PARISH MISSIONS: AIM TO ALLOW THE BLOOD OF THE SAVIOUR TO FLOW IN THE VEINS OF HIS BODY

In 1859, two years before his death, Eugene wrote about the missionary goal to which he had constantly adhered throughout his life:

In effect, because the Church forms only one body, of which Jesus Christ is the Head, those who do not receive life from this Head are dead members; they are no longer linked to this body with the bonds of divine love, the blood of Christ no longer circulates in their veins, as it were.

Mandement de Monseigneur l’Evêque de Marseille,
à l’occasion du Saint Temps de Carême,
1859, 

Eugene’s understanding of Church was not that of a hierarchy or a structure, but primarily a body. Whenever he speaks about being moved by the suffering of the Church, it is the suffering of its members that touches him.

Thus we can say that for Eugene, everything in the mission aimed at converting the people, so as to allow the Blood of the Saviour, through which they had been redeemed, to flow in their veins.

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