The heart of Eugene’s conversion experience is his definitive decision to live “only for God.” Looking at the rest if his life, one sees that this did in effect become the central focus of his life. His canonisation in 1995 was an acknowledgement that he had in fact lived his life “all for God” in a heroic way.
Blessed, a thousand times blessed, that he, this good Father, notwithstanding my unworthiness, lavished on me all the richness of his mercy. Let me at least make up for lost time by redoubling my love for him. May all my actions, thoughts, etc., be directed to that end. What more glorious occupation than to act in everything and for everything only for God, to love him above all else, to love him all the more as one who has loved him too late.
Ah! this is to begin already here below the blessed life of heaven. That is the true way to glorify him as he wants.
Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130
“Ah! this is to begin already here below the blessed life of heaven.”
This quote I first read in French, “Ici bas c’est le commencement de ciel” and I was deeply moved. For as I looked at the sunflowers heavy with dew turned toward the east this morning or mindful of my breath as I sat meditation with the Buddhist community here on retreat at Galilee Centre / Arnprior Canada; all this, here and now is the “Blessed life of heaven.” And then to hold this gentle with the wounds of life/those sacred wounds; the injustice, the suffering and pain and some how with the eyes of faith/third eye of wisdom, this to becomes, le commencement de ciel/the beginning of heaven. PAX / OM Shanti