Monthly Archives: September 2010

WHEN I REFLECT ON IT, I AM CONVINCED THAT IT SO PLEASES GOD TO PUT AN END TO MY INDECISIVENESS

Having been pushed by God’s grace to finally make his decision to start a group of missionaries, Eugene now plunges himself into a flurry of activity to make his dream become a reality, dramatically portrayed in terms of  having “a … Continue reading

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IT IS THE SECOND TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I AM MAKING A DECISION OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AS A RESULT OF A STRONG IMPULSE THAT COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF ME

With the definitive removal of Napoleon, the way was now clear for Eugene to put into practice his dream of establishing a missionary community to work at the restoration of the place of God in the lives of the most … Continue reading

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FROM THE DEPTH OF HIS SOLITUDE, AND IN THE SILENCE OF THE NIGHT, HE WILL WATCH OVER THE MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH CONGREGATION

Brother Maur was a monk at a Trappist monastery near Paris. When Napoleon expelled the monks from their monastery in 1811, Brother Maur needed to earn a living and so was engaged by Eugene as a domestic first in Paris … Continue reading

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I REGALE HIM EACH TIME I MEET HIM WITH THE STORY OF SOME SUDDEN DEATH

La Poire, nickname of the marquis Boniface de Périer, was a childhood friend of Eugene’s father. In this extract from a letter of Eugene to his father, one gets a glimpse of Eugene’s sense of humour. I can imagine him … Continue reading

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THE ADVICE I AM GIVING IS NOT DIFFICULT, BUT EVEN IF YOU FIND IT HARD TO FOLLOW, I THINK YOU SHOULD MAKE THE EFFORT

The 14 year-old Léon-Jules Saboulin, member of Eugene’s Youth Congregation, had written to Eugene, in September  1815, from where he had been spending the long summer away from Aix.   The extract of the letter is interesting because it shows the … Continue reading

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THE SUCCESS OF THE CONGREGANTS IS A PROOF THAT THE PIETY THEY PROFESS, FAR FROM HARMING THE PROGRESS OF THEIR STUDIES, HELPS THEM TO FULFIL ALL THEIR DUTIES WELL

Following the writings of Eugene in chronological order brings us today to the prize-giving ceremony at the college where many of the members of the youth congregation were studying. Eugene’s fatherly pride in the achievements of “his” youth shines through … Continue reading

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NOT BEING ABLE TO SERVE MY KING WITH A SWORD, I MUST SERVE HIM WITH EVERY MEANS MY MINISTRY GIVES ME

After the Revolution, the restoration of the monarchy had ensured the restoration of religion. In this climate, Eugene was able to work freely with the youth of Aix and also to imagine starting a group of mission preachers to restore … Continue reading

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THE YOUTH CONGREGATION: A FAMILY UNITED IN LIFE AND IN DEATH

Eugene’s description of the funeral of the 13 year-old member of the Youth Congregation, shows how it was its members who took responsibility for the funeral and for praying in a serious manner for the deceased in the days after … Continue reading

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ACCOMPANYING THE DYING

The young member of the Youth Congregation lingered for a month longer. During this time Eugene paid him frequent visits. Yvon Beaudoin comments: “During his first years of priesthood, Eugene accompanied to the moment of death the terminally ill who … Continue reading

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LIKE A TENDER MOTHER SHE HAS NEGLECTED NOTHING TO HELP WITH ALL HER POWER THE DEAR SON WHOM SHE FORMED IN PIETY

Eugene regarded the Youth Congregation’s role in the life of its members as that of a mother. The Congregation existed to help the young men to develop in their humanity, to become Christians and to form them in the way … Continue reading

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