event that shows that he believes himself called to “a more … Continue reading