Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word.”

Lk 1: 38

To this end, I invoke the intercession of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, daring to remind her in all humility, but with consolation, of the filial devotion of my whole life, and of the desire I have always had to make her known and loved, and to spread her devotion everywhere

Eugene de Mazenod’s will, 1 August 1854, E.O. XV n. 191

Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

Jesus said to the crowds:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Mt 11:28

There is no need of regrets when one has done one’s best. God makes use even of human mistakes to achieve his purpose. I do not know what he expects of me; all I know is that he governs with his wisdom those whose sole purpose is to work for his glory.

…We who call upon the Lord must find our consolation above all in the thought that we are guided all unseen by his Providence.

Letter to Henri Tempier, 24 October 1833, EO VIII n 469

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?

And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.”

Mt 18:12-13

“The care we owe you, by constantly occupying our thoughts with the pain caused by the loss of so many souls who have fallen from the paths of salvation, is often rewarded with the most comforting consolations.

When we see grace acting powerfully among you and spreading both light in people’ s minds and charity in their hearts, when the infinite mercy of the Lord is manifested with brilliance in the midst of our flock, and when the lost sheep that we thought was lost is brought back to the fold and restored to our love, then our rejoicing is great, we can say, like St. Paul, that we “overflow with joy” (2 Cor 7:4), for our soul joins in the happy emotions that make heaven rejoice for sinners who are converted.”

Bishop Eugene de Mazenod, Pastoral Letter on the Missions, 1844

Monday of the Second Week of Advent

And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.

But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.

Lk 5:19-20

 “We must overlook nothing, leaving nothing undared to advance, to extend the reign of Christ”

Eugene de Mazenod, Preface to the Rule, 1826

NOTE: 

Thursday, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
I invite you to look at the reflections written for this occasion in previous years:

https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=4986

https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=3271

https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=2947

Join the ONLINE CONVERSATION “Let us walk hand in hand, with Mary”.

An open invitation to all the Mazenodian Family, to participate in this online conversation where Fr. Harry Winter OMI (USA), Mons. Mario Leon, OMI (Sahara) and the lay associate Mary Tyrrell (Anglo-Irish) will share their experience and expertise with us.

The discussion will be in English, with simultaneous translations in French and Spanish.

Date – Monday, 5th of December, 2022
Time – 15:30 / 3.30 P.M. (Please note that this is Rome time)
Duration – About an hour
Zoom Link –

Meeting ID – 822 9598 5515
Keep the date and time free!

Friday Advent Week 1

When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened..

Matthew 9:28-30

Often the action of grace precedes the preaching of the Gospel and when hearts are touched by the first words of this marvelous preaching, they feel the need to open themselves with love to receive the divine seed sent to them from Heaven, but also to produce without delay the fruits of penance which then come to show themselves with all the characteristics of a sincere conversion

Eugene de Mazenod, Pastoral Letter on the Missions, 1844

Thursday Advent Week 1 

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.”

Matthew 7: 24-25

This Holy Word resounds with the most admirable effects in our diocese; it has been heard in the villages and in the countryside as well as in the episcopal city, and it has been felt that, transmitted from Jesus Christ to his Apostles, it has lost none of its power as it has traversed the centuries; It was felt that, coming from the mouth of the One who is Himself “eternal life”, it is still “spirit and life” (Jn 6:64), it has brought life to those who have received it; it has been like a celestial light that has come to invest their souls and has made them know the truth

Eugene de Mazenod, Pastoral Letter on the Missions, 1844

Wednesday 30 November : St. Andrew

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-19

What more beautiful ministry than that of forming in virtue, especially in the religious virtues, the chosen souls called by God to walk in the footsteps of the Apostles to spread the knowledge and the love of Jesus Christ! How much a person profits for oneself in leading others to perfection! This has turned out to be your lot. Rejoice over it, my son, and count on God’s help in this valuable ministry

Eugene de Mazenod to Father Dorey, Master of Novices, 15 October 1848, EO X n 990

Tuesday Advent Week 1

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Luke 10: 23-24

It is then the mercies of the Lord I must proclaim… for he has quite exhausted the treasures of his grace for my sake…

Beginning with the happy moment when, regenerated in the saving waters of baptism, I was raised to the awesome dignity of child of God, filled with the gifts of my Saviour, I could more easily count the successive and rapid movements of my breathing than the number of the inestimable benefits that this adorable Master has poured out on me in generous measure.

Spiritual conference, 19 March 1809, EO XIV n 48

Monday Advent Week 1

“I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 8:11

You will not find anywhere a group of wiser and more fervent youngsters. I’m going to send six to Texas, four to Red River and three to Ceylon.  I am going to ordain them priests before their imminent departure as they are all deacons. We have never have had such a large number of them in the Congregation. We encompass the whole world with our apostles whose zeal and devotedness wring from me tears of joy and tenderness. They are going off happy to be chosen to announce the Good News without giving the impression that they are making the least sacrifice. How can we not admire the working of the Holy Spirit in these generous souls?

Letter to Father Charles Baret, 24 January 1852, EO XI n. 1098

[NOTE: Each year at around this time, I pause the daily chronological reflection on the writings of Saint Eugene. This year I have decided to “pause” but to do something different: a daily quote from Saint Eugene linked to the Gospel of the day of the liturgical season.]