THE CUSTOM WAS TO ENCOURAGE, NOT TO APPROVE

During the audience, the Pope then continued to tell Eugene:

The great number of these requests, which are coming to us especially from France, has made the Congregation adopt a particular mode of approbation, which consists of praising, of encouraging, without formally approving.” I was not afraid to manifest to the Holy Father that this mode would not satisfy me, and I dared to hope they would do something more for us.

Lest I did not retain the name of the secretary whom he designated to me, he extended his kindness to the point of looking in his desk for a half sheet of paper, he moved the pen and ink stand towards me and handed me the pen so that I might write at his dictation. “Go to M. the Archpriest (that was the secretary) on my behalf and tell him to make his report to me on Friday, which is the day of his audience.”

Before leaving the Pope, Eugene had one last request:

As you will understand, I kept nothing from the Holy Father… “Does your Holiness approve that the Society take the name of ‘Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary’ instead of that of ‘Oblates of Saint Charles’ which it had previously taken?” – The Pope said neither yes or no; I think I understood that he said it should be put in the report. I did not insist on explaining the matter further because it was the least important thing and we could wait without inconvenience. This change has seemed necessary to me in order not to be confused with an infinite number of communities which bear the same name.

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 22 December 1825, EO VII n. 213