BIRTHDAY OF SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD: AUGUST 1, 1782

Posted on August 1, 2022 by franksantucci

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” (Voltaire)

Let us give thanks for the gift of a saint who was so human in all his imperfections, who knew the pain of exile and a broken family, who passionately loved Jesus the Savior and the poor and most abandoned and who is now a saint who intercedes for us.

(For a presentation of his life please see: https://www.omiworld.org/our-charism/founder/biography/)

LET US PRAY IN THANKSGIVING

God our Father, we thank you for having called Saint Eugene de Mazenod to follow Christ the Saviour and Evangelizer.

Passionately in love with your Son Jesus and sharing in his compassion for humanity Eugene put himself unconditionally
at the service of your Church for the evangelization of those most in need.

Through his intercession help us to reach out with the healing touch of Christ who calls us to holiness and to mission.
May we build communities
which are signs of your presence,
and share the Good News of salvation with all peoples.

For this we dedicate ourselves, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Eugene de Mazenod,
Share with us your love for Christ the Saviour.

Saint Eugene de Mazenod,
Help us to stand firm in goodness.

Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Be with us in all our efforts.

https://www.omiworld.org/our-charism/founder/prayers/

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1 Response to BIRTHDAY OF SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD: AUGUST 1, 1782

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    August 1, 2022 at 12:43

    Would I love Eugene any less if he was not a canonized saint?

    Unlikely! I was touched by Eugene in a personal way when first we met and since then have grown to love him. His first invitation to me was to stand beneath my crucifix before reading his letter. He was the first saint presented to me as being so human and his second invitation was: “We must lead men [and women] to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, and, finally, we must help them to become saints.”

    I had always wanted to be a saint – one who was greatly loved by God and who gave their whole beings over to loving God – whatever that would look like.

    Whether it was deliberate or not, this return of “Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us..” on the day we celebrate his birth was long awaited – or so it seemed…

    Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop of Marseilles, Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Oblate/Mazenodian Family, priest, pastor, teacher, friend… and yes saint.

    “Saint Eugene de Mazenod, share with us your love for Christ the Saviour… Be with us in all our efforts.”

    Today I celebrate in a special way the birth of Eugene de Mazenod as I look back and remember how God gave the Oblates to me as gift and gave me to the Oblates as gift: back then I did not know what that would look like as time went by.

    Beloved, as we celebrate and give thanks for Eugene’s birth I also give thanks for this new day which You have given. A new day and so a new step and way of being in my life. I do not yet know what it will look like but it begins with You.

    My heart sings with joy and gratitude…

    Reply

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