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- 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)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WALKING THE LINE BETWEEN PROPHETIC VISION AND SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE (CONSTITUTION 9)
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Category Archives: RETREAT NOTES
WHAT MORE GLORIOUS OCCUPATION THAN TO ACT IN EVERYTHING AND FOR EVERYTHING ONLY FOR GOD
The heart of Eugene’s conversion experience is his definitive decision to live “only for God.” Looking at the rest if his life, one sees that this did in effect become the central focus of his life. His canonisation in 1995 … Continue reading
I HAD LOOKED FOR HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF GOD
Eugene wrote about his Good Friday experience seven years after the event. During this time he had studied in the seminary, been ordained and had done 3 years of ministry. The memory of the event was still so powerful for … Continue reading
NEVER WAS MY SOUL MORE SATISFIED, NEVER DID IT FEEL SUCH HAPPINESS
Eugene’s tears were initially caused by his awareness of being in a state of sin. Nowhere does he say what this “mortal sin” was, but the context suggests that it was his realization of how his life had been pointing … Continue reading
CAN I FORGET THE BITTER TEARS THAT THE SIGHT OF THE CROSS BROUGHT STREAMING FROM MY EYES ONE GOOD FRIDAY?
The life-changing Good Friday experience was marked by tears that were uncontrollable. We come across this phenomenon of tears on several important religious moments in the life of Eugene (often while celebrating Mass). They were signs of a deep experience … Continue reading
I LOOKED FOR HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF GOD AND FOR TOO LONG WITH RESULTING UNHAPPINESS
In the second meditation of his retreat, Eugene reflects on the aim of man’s existence, and how one can achieve these ends. For years he had looked for happiness outside of this goal, and it took the experience of looking … Continue reading
COMPLIMENTS LEAVE ME UNAFFECTED, I EVEN FIND THEM TIRESOME
Eugene’s retreat reflection leads him to examine his reactions to others. This is one of those texts of Eugene one hesitates to publish in the 21st century, yet it forms part of the true picture of this 19th century man! … Continue reading
THESE GOOD WORKS, THESE STRIKING WORKS FOR WHICH MEN PRAISE ME, EXALT ME TO THE SKIES
Eugene’s reflections during his retreat lead him to see that he had certainly achieved many praiseworthy things in his ministry in Aix: preaching to the poor in Provençal, the successful youth congregation, his prison ministry, and his willingness to give … Continue reading
SINCE MY CONVERSION THERE HAS BEEN A CERTAIN CHANGE, BUT I HAVE NOTHING TO BE COMPLACENT ABOUT
Eugene acknowledges that his conversion has to be an on-going process – he is not yet “immersed in God.” …Thus I went against all his plans, by my fault; I had even rendered the attainment of some of them an … Continue reading
UNTIL THE TIME OF MY CONVERSION, MY SOLE PREOCCUPATION WAS TO DESTROY HIS WORK
Here, in the first meditation of the day, Eugene refers to a moment where his conversion took place. Interestingly, the very next retreat meditation, the second of the day, is the one in which he recalls his Good Friday experience! … Continue reading
LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED, FOR I NEED REFORMATION IN EVERYTHING
In Eugene’s assessment of the year he is hard on himself. He judges himself to have been out of balance in his dedication of time to others, and is aware that some of the weaknesses of his character became too … Continue reading