THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AIX

The appointment of Fortuné as Bishop of Marseille was a long-term protection for the Missionaries, and did not solve the immediate problem of the threats of some of the parish priests of Aix to the existence of the group. At the end of September 1817 the Concordat agreement with the Pope began to become uncertain, and with it the re-establishment of the diocese of Marseille.

When Eugene arrived in Paris in July 1817 the nomination of the new Archbishop of Aix was about to be announced. It was with him that Eugene would have to deal to assure the continuation of the Missionaries in the city of Aix. Thus his stay in Paris

will be prolonged until I have met and seen our new archbishop; it is with him that I must deal regarding our affairs. There is nothing to do at the moment with the Government.

Letter to Henri Tempier, 25 July 1817, O.W. VI n. 18

The new Archbishop was announced on 8 August 1817 as being Ferdinand de Bausset, a man who had a high opinion of Eugene. His nephew was a novice with the Missionaries in Aix, and the Archbishop had written to Eugene in glowing terms about this:

All I ask of the Lord is to confirm His work in him and to make him, one day, a worthy minister of his altar; in short, another you.”

Letter of Bishop de Bausset to Eugene de Mazenod, 20 October 1816,
in Missions, 79 (1952), 117-19

Things looked bright for Eugene and the Missionaries …

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1 Response to THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AIX

  1. Here in the Ontario District of Lacombe Province of Canada we are in Retreat with Frank. In Oraison, join us as we are one with you.

    (All I ask of the Lord is to confirm His work in him and to make him, one day, a worthy minister of his altar; in short, another you.”)

    This line, yes it is a wish of an Uncle for his nephew, and it is the call of mentorship and the ability to share the story and the charism. Maybe in the West were our age is up there we are called today not to be “senior oblate ” a part in separate communities but real elders who give until there is nothing else to give. In this we will never die but be reborn in each generation that follows.

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