GOD ALONE KNOWS HOW TO REWARD WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR HIM. SO, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING TO PLEASE HIM

During his time as a seminarian in Paris, Napoleon had imprisoned the Pope and had brought all the Cardinals to Paris. As Eugene was fluent in Italian, and the Cardinals did not know French, he served them as an interpreter and did errands for them at great personal risk to himself. Now, some 15 years later, he met several of them in Rome. Some of them made his task easier.

Cardinal De Gregorio treated me with exceptional kindness and cordiality. He recalled having seen me often at Paris during the time of the exile of the Roman prelates. I had actually seen him although he was not one of those to whom I rendered service, as were Cardinals Mattei, Ruffo, Archbishop of Naples, Gabrielli, Brancardoro, Canon Muzzarelli  and others.

Roman Diary 6 December 1825, EO XVII

A few days later he wrote:

The Cardinal Dean, Secretary of State, sent to inform me that he would receive me at nine o’clock. I was there at the Vatican on time and had the honour of offering him my respects. His Eminence received me very kindly with amiable politeness, but he had completely forgotten me and all that I had done for the cardinals at Paris during their exile. I had to remind him that I had often gone to his house, had sometimes even taken meals there, that I had presented him with the Vie de la vénérable Agnes (bound at my expense).

 At that time we were catechists at the Major Catechetical Program of Saint Sulpice. I served him when he came to say Mass at the German chapel. I was designated to find out from him, Cardinal Della Somaglia, the needs of the cardinals at the fatal moment of their disgrace. I recalled to him that he had replied that he would need nothing for two years but had pointed out those who would have need of help.

 So many things have happened since then that a person could easily have forgotten past events. The Cardinal was no less polite; but, on my part, I reflected that it would be very foolish to do good in order to gain a good reputation among men. God alone knows how to reward what we have done for him. So, we must do everything to please him.

Roman Diary 10 December 1825, EO XVII