Fr. Bill Woestmann gives us a good background to understand the strong language of Eugene and the urgency of having good priests in a Church that was in crisis. He writes:
“For a real understanding of de Mazenod’s intention, the religious situation of France at that moment must be kept in mind.
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All religious communities of men and women in France had been suppressed during the Revolution (1789-1799),
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their houses and churches were destroyed or used for secular purposes,
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the secular clergy was persecuted – murdered, imprisoned, driven into exile and hiding –
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and all seminaries were closed for many years.
The effects of this continued to be felt long after the end of overt persecution.
Thus the number of active priests between 1809 and 1815 dropped from 31,870 to 25,874.”
(“Priest” in DICTIONARY OF OBLATE VALUES)
This is the context in which the Oblates were founded, and it explains something of the urgency that Eugene felt when he wanted to alleviate the suffering of the Church