Category Archives: DIARY

EUGENE, THE PILGRIM WHO NEEDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT HE SAW AND EXPERIENCED

In the diary that he meticulously wrote each day of his time in Rome, Eugene shares his excitement at being a pilgrim discovering this city for the first time. On his first full day in the city he describes an … Continue reading

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HARDSHIPS ENDURED SO AS TO CELEBRATE DAILY MASS

My very dear friend, I arrived this morning at Rome too late to have the happiness of saying holy Mass, although I had remained fasting until two o’clock, after having spent the night stretched out in the carriage hired from … Continue reading

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EXILE AS A SCHOOL OF UNDERSTANDING

With the French patriots, the account says, threatening to overrun the whole of Piedmont, my father did not feel his family to be safe in Turin: he made the decision to leave this city to move to Venice, and take … Continue reading

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COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR, BUT THE TRIUMPH OVER IT

Continuing the narrative from Eugene’s diary on his school days in Turin, we read: In the interval between his first communion and his confirmation, namely, between Holy Thursday and Trinity 1792, Eugene gave fresh proof of the delicacy of his … Continue reading

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KEEPING COMPANY WITH ROYALTY

This was the time that the Duke of Angouleme and the Duke of Berry, who were refugees in Turin and close to the King, their grandfather, came to visit the College of Nobles, accompanied by His Grace the Duke of … Continue reading

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LEARNING LEADERSHIP AT SCHOOL

We have told above how Eugene acquitted himself of his homework. It seems his masters and in particular Father Scati were also happy with his good sense, for he was admitted to first communion before the age of ten. He … Continue reading

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GOING BACK TO HIS OLD SCHOOL

On leaving France, Eugene travelled to Turin, where he wrote: we spent several hours going through, from cellar to attic, their beautiful college of the Nobles, while waiting for Father Rector to return. Letter to Henri Tempier, 8 November 1825, … Continue reading

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2 AUGUST – ANNIVERSARY OF EUGENE’S BAPTISM

Eugene, writing in the third person, as the “Director”, for the official Diary of the Youth Congregation spoke about the importance of his baptism anniversary on 2 August. The Reverend Director reminded the congregants that the next day would be … Continue reading

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1 AUGUST – EUGENE’S BIRTHDAY

In the references that we have to Eugene’s birthday, we see them as occasions for reflection on his life and its direction. Two examples from his diary: August 1, 1841. Nothing special today, except that I am ending my 59th … Continue reading

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WHO IS SAINT EUGENE? PRIEST OF THE MOST ABANDONED

1812 : returned to Aix as a young priest and lived in the house of his mother in the centre of the city My major occupation will be to love Him, my greatest concern will be to make Him loved … Continue reading

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