Category Archives: RETREAT NOTES

I HAVE A GREAT TRUST IN GOD’S GOODNESS

In reviewing the course of his spiritual journey, Eugene becomes aware of an important area of growth that has happened in his life. Whereas in the previous retreats he had concentrated on his sinfulness and an almost morbid preoccupation with … Continue reading

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I WILL NEVER FAIL IN MY RETREATS TO PUT IN WRITING AT LEAST SOME OF THE GOOD THOUGHTS GOD IN HIS GOODNESS GIVES ME

The 1816 retreat notes were written in the notebook in which he kept all his previous retreat notes (cf Oblate Writings XIV and XV). Today the word “journalling” is used for this type of spiritual exercise. Eugene notes the direction … Continue reading

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I SHOULD STOP SHORT AT NOTHING FOR THE WELFARE OF THIS INSTRUMENT THAT IS INDISPENSABLE TO A MISSIONARY

I have pretended up to now to have mislaid my stomach, and I have been quite successful in this. I believed an habitual fast, working though I was, was not doing me any harm at all; I was wrong. And … Continue reading

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IT IS A GREAT PITY I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS A LOT SOONER

Sleep So he must sleep and eat; and when he is tired he must rest. It is a great pity I did not understand this a lot sooner. There is still time to get there, the damage is not irreversible; … Continue reading

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IT IS ANNOYING THAT THE BODY’S ENERGIES DO NOT MATCH THE ACTIVITY OF THE SOUL

Eugene is learning to come to his senses about the limitations that his body places on his missionary zeal. He needs to ensure the necessary energy to put his ideals into practice. Looking after the body Soul and body are … Continue reading

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I WILL TRY TO PROFIT FROM IT AND SERIOUSLY EXAMINE MY LIFE

The enforced break turned out to be an important moment of reflection and clarification for Eugene. For almost a year he had been constantly occupied with every detail of the birth of the Missionaries of Provence. Now he was forced … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS EVALUATION: THE MIRACLES WORKED THROUGH OUR MINISTRY

We have been specially founded for the conversion of souls and God has shown us over the period of years we have been proclaiming his mercies to sinners that he is ready to work miracles through our ministry. It is … Continue reading

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EUGENE AS MISSION PREACHER: HIS AIM WAS TO LEAD OTHERS TO THE LOVE OF GOD

My chief occupation will be to love him, my chief concern to make him loved. To this I will bend all my efforts, time, strength, and when after much toil I have succeeded in winning but a single act of … Continue reading

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HE KNOWS MY NEEDS, HE IS MY FATHER, AND AN ALL-POWERFUL FATHER

Eugene’s meditation continues to focus on God as a loving Father – no other Father like Him exists. As an older man, Eugene spoke of his own fatherly love for his Oblate sons as a reflection of God’s fatherly love. … Continue reading

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OUR FATHER: THIS WORD WE HAVE SO OFTEN ON OUR LIPS AND SO RARELY IN OUR HEART

Meditating on the Gospel of the Flight to Egypt, leads Eugene to reflect on his relationship with God the Father. The words come easily to him because of his own excellent relationship with his father, Charles Antoine. Eugene’s sense of … Continue reading

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