Category Archives: RULE

A READINESS FOR RESPONSIBILITY

The vocation and life of the Missionary was presented in glowing terms in the first paragraph of the Foreword, and the members were exhorted to allow themselves to be totally transformed by these great ideals. Now Eugene continues to show … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged | Leave a comment

AN EIGHT-POINT IDENTIKIT

In writing the Rule in 1818 Eugene wanted to put down in writing the spirit of how the Missionaries had experienced themselves for three years. His aim was that others would be transformed by the same spirit through following this … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

THE FUTURE OF THE MISSIONARIES THREATENED FROM WITHIN

Eugene used the annual retreat of the Missionaries as the opportunity to present to them the Rule that he had compiled. The retreat extended from October 23 to 31, 1818. As the events of this retreat, and of our first … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

THE RULE: ENRICHED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS

When Eugene had written to Henri Tempier to invite him to join the Missionaries, he had said: We will live together in one house, that which I have bought, under a Rule we shall adopt with common accord and for … Continue reading

Posted in LETTERS, RULE | Tagged , | 2 Comments

TIGHTENING THE BONDS SO AS TO HAVE UNITY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

In the process of discernment, Eugene placed the situation of establishing a second community and its implications before all the Missionaries. His Memoires recall: I felt that I should summon to an extraordinary council, all those who then comprised my … Continue reading

Posted in RULE, WRITINGS | Tagged , | 1 Comment

KEEPING THE MISSIONARY FIRE BURNING

During his retreat of May 1818, Eugene continued to reflect on the activities of the year. These included the return visits to some of the places where they had already preached missions. He wrote about this in the Rule: The … Continue reading

Posted in RETREAT NOTES, RULE | Tagged , | Leave a comment

LEARNING TO HANDLE RESPONSIBILITY

Eugene, as director, ensured the communication and maintenance of the spirit he wished to convey to the members of the Youth Congregation. There was a clearly defined infrastructure of people to help him in his task, and whose opinions and … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged | 2 Comments

PEER-GROUP COACHING

Art 79. There are four zealots… The four people who exercised the function of “zealots” were an important vehicle used by Eugene to communicate and train other in his spirit. He stated that Art 81. The office of the zealots … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged | 2 Comments

PREPARING SEVERAL HUNDRED YOUTH TO FUNCTION IN HARMONY

For over two months now, the daily reflection has been on the topic of the Youth Congregation that Eugene began in 1813 and to which he dedicated the major part of his time and energy until the end of 1815. … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged | Leave a comment

COMMUNION IN DEATH

After the week of reflections on the Spanish martyrs, I pick up the thread that we have been following for many weeks on the Youth Congregation started by Eugene in Aix in 1813. We have seen the concern that the … Continue reading

Posted in RULE | Tagged , , | Leave a comment