During the day, I was busy preparing the petition to present to the Pope on the day he grants me an audience.
Eugene’s Roman Diary, 8 December 1825, EO XVII
As this document gives a good description of the state of the Oblates in 1825, it is worthwhile to spend some time with it.
Most Holy Father,
The Abbé de Mazenod, Vicar General of Marseilles, prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, has the honour of informing you that since 1815, after the Sovereign Pontiff Pius VII had manifested his desire that Missions be preached in France to the people who are demoralized by the Revolution, he saw it as a duty to dedicate himself, with several chosen companions, to this holy ministry in the Diocese of Aix en Provence.
The extraordinary blessings that God deigned to shower on the efforts of their zeal sparked the desire in neighbouring Bishops to procure the same benefits for their flocks. They repeatedly requested the Abbé de Mazenod to have him and his companions evangelize the people of their dioceses. The Abbé de Mazenod considered himself fortunate to be able to second the pastoral concern of these venerable Prelates, and was delighted to be able thus to further knowledge of Jesus Christ and to [assure] the return of a greater number of lost sheep to good principles.
Having set out the reason for the establishment of the Oblates, Eugene continued by establishing why a Rue of Life was necessary:
Now the Missionaries thought quite rightly that, since they were to expand into various dioceses, it was necessary to set common rules which would be like the bond of their new-born Society.
Petition to His Holiness Pope Leo XII, 8 December 1825, EO XIII n. 48
