Since his return to Aix, Eugene was in continual contact with his mother’s cousin, François Joseph Roze (Joannis), to whom she was very attached and whom Eugene always referred to as “my uncle.” Roze was an educated man with a doctor’s degree in law and in medicine, but
you know that my dear uncle is, worse luck for him, the most obstinate jansenist in christendom. I only hope that the austere life he leads and his generosity to all kinds of poor people will merit him the grace of entering the sheepfold which he and his confreres claim they have never left.
Letter to his father, 26 December 1805, EO XIV n 14
Eugene’s change of attitude and search for meaning in his life and his renewed interest in his faith made him engage with his uncle’s faith vision and to redirect his time and energy to make a study of the deviation of Jansenism.
I must add that, attached as I am by bonds of blood and friendship to one of the most enlightened of Jansenists and one who is at the same time one of the most obstinate of them, I often engage in conversation with him about these matters, and it can well be imagined that he spares no pains in presenting his sect’s doctrine to me in the best light possible in an effort to get me to join, knowing how inflexible my character is in the matter of duty as to which I do not tolerate any kind of tampering. So I am in a better position than anyone to know if anyone is attributing to them opinions they do not hold; for I can guarantee that their doctrine is the same as that we read in their books with the difference that in talking with them you force them to admit certain consequences that they take great pains to conceal in most of their works, but which are not difficult to deduce from their principles which are set out in all the publications with which they have inundated the public
The depth of his reading and study is reflected:
Much more again would emerge if, penetrating deeper into their system, I set out for you their errors concerning the sacrament of penance, the Eucharist and orders, on the Church’s discipline, etc. Does one need more to demonstrate the incredible outrages of the Jansenists? Will you ever again let yourself be taken in by the fine words that are ever on their lips? My patience is at an end and I cannot continue my exposition of their blasphemies.
Notes on Jansenism, 1806, EO XIV n 16
Quite a radical change of focus from the young man’s previous vanity and passion for the Aix social scene and the pursuit of money!
“Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.” Paul Tillich
No doubt about it – Eugene was changing both on the outside and the inside. And most often as that takes place we do not quite recognize it within ourselves. It is only upon taking time to look and reflect that we recognize what has been and is happening in our lives.
I find myself responding this morning to this reflection and to Franks response yesterday for they seem to be intricately joined.
I think of Sandy Prather’s presentation during the “Charism in Context” Congress and a few of the others that were shared around the world. There were indeed notes of celebration of looking at where we have come from, but there were also questions as to how we will move forward day-by-day, what kind of borders and frontiers will we cross and how are we to cross them. Each personally and communally (for it works only with both). We are in the midst of being re-created and revitalized as humans, disciples and missionaries. It will be the thousands of searches and renewals and new ways of being together that will make the difference. A couple of days ago I came upon and re-read the OMI Documentation # 237 – “Oblate Charism And the Lay Associates” by Fernand Jetté, OMI and so have spent a little bit of time reflecting on it. Looking back I found this piece that once I read it pointed to a different view of how I as an Associate can live and how the Constitutions and Rules (or at least some of them) can be a part of my life in a concrete way. I want to share the full article in its entirety with my brothers and sisters who are Associates and Oblates.
This is where my search these days has brought me to and that is with new life and new excitement, with a new taste of zeal and a new way of celebrating. Amidst all the hurrahs and patting ourselves on our backs for all that the past 200 years have given to us, we are also looking forward as to how each of us in our daily lives can be a part of the overall renewal and re-creation of our lives, our community, our church and our world.