AN OPEN FACE LIKE YOURS HAS ONLY TO SHOW ITSELF AND HEARTS WILL OPEN IN CONFIDENCE

Posted on September 14, 2023 by franksantucci

By the end of July 1847 Father Tempier had already travelled to Nancy to make all the necessary arrangnemnts for the Oblate establishment. He had forgotten to take the letter of recommendation that Eugene had written for him

My dear Tempier, the only thing you forgot in leaving were your credential letters. It is true that an open face like yours has only to show itself and hearts will open in confidence when seeing your qualities written there. However, as a precaution I am sending you these documents. Anywhere one can come across a bunch of dimwits who can’t read people’s faces.

. … So, goodbye, I await your news with some impatience. I embrace you wholeheartedly.

Letter to Fr. Henri Tempier, 28 July 1847, EO X n 934

REFLECTION

Eugene’s wry sense of humor emerges at times in his writings. He loved and respected Fr Tempier, but could not resist teasing him.

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.”   (Henry Ford)

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1 Response to AN OPEN FACE LIKE YOURS HAS ONLY TO SHOW ITSELF AND HEARTS WILL OPEN IN CONFIDENCE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    September 14, 2023 at 13:36

    A glimpse of that very human side of Eugene as he jokes with Tempier, one of his first companions. It is quite endearing. And then at the end, Eugene reminds Tempier that he is impatiently awaiting a letter from him and that he is embracing Tempier wholeheartedly.

    A much needed gift from Eugene today, in today’s world where so many of us seem to have lost any external control that we might have thought we had; whether it is the breaking down of our planet, our churches, many of our governments, in a way our communities and for some even our own bodies…

    In the midst of ongoing diminishment of our family in this part of the world; it seems to be a part of every aspect of our lives. I think of Fr. Albert Lacombe OMI who our Province is named after; and of the obstacles of life that were put in front of him. How managed to keep loving…

    Today’s Daily Inspirations calendar reads: “…place all your trust in God… be of good courage, my dear friend; continue to serve god with love and gratitude…” (from an 1820 letter written by Eugene to Count Felix d’Albertas)

    Letting go of any false perceptions that we might have about ourselves, we are invited to courageously put our trust in God…

    Reply

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