Tag Archives: youth

MAKE TEACHING ATTRACTIVE BY EVERY POSSIBLE MEANS

The 1813 Rule of Life for the Youth Congregation was divided into four sections. The first section focused on Jesus Christ in their lives. The second section was on how to live this relationship:  The first condition that God requires … Continue reading

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PERHAPS I MIGHT BREATHE SOME LIFE INTO THIS AILING BODY

Eugene was no stranger to youth work. Four years earlier, while he was a seminarian in Paris, he had charge of a catechism class for difficult boys. What he had learnt through that experience was certainly to be a help … Continue reading

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CALLED TO FOLLOW IN FRIENDSHIP

The Youth Congregation required a set of regulations to observe so as to achieve its ideals. In 1813 Eugene provided this rule of life in the Statutes. N.B. As we will reflect on some sections of this rule of life … Continue reading

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A GROUP THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AIX

In his first version of the Statutes of the Congrégation de la Jeunesse Chrétienne, written in 1813, Eugene defined its main purpose in the city of Aix: To form a body of very pious young people in the city, who … Continue reading

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COMMUNICATING A SPIRIT OF GROWTH

The 30 year-old Father de Mazenod started his youth ministry with 7 young persons in 1813. With the numbers increasing rapidly it was necessary to produce statutes to formally express the ideals of the group and to give the body … Continue reading

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THIS IS STILL THE WORK OF WORKS

Before beginning his venture with the young people of Aix, Eugene had written to his spiritual director, Father Duclaux, asking advice on his plans to gather young people on Sundays so as to instruct them. Duclaux’s reply of 23 February … Continue reading

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A PRIEST WHO HAD CONSECRATED THE FIRST YEARS OF HIS MINISTRY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO YOUNG PEOPLE

Looking back at the end of 1817 Eugene described himself as a priest who had consecrated the first years of his ministry almost exclusively to the sanctification of youth. Diary of the Youth Congregation, 1 November 1817, O.W. XVI  It … Continue reading

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A YOUNG MAN’S LIFE IS CHANGED NOT ENDED

Eugene writes about the life and death of one of the members of his Youth Congregation Death of Mr. Fortuné Sallier 18 years old. The merit of this young man was not known sufficiently. I take it on myself to … Continue reading

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IF THEY KNEW THE STRENGTH AND EXTENT OF THE AFFECTION I HAVE FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR THE SOULS OF THE YOUNG SO CRUELLY ABANDONED

As for the honours that it amuses them to say I am soliciting without being able to obtain them, they must know that I had only to stoop in order to make them mine;  It is not honours that Eugene … Continue reading

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A CLASH OF PROVENCAL TEMPERS

Having survived the confirmation saga, Eugene faced another one regarding the first communion of some of his congregants a couple of months later. As always, he wrote to the pastors asking for their permission to proceed with the first communion … Continue reading

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