The Pope had given his verbal approbation on 17th February, but the official written confirmation, called the brief of approbation, had to be composed, approved by some of the officials, and finally signed by the Pope. Eugene was the main author of its contents, under the guidance of the Vatican.
The composition of the brief is finished: they came to communicate its contents to me – I have the impression that this has not been the practice heretofore. Mgr. Capaccini will presumably take it tomorrow to Arch. Marchetti and if they agree about its contents, they will have it transcribed and I will pay for it; for briefs of whatever sort have to be paid for…
Eugene continuously at God’s intervention in the process:
Cardinal Pedicini was quite right: if God had not intervened, we would have been dealing with this for over a year. What amuses me is the surprise of Archpriest Adinolfi who, as I told you, is the key figure in the secretariat: he cannot believe the turn this affair has taken from the outset.” Non si è visto mai:” never before, he says, in any case of this kind, has the Pope taken it upon himself to smooth everything over, resolve difficulties, prescribe every detail, and dictate the very wording of the brief.
So fully aware of God’s providence, Eugene hoped that the Oblates in France realized the importance of these events. It is the sentiment that is being expressed around our celebrations of the bicentenary and Eugene’s wish applies to each of us, members of the Oblate Charismatic Family and friends of Eugene.
Do our men realize this, at least? If they understood what it meant, they would jump for joy, or they would be speechless with admiration.
Letter to Fr. Tempier, 9 March 1826, EO VII n 229
