Monthly Archives: July 2012

WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?

I am often asked, “In the first years of their existence where did the money for the livelihood of the Missionaries come from?” This letter to the new Archbishop of Aix gives an idea of the situation at the end … Continue reading

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RETELLING THE STORY OF OUR BEGINNINGS

A month after the installation of the new Archbishop of Aix, in 1819, Eugene wrote to him. He gave him an introduction to the history of the foundation of the Missionaries, stressing that their reason for existence was the evangelization … Continue reading

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A MISSIONARY EVALUATION

I am sorry, without doubt, my dear brother, that you have so little consolation at Rognac but as I am certain that your merit in the eyes of God is only the greater for that, I cannot feel too bad … Continue reading

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LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHILE SURROUNDED BY DIFFICULTIES

The early biographer, Rey, had this to say of the mission in Rognac: “it was plagued by bad weather, the rain continued for almost the entire time of the religious exercises. No one was waiting for the missionaries, the mission … Continue reading

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IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

Henri Tempier wrote from the difficult mission of Rognac: We got here on Saturday night… and after two or three calls, we returned to our lodging, where we found nothing. We had to run all around to find three bad … Continue reading

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WHEN THINGS DO NOT GO ACCORDING TO PLAN

One of the conditions of the Missionaries taking on the shrine of ND du Laus as a permanent mission was that when the cold weather put an end to the pilgrimages, the Missionaries would spend the winter months preaching parish … Continue reading

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A LONELY MISSIONARY NEEDS FRATERNAL SUPPORT

The 31 year-old Henri Tempier, who had lived 3 years of intense community life in Aix, now found himself at ND du Laus with one Oblate student and one postulant. Zealous missionary that he was and obedient religious, he still … Continue reading

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A WELCOME FOR PRIESTS IN NEED

The 1818 Rule had underlined the importance of doing something to remedy the havoc caused to priests by the French Revolution. Art. 2. In the beginning, the missionaries because of their youth, will only be able to undertake indirectly the … Continue reading

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CHURCH SERVICES THAT TOUCH PEOPLE

In the mountains of ND du Laus the Missionaries took particular care to celebrate the Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations as well as possible. Services are carried out at the shrine of Notre Dame du Laus with ail possible dignity. … Continue reading

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ONE MUST NEVER WANT TO DO MORE THAN GOD PERMITS

From the beginning of the existence of the Missionaries, Eugene had insisted on the necessity of leading a balanced lifestyle. In his letter inviting Henri Tempier to join them he had written: One part of the year will be devoted … Continue reading

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