Tag Archives: conversion

PARISH MISSIONS: MOTIVATING PEOPLE THROUGH SYMBOLIC ACTIONS

During the missions all the ceremonies were an extension of the preaching, and had the same goal. Every means of instructing and leading people to experiencing the Saviour, and converting, was improvised and tried out. Symbolic actions and processions were … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD AS A CALL TO CONVERSION

Another ceremony with the intention of making an impression  and leading people to conversion to Christ the Saviour was that centred on the dead. Eugene described this in the Diary of the Marignane Mission: Solemn service for the dead of … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: IN THE PENITENTIAL PROCESSION THE SUPERIOR TAKES ON HIMSELF THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE, IN IMITATION OF JESUS CHRIST. WHOM HE REPRESENTS IN THEIR MIDST

Eugene had understood the power of the Cross from the time of his youth, and was therefore able to lead others to open themselves to the same experience of the healing power of the Saviour. For him it was essential … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: THE PENITENTIAL PROCESSION AIMED AT EVOKING HEARTFELT SENTIMENTS OF CONVERSION

Eugene continued his description of the ceremony and procession with true Provençal feeling: The procession traversed the village streets, which were flooded with water, mud and dung; but it seems that by trampling the filth underfoot, there were released the … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: A DRAMATIC GESTURE TO CONVEY A DRAMATIC MESSAGE

Eugene describes what he did in Marignane in a prayer service based on the Jewish Day of Atonement ceremony of Leviticus 16 involving the scapegoat of atonement. The aim of the missioanries was to illustrate the power of what Jesus did … Continue reading

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EUGENE AS MISSION PREACHER: HIS AIM WAS TO LEAD OTHERS TO THE LOVE OF GOD

My chief occupation will be to love him, my chief concern to make him loved. To this I will bend all my efforts, time, strength, and when after much toil I have succeeded in winning but a single act of … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: AIMING AT CONVERSION BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION RECEIVED

It is not enough to assemble a lot of people in the church, one must instruct them, one must move them in a manner that they will be converted. Letter to Jean-Baptiste Honorat, 27 January 1824 in O.W. VI n. … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: INVITATION TO A NEW HEART, A NEW SPIRIT, A NEW MISSION.

Since the missions are one of the principal ends of the Institute, all will strive principally to fulfill well this task. 1818 Rule Chapter Two §1 After the break for Christmas, the daily reflections on the writings of St Eugene … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: INSIST ON MAKING JESUS CHRIST KNOWN AND LOVED

The instruction of the missionaries did not stop at giving people academic knowledge about the catechism and who Jesus was, but Eugene insisted that they were to teach them that Jesus was their Saviour and aimed at inviting them to … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: AIM AT THE CONVERSION OF THE PARISH AS A WHOLE

While the missionaries aimed at personal conversion, their ultimate ideal was to help the whole parish to grow together. The local pastor was involved in the mission – at no stage did the missionaries take over the running of the … Continue reading

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