Tag Archives: priesthood

WHY DID EUGENE EXPRESS HIMSELF SO STRONGLY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PRIESTHOOD?

Fr. Bill Woestmann gives us a good background to understand the strong language of Eugene and the urgency of having good priests in a Church that was in crisis. He writes: “For a real understanding of de Mazenod’s intention, the … Continue reading

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EUGENE CONTINUES TO REFLECT ON HOW TO COUNTERACT THE EFFECTS OF BAD PRIESTS

“The Church, that glorious inheritance purchased by the Saviour at the cost of all his blood, has in our days been cruelly ravaged… … The truth of the matter is that for a century already, through devilish tactics, an effort … Continue reading

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EUGENE GIVES HOPE TO A CHURCH RAVAGED BY THE BAD BEHAVIOUR OF SOME PRIESTS

Because of the Year of the Priest I have jumped ahead to the Rule of 1818, where Eugene expresses his ideals of priesthood for the Oblates within the context of the suffering of the Church aggravated by bad priests. ” … Continue reading

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THE CHURCH HAS ALL TOO MUCH TO LAMENT IN THE NUMEROUS PRIESTS WHO BRING DOWN HARM ON HER

Before returning to Aix, Eugene spent some time on a preparation retreat. He was marked by the suffering he had seen in Paris caused by the persecution of the Church by Napoleon, and the indifference of far too many priests … Continue reading

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WE ARE PRIESTS FOR THE CHURCH ALONE AND SO EVERY MOMENT OF OUR TIME IS HERS

After his ordination, Eugene spent a semester as a formator at St. Sulpice Seminary because the Sulpicians had been expelled by Napoleon, and so the senior ordained seminarians took over the seminary until a more permanent solution could be found. … Continue reading

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THE UNCHANGING FOUNDATION OF EUGENE’S LIFE AND MISSION: “I WISH TO LIVE ONLY FOR YOU”

In these words, written a few hours before his priestly ordination, Eugene expresses what will be the central infallible foundation of his life and ministry as a priest. It is this ideal that led him to found a missionary congregation … Continue reading

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MY GOD, DOUBLE, TRIPLE, INCREASE MY STRENGTH A HUNDREDFOLD THAT I MAY LOVE YOU

Continuing his pre-ordination retreat, Eugene meditates on his sinfulness in vivid terms (I have delivered myself over to the devil as his slave), Eugene turns to the love of God which has overwhelmed him and which he wants to spend … Continue reading

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PRIESTHOOD: TO CONSUME MYSELF IN HIS LOVE, SERVING HIM AND SPREADING THE NEWS OF HOW LOVEABLE HE IS

In the days leading up to his priestly ordination Eugene used the Retreat of Fr. Judde on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Based on the first meditation of Ignatius (the Principle and Foundation) he reflects on what he wishes … Continue reading

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A SENSUAL PRIEST IS IN MY EYES A DEFORMED MONSTROSITY

Starting off with some observations on how the future” Father de Mazenod will dress,” Eugene touches on two themes that will be important for him in the future. The first is his criticism of priests who do not live by … Continue reading

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ORDINATION: A JOYFUL AND GENEROUS OBLATION

Eugene reflects on the experience of his ordination to the sub-diaconate, particularly his thoughts during the Litany of the Saints. Although he is not yet an “Oblate”, it is the language of joyful and generous oblation that dominates his descriptions … Continue reading

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