Awestruck by the events, Eugene constantly returned to the almost-miraculous way in which everything had happened. Each time he thought about it, he was moved to praise God.
Here, one sometimes waits six months for a “yes” or a “no,” one interprets a sign, one tries to penetrate the mind of the Supreme Pontiff, one considers oneself fortunate for the slightest hope, however remote it may be. And it is this same Supreme Pontiff who has done everything for us. What right did we have to this? Who gave me, in a single audience, the ability to inspire such strong, real, and constant interest in him?
How can we not see the supernatural in this? How, then, can we not be filled with gratitude to God, and, turning our attention to ourselves, become even more attached to the Society which has just received such convincing proof of the Lord’s protection, to which we now belong in a completely different way, since in the hierarchical order it is through it that we are connected to the Supreme Head of the Church, who is its sovereign moderator. Now is the time to adopt this group spirit that inspires us not to be surpassed by any other group in virtue, regularity, etc.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 9 March 1826, EO VII n. 229
