Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

With the tense situation around the welfare of Pope Pius IX, in exile in Gaeta, France sent an emissary of the government to invite him to take refuge in Marseilles. Eugene narrated:

In short, the Pope was infinitely touched by the conduct of France and by the personal sentiments of Mr. de Corcelles, but he did not give in for the time being.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 11 December 1848, EO XXI

Two weeks later, Eugene wrote:

 Letter from the Pope. I had not expected this new mark of his goodness. He had already entrusted Cardinal Antonelli to reply to me. This new reply must be regarded as a favor and a very special proof of benevolence. I value it as such:

“My dear Bishop,

            “Our heart is truly touched by the sight of the filial love which France has manifested to the vicar of Jesus Christ and of the interest it takes in the current situation. May God bless the eldest daughter of the Church and preserve her from the poisoned breath which perturbs such a large part of Europe. May he fill her with his abundant graces, so that she may see the religion of her fathers blossom ever more beautifully within her. We are temporarily in Gaeta. Providence has led us here without a premeditated plan on our part. We have the hope, nevertheless, that the opportunity will present itself for being able to show the French nation, in a more consoling manner, the affectionate feelings of our heart, which at this moment affectionately gives her the apostolic blessing.

            “Given at Gaeta, December 14, 1848. Pius IX, pope.”

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 27 December 1848, EO XXI

REFLECTION

“The authority of the Head of the Church is a ministry entrusted to him for the good of all, to be carried out as a good Shepherd who watches over the salvation of the whole flock. It is incumbent upon the One invested with this ministry to “confirm his brothers in the faith” (Lk. 22:32), according to the glorious privilege given to him by Jesus Christ.” (Bishop Eugene’s Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Marseilles, 16 February 1860.)

In November 1848 the situation deteriorated and the Pope had been forced to leave Rome. Eugene and the people of Marseilles renewed their invitation to him to take shelter in their city and many were convinced of his imminent arrival. This never happened, but Eugene noted in his diary:

All the same, I must not pass over in silence the gesture of extravagant kindness which I received from His Holiness who gave Fr. Hugues, bursar of the Redemptorists, the express order to stop in Marseille in order to visit me, to give me greetings from the Pope, and to tell me that he was giving me his personal blessing, while imploring me to pray and to have prayers said for him. That’s what decided me to publish a brief pastoral letter which will be the first published in France, as I was the first to order prayers at the time of the crisis in which the Pope found himself several months ago.

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 28 November 1848, EO XXI

REFLECTION

“However, since the Supreme Pontiff possesses in his sacred person the fullness of apostolic power, and thus sums up in himself all the rights of the mission entrusted to Peter and the other Apostles, it is to him that we must direct our highest feelings of filial piety. He is the common Father, the Head of the great family of God’s children on earth.” (Bishop Eugene’s Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Marseilles, 16 February 1860.)

The aftermath of the 1848 Revolution had dramatic consequences for Pope Pius IX who was threatened by violent upheavals. Eugene wrote to him:

If I could only ease for an instant the burden of the Church’s sorrows which press so heavily upon Your august head!

He then made a concrete proposal to the Pope:

I make bold to recall that France has often been an asylum for persecuted pontiffs. Even as captives, in recent times, when impiety ruled the country, they were hailed triumphantly with every step they took. Today, perhaps more than ever, especially at Marseilles, the people would lavish the most touching proofs of veneration and love upon the vicar of Christ; they will feel that, by setting foot upon their shore he will reinforce the ground that has been shaken by revolution; he would be like a symbol of salvation to them, like an angel of peace and hope. They would feel that the Lord has, so to speak, appeared in person to protect them and fortify them against the wicked. I need not tell you that my dwelling, as well as the hearts of all our people, will be thrown open to you.

Bishop de Mazenod’s letter  to Pope Pius IX, 3 July 1848, quoted in Leflon III p. 250-251.

Pope Pius was not in a position to accept this invitation. At the same time, Bishop Eugene wrote a pastoral letter to his diocese asking his people to be united with the Pope and to pray fervently for him.

REFLECTION

“The Pope is the visible Head of the Church, and fully represents Jesus Christ, whose Vicar he is, while the others, equally appointed by God, have their share, albeit in a lesser degree, in this sublime representation of the Sovereign Shepherd of souls. The same principle that obliges Christians to love their Divine Saviour in his Church, obliges them to a supernatural attachment to the Supreme Pontiff and to the other bishops who, being in communion with him, are both his sons and his brothers in the apostolate.”

Bishop Eugene’s Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Marseilles, 16 February 1860.

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)