Tag Archives: God’s love

THE GOD WHO DELIGHTS AND PLAYS

Continuing his reflection on creation as a place for experiencing the presence of God, Eugene quotes Proverbs 8:31 about God “at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.”  And the Christian, going deeper, emerges … Continue reading

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HUG AS YOU HAVE BEEN HUGGED

Eugene’s own conversion experience had been the awareness of God’s boundless love and mercy: Blessed, a thousand times blessed, that he, this good Father, notwithstanding my unworthiness, lavished on me all the richness of his mercy Retreat Journal, December 1814, … Continue reading

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200 YEARS AGO: THERE IS ONLY LOVE IN MY HEART

The day after his ordination to the priesthood, Eugene continued his reflections to his spiritual director. My letter could not go off yesterday. O my dear Father, there is only love in my heart. I am writing at a time … Continue reading

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200 YEARS AGO: THE TRANSFORMING LIGHT OF ORDINATION

After his priestly ordination Eugene wrote to Father Duclaux, his spiritual director, to share with him his feelings and reactions to what had just taken place. The tone that runs through the letter is one of awe at God’s immense … Continue reading

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BLOOMING LIKE FLOWERS

A click onto a webpage of world news, before or after you read this reflection, will fill your screen with images and descriptions of violence, deceitful politicians and countless situations where Gospel values seem to be totally absent. Human nature … Continue reading

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THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELATIONS

Continuing to teach his young charges how to grow strong in the midst of negative influences, Eugene refers to the scandal-filled and destructive atmosphere of some sections of Aix “society”: When unavoidably in this environment, particularly if they find themselves … Continue reading

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DO NOT GIVE UP WHEN YOU FAIL

Having stressed the importance of avoiding sin at all costs, Eugene now encourages the young men of his Youth Congregation to be aware of God’s mercy when they do not live up to their ideals. To this end, they will … Continue reading

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AWARENESS OF GOD’S LOVING ACTIONS BRINGS US TO GOD

Eugene returns from celebrating Mass in a nearby parish church and notes the reflection he made to the people. His own conversion experience, around nine years earlier, was precisely his realization of how much God loved him. He now invites … Continue reading

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I HAVE A GREAT TRUST IN GOD’S GOODNESS

In reviewing the course of his spiritual journey, Eugene becomes aware of an important area of growth that has happened in his life. Whereas in the previous retreats he had concentrated on his sinfulness and an almost morbid preoccupation with … Continue reading

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OBLATION: TO ENSURE A LOVING AUTHENTICITY OF LIFE AND MINISTRY

Hence I considered choosing the evangelical counsels, to which they had been so faithful, as indispensable, lest our words be no more than what I have often noticed about the words of those who proclaim the same truths, namely sounding … Continue reading

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