Category Archives: RULE

THE MISSIONARY: DARING TO USE SHOCK TREATMENT

In the pitiful religious state in which the people of Provence found themselves, the ordinary means provided by the Church structures were not enough. The people had been at the mercy of various currents of thought over the past 27 … Continue reading

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THE MISSIONARY: THE ORDINARY MEANS OF THE CHURCH STRUCTURES ARE INSUFFICIENT AND EVEN USELESS

“Deeply moved” by the situation of the abandoned people, the Missionaries of Provence continued explaining their vision: The undersigned priests: … -knowing from experience that the callousness or indifference of these people renders the ordinary help supplied by your concern … Continue reading

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THE MISSIONARY: DEEPLY MOVED BY THE SUFFERING OF ABANDONED PERSONS

 The letter written to the Diocesan authorities on 25 January 1816 is a foundational document for us who live according to the spirit and charism of Saint Eugene. In the days that follow I will explore various aspects of this … Continue reading

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THE FOUNDING VISION: OUR FIRST RULE

The first Missionaries of Provence produced a request for authorization that they addressed to the Aix diocesan authorities. We can see this document as the statement of the founding vision of what today we refer to as the larger Mazenodian … Continue reading

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PRISON MINISTRY: ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ENDS OF OUR INSTITUTE IS TO HELP THE MOST NEGLECTED SOULS

Eugene’s own experience as a young priest was assumed into the practice of the missionary Congregation he founded. The Rule that he wrote for its members could almost be seen as an autobiographical description of his own ministry. He writes: … Continue reading

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A NEGATIVE FRAME TO HIGHLIGHT A POSITIVE VOCATION

Eugene was not content to remain sighing about the state of the clergy – in founding our Congregation he envisaged a concrete response to the situation. Part 3 of our first Rule (1818) dealing with the aims of the Oblates … Continue reading

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EUGENE CONTINUES TO REFLECT ON HOW TO COUNTERACT THE EFFECTS OF BAD PRIESTS

“The Church, that glorious inheritance purchased by the Saviour at the cost of all his blood, has in our days been cruelly ravaged… … The truth of the matter is that for a century already, through devilish tactics, an effort … Continue reading

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EUGENE GIVES HOPE TO A CHURCH RAVAGED BY THE BAD BEHAVIOUR OF SOME PRIESTS

Because of the Year of the Priest I have jumped ahead to the Rule of 1818, where Eugene expresses his ideals of priesthood for the Oblates within the context of the suffering of the Church aggravated by bad priests. ” … Continue reading

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