I REGARDED MYSELF AS THE INTERPRETER OF ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I FELT CARRIED BY THE PRAYERS, MERITS AND WORKS OF THE WHOLE SOCIETY

After announcing the good news of the approbation, Eugene then shared with his most-trusted confidant, a beautiful insight into the relationship he had with his Savior throughout this process.

It is true that I have always put all my confidence in the goodness of God. As I have told you, I offered the Holy Sacrifice every day for this intention; I constantly invoked the holy Virgin and all the saints, but especially the sovereign Mediator, to whose glory all our intentions are directed; and I ought to avow, if ever I have prayed as much, never have I prayed with so much consolation (effect of an absolute but filial confidence) to the point of speaking to our Lord as I dare believe I would have done had I had the happiness of living when he moved about this earth to spread his goodness and grant to each what he asked. It was especially at communion, when our divine Saviour is on the point of giving us the utmost proof of his love that I was prompted to abandon myself to all the sentiments that his divine presence and the immensity of his mercy, never better felt than when I see him not disdaining a sinner like me, inspired at that precious moment in my miserable soul.

These same sentiments were renewed when I presented myself before him to adore him, whether at my hour of adoration, whether on appearing before him as I left or entered the house, still again on visits I tried to make often during the Forty Hours, or in other churches where the holy Sacrament was exposed. But I ought to let you know that such confidence and sentiments were all due, after the grace which inspired them, to the thought that I was asking something in keeping with the will of God, apt to procure his glory, the salvation of souls and the good of the Church, and also because I regarded myself as the interpreter of all of you and because I felt, so to speak, borne along by the prayers, merits and works of the whole Society.

Letter to Fr Tempier, 16 February 1826, EO VII n. 224

At this very time when we celebrate the bicentenary of this event, let us allow ourselves to be transformed by St Eugene to share in his gratitude and in his touching relationship with God. This is what he meant when he cried out, “In the name of God be saints!”