Tag Archives: Jesus as model

THE BE-ATTITUDES: LETTING THE STORY TAKE OVER

The author Margaret Mahy speaks of the necessity to retreat from everyday activity “so the life of the story can take me over.” She continues: “That is why a writer often needs space and time, so that he or she … Continue reading

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THE BE-ATTITUDES: BECOME OTHER CHRISTS RADIATING HIS FRAGRANCE EVERYWHERE

With a balanced Christ-centered focus in the quality of their lives and relationships, the Missionaries were to fill the world with the “perfume” of the transforming presence of the Kingdom of God: However, their chief concern will be, as much … Continue reading

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ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE STILL POINT OF A TURNING WORLD

The section on the vows in the 1818 Rule is followed by an exploration of the various ways in which the Missionary must strive to “BE”. In doing so, he always come back to the “true north” – the point … Continue reading

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VOWS: YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS

Eugene’s model for living the spirit of poverty was what he learnt from the first Christians: The first Christians followed that counsel faithfully to the letter. They still had fresh before them the example of their divine Master.  It was … Continue reading

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NOTA BENE: DRESSING HIS MISSIONARIES FROM HEAD TO TOE

“It is only after having dressed his missionaries from head to foot in this solid armor of virtue that Bishop de Mazenod allows himself to say to them: then, full of confidence ….” YENVEUX, A. Les saintes Règles de la … Continue reading

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CALLED TO FOLLOW IN FRIENDSHIP

The Youth Congregation required a set of regulations to observe so as to achieve its ideals. In 1813 Eugene provided this rule of life in the Statutes. N.B. As we will reflect on some sections of this rule of life … Continue reading

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THE COMMUNITY WHOM I LOVE TENDERLY IN THE LORD, OUR COMMON LOVE

As we have seen, Eugene’s time of enforced rest became the opportunity for a retreat and a time for reflection on the eventful events of the previous months. It was a grace-filled time because it allowed him to come to … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: IT IS THE SAVIOUR HIMSELF WHO MUST SPEAK THROUGH HIS CO-OPERATORS

Today the members of the Mazenodian family are urged that it: is as missionaries that we worship, in the various ways the Spirit suggests to us. We come before him bearing with us the daily pressures of our anxiety for … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: WE CAN ONLY CONVERT IF WE ARE CONVERTED OURSELVES WITH WHAT WE TEACH

Listening to Eugene’s missionary heart speaking, makes me recall Pope Paul VI’s words  “Contemporary man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, or if he listens to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”  Discourse to members of the … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: ONLY INSOFAR AS THEY HAD IMBUED THEMSELVES WITH JESUS CHRIST, WERE THEY CAPABLE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL

Eugene’s letters to his Oblates concentrated largely on practical issues regarding the missions – since they were the communications of the superior keeping the ship on course – however, underlying every counsel and practical aspect, one finds the most important … Continue reading

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