Monthly Archives: September 2013

ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE

Yet again in his days in Rome, Eugene the Oblate, narrates how his faith is inspired and strengthened by the presence of the signs of so many who gave their lives as an oblation to God. I had the devotion … Continue reading

Posted in DIARY | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

ADMIRING GOD’S BEAUTY IN A CHURCH THAT WELCOMES SINNERS

Eugene shares his reactions to the beauty of the Basilica of St Mary Major, and the activities that took place in it. Returning to my monastery, I couldn’t resist the impulse of going into the basilica of Saint Mary Major … Continue reading

Posted in DIARY | Tagged | 1 Comment

THE BEAUTIFUL ECCENTRICITY OF MARTYRDOM

Eugene’s own experience of living “all for God” made him sensitive to all manifestations of this in others. Saint Sebastian had given his life for God in an act of oblation through his martyrdom. It is not surprising that Eugene … Continue reading

Posted in DIARY | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

IN AWE OF THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR JESUS CHRIST

“Oblation” for Eugene meant the giving of one’s life totally to God for the spread of God’s Kingdom – whatever the personal cost. It is no wonder that on his first visit to the catacombs in Rome he was profoundly … Continue reading

Posted in DIARY | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in DIARY | Tagged | 1 Comment

ROME: THE CAPITAL OF CHRISTENDOM

Eugene finally arrived in Rome on November 26. It was his first visit to Rome and he was filled with a sense of awe at being there. In each letter that he wrote and in the Diary that he kept … Continue reading

Posted in LETTERS | Tagged | 1 Comment

FORMATION: REALIZING THE DEMANDS OF OUR VOCATION

The time of novitiate was a privileged time of formation for the future Oblates, and so Eugene wanted that time set aside to do what it was intended to. For those of us who are not Oblate novices, perhaps the … Continue reading

Posted in LETTERS | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

FORMATION: BE CLOSE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE

The Oblates who accompany the novices need to be fully available to them and not absent because of other preoccupations (no matter how worthy these could be). In our demanding mediatic world of today, this could also be seen as … Continue reading

Posted in LETTERS | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

FORMATION: FASHION THE CANDIDATE WITH A MASTER’S HAND

At the time of Eugene, the novitiate was the first step in becoming an Oblate missionary. It was an intense year in which the candidate concentrated fully on allowing God to “fashion him with a master’s hand.” The guiding instrument … Continue reading

Posted in LETTERS | Tagged , | 1 Comment

FORMATION: YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE NOVITIATE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT

Henri Tempier’s letter not only referred to Vachon’s misbehavior, but also to the fact of 5 novices having left the novitiate without making the commitment of vows. This caused Eugene to make some serious reflections on the novitiate formation of … Continue reading

Posted in LETTERS | Tagged , | 1 Comment