I ADMIRE ALWAYS MORE YOUR ACTIVITY AND YOUR COURAGE

Dear Courtès, I admire always more (that does not mean that I am surprised) your activity and your courage. Your conduct since you have been entrusted with the difficult mission of Limoges is beyond all praise. You have shown what you can be, and I bless the Lord a thousand times that I gave you this trust, to show everybody what are your resources of mind and heart when you apply yourself to the task at hand.

Fr Courtès had been a member of the Founder’s Youth Congregation since 1817 and had been one of the first vocations to become a Missionary of Provence. He was Eugene’s confidant and friend throughout his life. Timid and prone to pessimism, he spent most of his life as the superior of the community in Aix en Provence. He had been chosen to start the first Oblate community in Limoges because it was a challenging foundation with much opposition from the local clergy. Courtès, who had imbibed the spirit of Eugene, was the right person to begin the new community on a sound footing according to our charism.

What a difference in comparison to that sedentary life that was so insufficient for a soul so full of energy like yours! And so I would regret to see you return to that quiet life which neutralizes a great part of the qualities you possess, and that I had wanted many times, but vainly until now, to have you in a situation to deploy them.

It makes me happy to be able to tell you that I approve in every way all that you have done since I gave you the direction of our establishment at Limoges. I only feared at times that you did not give enough care to your health, but the Lord has shown us that he comes to the help of those who have in view only his glory, and the success of the holy ministry entrusted to them. I do not gloss over the difficulties you will have to bring those who will succeed you to your ways of doing things.

May 6.

I am tired out. I do not remember what I wanted to add. Guess who turned me away from finishing my letter yesterday? Your father and your sister came to see me on purpose to tell me their fears for you. I reassured them by showing them your letter.

Letter to Fr Hippolyte Courtès, 5 May 1848, EO X n 975

REFLECTION

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” (Theodore Roosevelt)