Tag Archives: preaching

PREACHING: CHEW THE BREAD OF THE WORD

The Missionaries, who spent a large part of their ministry in preaching the Gospel, needed to be clear about their priorities: we must seek only to instruct the people, to be attentive to the needs of the majority of the … Continue reading

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PREACHING: NOISY GONGS AND CLANGING CYMBALS

As an outstanding preacher himself, Eugene had no patience with the flowery preachers who had style and played with words but had no solid content. His diary entries spare them no criticism, and in his Rule he wanted to ensure … Continue reading

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PREACHING: WHO YOU ARE SPEAKS SO LOUDLY I CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SAYING

In our exploration of the 1818 Rule , we have seen how Eugene set out the goals of the Missionaries: preach the Gospel to the most abandoned, make up for the loss of the Orders and to correct the ravages caused by … Continue reading

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NOTA BENE: A HOSPITAL FOR SINNERS

The Rule was written in 1818 as an attempt to review the experiences that the Missionaries had lived for nearly three years and to draw out basic principles for the future. The Nota Bene continues Eugene’s description of the post-revolution … Continue reading

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A NEVER-ENDING SERMON

Rey recounts an anecdote concerning Eugene’s enthusiastic preaching and the not-so-enthusiastic response of the local pastor of St Laurent. During the three Sundays that he passed at St. Laurent, Father de Mazenod took the responsibility to preach the sermon in … Continue reading

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KEEPING THE MISSIONARY FIRE BURNING

During his retreat of May 1818, Eugene continued to reflect on the activities of the year. These included the return visits to some of the places where they had already preached missions. He wrote about this in the Rule: The … Continue reading

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YOU HAVE A LOT OF ZEAL AND A PARTICULAR TALENT FOR ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE

When Eugene established the congregation of youth in Aix, he was very careful to maintain good relations with the local clergy. The increasing number of youngsters met every Thursday and Sunday as from March 1813. On Sundays and holydays of … Continue reading

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AIM AT LESS BRILLIANCE AND INSIST MORE ON SOUNDNESS FOR THE MISSIONARIES

The leader of one group of missionaries (Eugene) writes to the leader of another group of missionaries (Forbin Janson) and shares professional advice. The occasion is the preaching visit of Brother Hilaire from Janson’s institute, the Missionaries of France. Eugene … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: PREACHING MUST LEAD TO A SACRAMENTAL ENCOUNTER IN CONFESSION

Everything in the mission aimed at bringing the villagers to living in relationship with Christ the Saviour. Preaching, processions, house visits and all other activities aimed at leading the people to this encounter, in a particular way through the sacraments … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: THE NEED TO DISCERN AND TO THOROUGHLY PREPARE CREATIVE AND NEW APPROACHES IN EVANGELIZATION

An extremely dramatic event that took place during every mission was the penitential procession that focussed directly and tangibly on the effects of Christ the Saviour’s Cross as taking away the burden of sin. In the Diary of the Marignane … Continue reading

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