NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I UNDERSTOOD AS WELL AS NOW THE VALUE OF SELF-SURRENDER TO GOD

Oblation means self-surrender to God – an attitude that Eugene was living fully in Rome.

Let us continue to pray, my dear friend, and let us not cease to put our confidence in God. It is for him alone to rule and dispose all things according to his infinite wisdom for the greater glory of his name. I must admit that never in my life have I understood as well as now the value of self-surrender to God, never have I felt more disposed to put this virtue (for such it is) into practice as in the present circumstances. The true Christian should never dispense himself therefrom. Oh! how well off I now find myself through having done all I could do to make a habit of it. That does not prevent me from praying heartily to obtain what I think is good; on the contrary, I pray with more confidence, and with a kind of assurance that I will be heard.

Letter to Fr Tempier, 20 January 1826, EO VII n. 219

In the city of Rome with its numerous monuments to the saints, Eugene turned to every one of them to ask their intercession for a successful approbation of the Rule:

You know that since my arrival at Rome, I have been offering the Holy Sacrifice for the success of our cause and never come before the holy sacrament without speaking of it to our Lord. I never invoke a saint without begging him to be our intercessor and even recite, if somewhat badly, certain prayers to this end such as the litanies of the saints and others similar. Moreover, I neglect no means that human prudence can suggest; I spare myself from no endeavours and allow my mind no rest in trying to second the designs of divine Providence. Up until now, everything has succeeded beyond our hopes. Yet the good God has permitted some alarm and has left room for some anxiety but he has not taken away our confidence; on the contrary, in sorrowful moments, prayer has taken on more tenderness and I dare say almost the familiarity… of a child towards a father.

Letter to Fr Tempier, 20 January 1826, EO VII n. 219