I begin by congratulating you for being the first of our Congregation to announce the Word of God to those frozen people of the north.
The Oblate establishment in the city of Nancy was the first foundation in the north-east of France (350 kilometers from Paris and 200 to the German border). Apart from the colder temperatures, the people were not as expansive and extrovert as the southern warm and sunny Provence.
In Provence the Missionaries had developed a particular style of conducting and preaching the 3-6 week missions, with many opportunities for people to express their warm emotions.
Since these people, according to what you write me, do not wish to take advantage of our ministry, we must believe that we will finally conquer their aversion for these holy missions which accomplish such marvels elsewhere.
Eugene then gives Fr Dassy and his community some good advice on how to be patient and how to behave to win the hearts of the locals.
Do not lose courage: we will fashion them to our style. We must not precipitate anything; it will come.
Let us first establish our reputation as men of God who are not seeking the applause of the world, but only want the salvation of souls.
Let people see us as regular, fervent. charitable, devoted to all kinds of good things, kind also, polite, considerate, respectful, etc., and they will find everything we do excellent; and be persuaded that we act only by the inspiration of God, for the greater glory of His Holy Name.
Letter to Father Louis Dassy, at Nancy, 7 December 1847, EO X n 956
REFLECTION
“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” (Francis of Assisi)
“We must make it evident that we are penetrated with what we teach and that we have begun to practice it before attempting to instruct others.” (1818 Rule).
May our Mazenodian Family “walking be preaching” wherever we are in our daily lives.
Concerning prayers, I must tell you that several of our Fathers want me to establish a daily invocation to St. Joseph, foster-father of the Holy Family, to obtain that from Heaven above he may provide for the temporal needs of the Congregation which recognizes him as its principal Patron. Not that we want to become rich, but that we may provide for the needs of those whom Providence sends us.
Letter to Fr Ambroise Vincens, Master of Novices, 7 November 1847, EO X n 953
Eugene’s name was Charles Joseph Eugene and thus Saint Joseph always held a special place in Eugene’s life and devotion. An example of this in his near-death experience in 1814:
On the morning of St. Joseph’s feast day I was close to the end; and as if my holy patron had wished to show me the effect of his powerful protection that was being invoked for me on all sides, that very evening I took a turn for the better with astonishing rapidity. The next day or the day after that there was no longer any danger.
Eugene’s letter to his father, 17 June 1814, E.O. XV n. 126
REFLECTION
It would seem that one has to see this devotion as being associated to Eugene’s vision of the Church, bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, a vision which extended beyond the limits of the Church here on earth and led him to enter into constant communion with the Church of heaven. This was the source of his deep devotion to the saints, especially to Mary Immaculate and as Father Toussaint Rambert wrote: “immediately after the Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph held first place in his heart”. (https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/joseph-saint/)
“Saint Joseph. One cannot love Jesus and Mary without loving the Holy Patriarch.” (St. Josemaria Escriva)
Continuing his letter to the Vicar General of Nancy about the style and method of Oblate preaching, Eugene wrote:
I will modestly reply by quoting a passage of our Rules which sets down the method that our Missionaries are to follow …
It should be understood that it is in direct opposition to the spirit of our Rule to aim at elegance of style in preaching, rather than solidity of doctrine.
Too many preachers strive to be admired because of the sublimity of their eloquence and by the brilliance of their carefully prepared diction; we must follow a totally different route. We must seek only to instruct the faithful, to be attentive to the needs of the greater part of the audience, and we must not be content to break the bread of the Word of God for them, but also to chew it for them.
We should see to it that, when our sermons are over, they, instead of presuming to bestow foolish admiration on what they have not understood, will rather return to their homes instructed and well disposed, instructed, and able to repeat in their families what they have learned from our lips. (1818 Rule)
I wanted to transcribe this passage for you to commit you to always keep our Missionaries in the humility of their vocation and not expose them to do otherwise than what is recommended to them by their Rules.
Letter to M. Marguet, Vicar General of Nancy, 21 October 1847, EO XIII n 117
REFLECTION
“A beautiful homily, a genuine sermon, must begin with the first proclamation, with the proclamation of salvation. There is nothing more solid, deep and sure than this proclamation.” (Pope Francis)
In October 1847, the Oblates responded to the invitation of the Bishop of Nancy to establish themselves in his city. This community would serve as a second novitiate house as well as being a center from which the Oblates would go out to preach parish missions.
Writing to the Vicar General of Nancy, Eugene stressed an important aspect of our preaching:
I very much want to acquaint you with the spirit of our Society which does not correspond to certain ideas that are usually entertained and which undoubtedly have their good side, but are not ours. You recommend that I send you excellent men and remind me that you are spoilt at Nancy by the best preachers who succeed one another in your area. I will not ask you if these excellent preachers have converted many people. That is not the practice of excellent preachers; and that is what has made a former parish priest of Toulon, who always used to call on all the famous preachers, say that they never drew anyone to the confessional; and that is why he asked me for some Missionaries, whom I constantly refused to send him precisely because people were too accustomed to hearing excellent preachers.
Letter to M. Marguet, Vicar General of Nancy, 21 October 1847, EO XIII n 117
REFLECTION
Eugene insisted that every Oblate had to do his utmost to be an “excellent preacher.” The young priests had to spend long periods preparing their sermons for the rural parish missions and these were examined by the more experienced local Superior. “Excellent” for an Oblate preacher did not refer to refined oratory, diction, vocabulary and intellectual exhibitionism. “Excellent” meant communicating Jesus Christ as Savior in the clearest and simplest way so that everyone could open their hearts and lives to Him.
“The homily is the touchstone to measure the pastor’s proximity and ability to meet his people, because those who preach must recognize the heart of their community and must be able to see where the desire for God is lively and ardent.” (Pope Francis)
Writing to the Novice Master, Fr. Vincens, Eugene spoke about the decision to ask one of the candidates to end his formation process.
The same council recognized that Brother Martin was not suitable to the Congregation. His independent spirit was never able to bend to the requirements of the Rule. He became the focal point of other imperfect candidates like himself; he could not hold his tongue. made judgments on everything, criticized everyone and all that was done; in short, he gave no hope that he would ever take on the spirit of our Society. From my point of view, I have taken the decision. It is not at this time when the Lord is sending such great blessings on our little family that I will endure men who are willfully imperfect and totally lacking in virtue.
Either be worthy of a vocation or withdraw.
Eugene then spoke about others who were proving themselves worthy of their vocation
I cannot speak well enough of the two young priests I have just sent to America with Father Lempfrit. They are angels, and the three who are leaving for Ceylon, are real models: Fathers Semeria. Keating. and Ciamin. Even our good Gaspard is improving. You may speak of one and all at the novitiate to encourage the novices’ zeal and holy imitation.
Letter to Fr Ambroise Vincens, 19 October 1847, EO X n 949
REFLECTION
“My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off; it is not an “extra” or just another moment in life. Instead, it is something I cannot uproot from my being without destroying my very self. I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world.” (Pope Francis)
Through our baptism each of us is a mission on this earth, wherever we find ourselves. The brand of the members of the Mazenodian Family is “always close to the people.”
Not all the candidates who came forward to join the Missionary Oblates were suitable. 21 year-old scholastic brother Fortuné Chavard’s attitude and behavior had led Eugene and his council to the decision to expel him. Writing to Fr Vincens, the Novice Master, Eugene said:
This letter, dear Father Vincens, will be brought to you by Brother Chavard. I am sending him to spend six months at the novitiate where I intend him to follow all exercises punctually. It is a favor I am granting him from which I hope he will profit. That is also his hope and resolve.
The poor Brother was overwhelmed by the news [Ed. of his imminent expulsion]. He had never expected such a severe punishment which he reasonably foresaw as a prelude to his ruin. I had not yet given the final sentence, but I was resisting all of his pleadings to have the council reconsider.
He then spoke to Fathers Aubert and Semeria who had been part of the council and persuaded them of his repentance. They then spoke to me in his favor. Father Tempier went over to their side; I therefore consented to modify with them the decision taken, and instead of sending him away definitely, he will spend six months at the novitiate to be renewed in the duties of his vocation. You will follow him with the greatest attention and you will give me an account of his progress. If you are satisfied with him, he will be reinstated after six months and we will return to him the crucifix which has been taken away from him.
Letter to Fr Ambroise Vincens, 19 October 1847, EO X n 949
In his Diary, Eugene wrote
I once again saw Bro. Chavard. I conversed with him about the situation in which he had been placed and I accorded him commutation of the sentence carried out against him. An endeavor will be made to see if six months of Novitiate will give him the spirit of the Congregation, which is eminently the religious spirit which he is far from possessing.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 17 October 1847, EO XXI
REFLECTION
The time of prayer and reflection for Chavard worked, and he then completed his studies and was ordained to the priesthood two years later.
“It’s so different when you get a second chance to come back out and do your thing – you’re more humble, you appreciate it more, you know what not to do this second time around.” (Da Brat)
How many “second chances” does God give us throughout our lives? We do not have enough fingers to count them.
22 year-old, Scholastic Brother Charles Baret, was brilliant person. Yvon Beaudoin wrote about him: “A musician and poet with a great gift for languages, he then learned English and Italian from his Irish and Italian confreres, not to mention Hebrew and Greek. Nonetheless, during his three years of theology, he struggled with the monotony of the regimented life of pious exercises. He subsequently wrote …“classes in the morning, classes at night, always class matter to learn, texts to recite by heart. This fixed and unchanging systemic uniformity stultifies and disgusts one’s imagination…”
He taught philosophy to his fellow-Oblate scholastics, and was chided by Father Tempier ” in which he urges professor Baret to follow the manual written by Bouvier and to not to disparage it before his students, the first year scholastic brothers: “It is a main blunder,” he explained,” I have seen many professors make with regard to an author they were using. It seems as if they thought that by criticizing the author, they enhanced their own personal worth by making themselves disdainful and stupid critics of a work the tenth of which they themselves could never have authored.” (https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/baret-charles/)
Eugene supported the advice of Fr Tempier:
Limit yourself, my dear child, to what Father Tempier has just told you in my name. Do not work for your own personal satisfaction. but do everything for the Lord who will hold you to account for it; I bless you and embrace you tenderly.
Letter to Scholastic Charles Baret, 16 October 1847, EO X n 947
REFLECTION
Experience had taught Eugene that focus on “doing everything for the Lord” was the key to missionary success – not personal interest. The young Charles was frustrated because he believed that his talents and abilities were not being properly used. In 1861 he was capable of writing: ” Great lives were always made up of a monotonous existence. Genius, like holiness, will always be found on the beaten barren paths…”
Eugene’s only sister, Eugénie and her husband Armand had five children: Nathalie, Caroline, Louis, Césarie and Eugène. The first three had died in their teens and Césarie had married in Italy in July 1847. Eugène was the Founder’s only surviving nephew. The biographer Rey mentions his marriage on 25 November 1847:
“On the 25th, Bp de Mazenod had the consolation of blessing the marriage of his nephew, Marquis Eugène de Boisgelin, in his chapel, in the presence of a select congregation.
His address, filled with family memories and accompanied by a subdued but very strong emotion, made a deep impression.”
Rey II p 261
“From 1841 to 1847, Armand and Bishop de Mazenod sought a marriage partner for him. Several projects of this nature failed because the young ladies involved were not rich enough or because Eugene was hard to please. He only wanted to marry a girl he already knew, a girl who was a musician, etc. Finally, Bishop de Mazenod blessed Eugène’s marriage to Angélique Sallony in his episcopal palace on November 25, 1848. As a wedding gift, the Bishop gave him the Boisgelin mansion which he had bought a few years previously. Eugène and Angélique had seven children.” (https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/boisgelin-armand-natal-de-and-family/)
Today their descendants continue to revere the saint in their family whom they still affectionately refer to as their “Oncle Eugène.” Over 200 Boisgelin descendants were present in Rome for his canonization in 1995.
Following our chronological exploration of the life and writings of St Eugene, we see that in July 1847, two reasons called him to Rome. The biographer, Rey narrates:
“On July 11, Mgr de Mazenod embarked from Marseille on the steamship Sésostris. The main reason for his trip was the insisence of his entire family to bless the marriage of his only niece, Mlle Césarie de Boisgelin, to Mr. Marquis de Damas, who lived with his mother in Albano. Mgr d’Isoard, nephew of Cardinal d’Isoard, who died in Paris in October 1839 and a great friend of both families, had been the gifted and devoted intermediary in this marriage. Mgr de Mazenod could not refuse everyone’s wishes, and his absolute devotion to the interests of the Church added a powerful attraction to those of his paternal affection for his niece. Fr. Jeancard accompanied him, and he left ‘in the care of God and our good Mother’.“
After the wedding, Rey recounts: “Returning to Rome, he requested an audience with the Pope, which was granted the same day. The Holy Father detained him for an hour and a half, and treated him with extraordinary affection, even embracing him affectionately.”
Eugene, who had a number of topics to discuss with Pope Pius IX, wrote:
I confess that I was singularly touched by this truly pontifical consideration, and I couldn’t help expressing my admiration for the Pope. I was touched to the depths of my soul, so I asked the Holy Father for permission to make known this truly remarkable circumstance in the history of this controversy. I won’t repeat all that was said in that memorable audience. I feel I did my duty as a bishop in the presence of the head of the Church, who treated me as a brother from the outset, when he prevented me from kneeling before him, and throughout the session, when he embraced me affectionately, pressing me to his heart and expressing his desire to see me again before I left Rome, where I had told him I had come to bless the marriage of my niece…
The Holy Father was delighted to meet a French bishop with whom he could speak at ease in Italian.
Rey II pages 212-214
During the few days spent in Rome after the marriage, Eugene met with a number of Cardinals to discuss controversies concerning the Church in France.
REFLECTION
Eugene was described as having a heart as big as the world: a heart that was open to God, and in God in response to every aspect of the world and its needs.
“God does not begin by asking our ability, only our availability, and if we prove our dependability, God will increase our capability.” (Neal A. Maxwell)
