Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

In earlier entries we reflected on the effects of the 1848 Revolution in France and in Marseilles in particular. It was a revolution that had far-reaching consequences throughout Europe and especially for the Church, as Eugene noted in his diary:

Confirmation and ordination in my chapel. Again it is some Jesuits whom I have ordained. It’s indeed necessary to take them away from the atrocious persecution which is being brought to bear on them in Piedmont, in Genoa and in Sardinia.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary 20 October 1848, EO XX1

The biographer, Rey, explains:

“Since Holy Saturday, he had had a daily reminder of the trials endured by the Sovereign Pontiff and the Church. Jesuits driven out of Rome, hunted down in Upper Italy by military laws which subjected seminarians and religious not yet in Holy Orders to military service, flocked to Marseille where their Superiors presented them for Ordination. Almost every day, Mgr de Mazenod had to exercise his lofty ministry as Bishop: “It is a just kindness to have for persecuted religious”. And he added with a smile: “Now the ordination prayers are part of my morning prayer”. (Rey II p.274)

Later we read in Eugene’s diary:

Ordination in my chapel; it’s another young Jesuit who has to be made sub-deacon, deacon and priest within the week. It’s a bit awkward, but one has to be generous to help those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary 22 May 1848

Among the fugitives welcomed by the Bishop of Marseilles was the Superior General of the Jesuits and his collaborators. It was a mark of the gratitude Eugene had for the contribution in his life of the heritage of St Ignatius and the Jesuits.

REFLECTION

“Christians have always dissented through history… and inevitably, when persecution of free speech comes it always comes against the people who have the religious absolutes, because that’s what threatens people’s freedom to sin. So we’re always going to be the culprits.” (John MacArthur)

“St Eugene Speaks” is going silent until early June. [There are, however, 3115 reflections dating back to May 2010 that you can access in the “Archives” section of the home page.]

May is the end of the academic year at Oblate School of Theology, with all that this entails. It is also an opportunity for some “Sabbath activities” like a personal retreat and a breather before tackling a busy summer of Congregational publication projects in preparation for the 2026 bicentenary celebration of our approbation by the Church.

“Sabbath is not a break from work; it is a redefinition of how we work, why we work, and how we create freedom through our work.” (Dan B. Allender)

Father Lavigne, who was part of the mission community at the sanctuary of Osier,  had written to Eugene, formally refusing to obey his instruction. Eugene was horrified as this was the first time that he had experienced something like this from an Oblate! As we will see later, it would not be the last time that Father Lavigne would do this. (On December 10, for example, Eugene wrote in his diary: “Letter of conceit and of self-indulgence from Fr. Lavigne, truly naïve”)

There is one point on which I can give a decision without any other explanation. You speak to me of formally refusing the position which was confided to you. It is the first time, my dear friend, since the start of the Congregation that I have heard such an evil-sounding word: a formal refusal.

Dear son, retract that word, it is not religious. It is a principle in our Congregation that we neither demand nor refuse any position at any time. The will of the superior is seen as the will of God. We should be perfectly detached, always disposed to give the example of that sort of submission which does voluntarily that which is prescribed.

Letter to Fr Joseph Lavigne at ND de L’Osier, 27 October 1848, EO X n 991

REFLECTION

“When we learn to say a deep, passionate yes to the things that really matter… then peace begins to settle onto our lives like golden sunlight sifting to a forest floor.” (Thomas Kinkade)

In this regard our OMI Rule of Life prescribes: “In the Superior, we will see a sign of our unity in Christ Jesus; through faith, we accept the authority he has been given. We will give our loyal support once a decision has been made and, in a spirit of cooperation and initiative, we will devote our talents, our activity, our very lives, to our apostolic mission in the Church.” (Constitution 26)

Father Lavigne had been complaining about his superior, and Eugene responded:

Beware of a secret enemy who imperceptibly invades a person, almost without being noticed, and troubles the soul and confuses the mind, namely, self-love. As a beloved member of the family, become one with your father, your superior, so that you and he are of one heart, one mind, one will. And you’ll discover that God will bless you, and that you’ll be pleased with the happiness that only comes with this level of charity.

Letter to Fr Joseph Lavigne at ND de L’Osier, 27 October 1848, EO X n 991

REFLECTION

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts of the Apostles 4: 32-33)

“Mindful of these words (which marvellously sum up our entire Rule), “all united in the bonds of the most intimate charity under the direction of the superiors,” may they form but one heart and one soul [ed. Acts 4:32]. (Eugene de Mazenod 1850)
“If the family were a boat, it would be a canoe that makes no progress unless everyone paddles.”  (Letty Pogrebin)

Father Joseph Henri Lavigne had been at Notre Dame de L’Osier since his ordination six years earlier. He was an accomplished mission preacher in the area, but had problems with authority. He had written to Eugene to complain about his current superior. Eugene’s reply:

My dear friend, your letter hurts me deeply… It shows me a deep discontent against your superior, the good Father Vincens, whom everybody loves and esteems as he deserves. I readily forgave you the bit of ill-humor that you held against me because I had gone contrary to a few of your ideas; my heart of a father was full of love for you who are doubly my son. Your letter is an enigma for me.

Letter to Fr Joseph Lavigne at ND de L’Osier, 27 October 1848, EO X n 991

REFLECTION

Eugene considered himself a father to each of his Oblates, and doubly so when he had been the ordaining bishop who conferred the priesthood on one of his sons. Eugene always considered the Congregation as a family characterised by the spirit of oblation which was expressed in charity and missionary zeal. The same ideal continues to be so today in the large Family gathered around his charism and spirituality.

“Indeed, in Christ Jesus I fathered you through the Gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15)

Eugene’s words, initially addressed to his Oblate Family, apply today to his charism Mazenodian Family.

You must inspire a great love for our divine Saviour Jesus Christ, which is manifested especially in the Sacrament of the Eucharist which we must try to adore perfectly; also a filial devotion to the most holy Mother of God, who is our Mother also in a special manner; a devotedness to the Church that can stand any test, which includes the zeal that must distinguish all the members of our Society. for the salvation of souls, the direct object of our vocation. Since we must discover all these advantages in the blessed Congregation that has given birth to us, you can understand the kind of love each one of us must have for it.

Eugene then shared an example of this attitude as expressed by one of the Oblates.

On this topic, I cannot help quoting to you from a letter I have just received from our dear Father Vincens:

“I can fathom all the recesses of my heart. I find only one love there which for me is what religion is all about, namely. the love for our Congregation. I have only one desire, that of bringing glory to God and for me all the means of glorifying him are summed up in the Congregation. Hence it is her that I love, etc.”

How touching these sentiments are! And they are true. Yes, for us all the means of glorifying God are summed up in the Congregation. Such an opinion of a man of God must be meditated upon by all those whom the Lord has called. through an inestimable grace, to sanctify themselves in the Congregation.
 
Goodbye, my dear Father Dorey. I am forced to leave you. So I finish by blessing you with all my heart, as well as all our dear novices.

Letter to Fr Eugene Dorey, Novice Master in Nancy, 15 October 1848, EO X n 990

REFLECTION

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” (Desmond Tutu)

 Eugene’s fatherly advice to the 27 year-old Master of Novices, Fr. Dorey:

Even though you are as young as you are, you must, nevertheless, be a father to your novices, you must be close to them in their difficulties and encourage them, but not spoil them. They have to acquire habits of mortification, get used to leading a somewhat hard life, and not seek comforts because we are called to a ministry which does not include any. Insist much on mutual love, on helping one’s neighbour, and especially one’s brothers.

Letter to Fr Eugene Dorey, Novice Master in Nancy, 15 October 1848, EO X n 990

REFLECTION

Eugene had learnt the approach of being close to people from his own experience of guides being close to him in his times of need. As a youngster he had Don Bartolo Zinelli, as a seminarian he had Frs Duclaux and Emery, then his Uncle Fortuné just to mention a few. It was the attitude he lived by.

“Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system.”  (Sidney Hook)

Young Father Eugene Dorey had been appointed Master of Novices the day after his ordination to the priesthood. Eugene followed his progress closely and encouraged and guided him.

There you are, installed in your lovely task! What more beautiful ministry than that of forming in virtue, especially in the religious virtues, the chosen souls called by God to walk in the footsteps of the Apostles to spread the knowledge and the love of Jesus Christ! How much a person profits for oneself in leading others to perfection! This has turned out to be your lot. Rejoice over it, my son, and count on God’s help in this valuable ministry.

The time in the novitiate was important because it was here that the novices imbibed the Oblate charism as they prepared to become missionaries. It was here that they were evaluated as to their suitability and capability

You will have to give me an account each month of the conduct of your novices, each one by name. At the same time, you will give me your opinion on their dispositions, character, the hopes they give you, etc… You will receive those whom you judge, in agreement with the local Father Superior as inspiring some hope of becoming apt to the service that the Congregation has as mission to fill in the Church.

Letter to Fr Eugene Dorey, Novice Master in Nancy, 15 October 1858, EO X n 990

REFLECTION

No matter our age or state of life, we all need ongoing spiritual formation and guides to accompany us to walk in the  footsteps of the apostles.

“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth.'” (Dan Rather)

The system in the communities at the time of the Founder was that the superior had a community member known as his admonitor who would help the superior by giving him advice and pointing out mistakes. In Eugene’s life, Fr Tempier was his admonitor and did not refrain from pointing things out to Eugene. In Nancy, Fr Dassy was 40 and all his community members were in their 20’s and inexperienced. Because the Oblate Rule demand an admonitor, one of these youngsters had to be appointed to that role.

Eugene concluded that Fr Dassy would have to fulfil the role of being his own admonitor, and therefore had to be more conscious and reflective on his own behavior as he did his daily personal examen.

I must speak frankly with you: I consider it a very awkward necessity that I am obliged to withdraw Father Santoni from Nancy, because you are going to find yourself at the head of a community composed of young priests, so that you have no one who can make the least feedback to you, and that is a misfortune. So you will have to make your examen with more attention than in the past. I would advise you to make a particular effort at foresight; in that way you will become your own admonitor and you will fill in for what will not be done by a man whom I must name but who according to all appearances will be your admonitor in name only.

Letter to Fr Toussaint Dassy, 14 October 1848, EO X n 989

REFLECTION

We no longer have admonitors today, but all Christians are encouraged to learn from guides and examples on our journey. The daily awareness examen is also important and beneficial. (An internet search brings up many Jesuit sites explaining this practice)

“He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him correctly.” (Blaise Pascal)

The demanding Fr Dassy was superior of a community of young priests. The novice master, Eugene Dorey was 27 and the members of the missionary community were Francois Xavier Michelier who was 25, César Depetro who was 24. All three had been ordained priests for approximately one year. Dassy had to be the mentor who initiated them into ministry.

I approve very strongly that you be severe for sermon composition by Father Depetro, and that you do not allow him to compromise himself in the pulpits of Nancy. However, even before he attains the degree of perfection that you aim for, I would like you to try him out in some community or some village, lest he be discouraged, lest he be bored. I would say the same thing for Father Michelier whom Father Tempier did his very best to restrain. He is going gladly to Nancy, convinced that at first he is to be edified in such a well-run community, but also that you will help him in his work which he keenly desires to do well.
 
I recommend kindness in your leadership. Do not tire your people, be charitable and patient. Be firm when you must, but never be hard.

Letter to Fr Toussaint Dassy, 14 October 1848, EO X n 989

REFLECTION

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.” (John Wooden)