Tag Archives: death

ACCOMPANYING THE DYING

The young member of the Youth Congregation lingered for a month longer. During this time Eugene paid him frequent visits. Yvon Beaudoin comments: “During his first years of priesthood, Eugene accompanied to the moment of death the terminally ill who … Continue reading

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LIKE A TENDER MOTHER SHE HAS NEGLECTED NOTHING TO HELP WITH ALL HER POWER THE DEAR SON WHOM SHE FORMED IN PIETY

Eugene regarded the Youth Congregation’s role in the life of its members as that of a mother. The Congregation existed to help the young men to develop in their humanity, to become Christians and to form them in the way … Continue reading

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HOW WILL YOU MAKE YOUR EXCUSES FOR NOT HAVING PRACTICED WHAT YOU KNEW WELL ENOUGH TO SAY TO OTHERS?

Still meditating on the theme of death in his retreat, Eugene reflects on his priesthood in the face of death and draws on the principle of the necessity to practise what one preaches. And those neglected means of salvation. Those … Continue reading

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IF I HAD DIED LAST MARCH WHEN ILLNESS BROUGHT ME TO THE THRESHOLD OF THE GRAVE, I WOULD NO LONGER COUNT FOR ANYTHING

On the third day of his retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, Eugene is invited to meditate on death. He does so, remembering in a vivid fashion how he had nearly died earlier in the year. His … Continue reading

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LET US BE UNITED IN THE MEMORY OF A FATHER FOREVER BELOVED

Father Fabre’s first circular letter to the Oblates after the General Chapter which elected him to be Eugene’s successor contains the invitation: “Let us be united in spirit and in heart and we will be strong for doing what is … Continue reading

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OUR MUCH LOVED FOUNDER HAS NOT LEFT US

Joseph Fabre, who was elected to be Eugene’s successor, concluded the Chapter of 1861 by saying: “I feel the assistance of our much loved Founder; he has not left us! I was at his deathbed and said to him, “You … Continue reading

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HIS SPIRIT CONTINUES TO LIVE ALWAYS IN THE HEART OF HIS CHILDREN

After Eugene’s death a General Chapter was convoked. At the opening session two of the senior members of the Congregation spoke: Father Tempier and Bishop Guibert. Tempier opened the General Chapter by declaring his conviction regarding Eugene: “This Venerable Man … Continue reading

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HOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MYSELF DYING, SO AS TO WELL ACCEPT THE WILL OF THE GOOD GOD!

Father Fabre’s description of the last moments of Eugene’s life: From four o’clock in the evening until half past nine, Monseigneur prayed and made us pray; he asked that we pray the rosary, which he followed while holding his with … Continue reading

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I WILL HAVE THE CONSOLATION OF LEAVING BEHIND ME A PHALANX OF GOOD MISSIONARIES

When Eugene died there were 414 Oblates (6 Bishops, 267 priests, 88 brothers) spread around the world. In 1854 he had written about this: “I will have the consolation of leaving behind me a phalanx of good missionaries who spend … Continue reading

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ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINE YEARS AGO: 21 MAY 1861

When Father Fabre wrote to the Congregation to announce the death of Eugene, he described this conversation which had taken place the day before his death: Bishop, one of us asked him, give us some words to pass on to … Continue reading

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