Tag Archives: opposition

THE SAVIOR’S LOVE VERSUS MOTHER’S LOVE

Thirty years later, Eugene still vividly remembered the struggle he had in order to go against his mother’s opposition to his vocation. Her reaction, and that of his grandmother, must have been very extreme for him to use such strong … Continue reading

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PATIENCE IN A STORM THAT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED

The Marian sanctuary at Laus was the second Oblate community established in France, and became a successful center of mission for the pilgrims in the warm months, and as a base of missionary outreach to the villages in the cold … Continue reading

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RECOGNIZING THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

“A pastor of the Fréjus diocese asked for a mission in his parish and Father de Mazenod upset his whole apostolic plan in order to respond to this good pastor. He wrote to the Bishop of Fréjus to ask for … Continue reading

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NEVER COMPROMISE ON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Shortly after the Oblate mission in Digne, Eugene writes about a confrontation with the Bishop of Gap, the neighboring diocese in which our sanctuary of Laus was situated. Clearly Eugene, whose life changed at the foot of the Cross when … Continue reading

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IN CRITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES PEOPLE ARE WON OVER THROUGH THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES

The missionaries were preaching in Digne. It was in an area known for its Jansenist rigidity and for being critical of the Oblates whose preaching focused more on God’s mercy for sinners than on legalism and hellfire. Conscious that their … Continue reading

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THE ANNOYANCE OF GOOD EXAMPLE

Continuing to reflect on the news he is receiving in Rome about the preaching in Aix, Eugene responds to the indifference and criticism of some of the participants in the missions. I have not understood what Fr. Courtès wished to say … Continue reading

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DISCIPLINE IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT

While in Rome, Eugene was still the principal Vicar General of Marseille. Tempier had informed him of some protests being made against a decision of the Bishop of Marseille by twelve priests. I reproduce this extract because it gives us … Continue reading

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AN ATTACK THAT BACK-FIRED

Eugene had been told that three bishops of France had written a joint letter to the Vatican to withdraw their support for the approbation of the Oblates. He rushed to meet with Cardinal Pedicini to be shown the letter and … Continue reading

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A LIFE-LONG FRIEND AND CONFIDANT OF THE FOUNDER

We are beginning to make the acquaintance of the first generation of Oblates who came in after the initial founding group. These are names we will frequently come across in the writings of Eugene – Oblates who have left their … Continue reading

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DARING TO CROSS FRONTIERS

From the very beginning, Eugene’s expansive spirit saw beyond his present frontiers towards other areas of missionary outreach to the “most abandoned.” In 1818 he had written in the first Rule of Life: Even though, because of their present small … Continue reading

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