Tag Archives: sin

WHY THE CROSS AS FOCUS? BECAUSE ITS LOVE CONQUERS THE DEATH OF SIN

Can I forget the bitter tears that the sight of the cross brought streaming from my eyes one Good Friday? Indeed they welled up from the heart, there was no checking them, they were too abundant for me to be … Continue reading

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WHY THE CROSS AS FOCUS? IT CONQUERS SIN

The sight of the cross made Eugene realize: I was in a state of mortal sin and it was precisely this that made me grieve. The etymology of “mortal” is that it is connected with death. Mortal sin is sin … Continue reading

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FROM WORD TO ACTION

The next section of the Rule of 1818 moves to the logical conclusion of preaching: helping the listener to come to a personal encounter with God as Savior. Preaching should make people aware of their need for conversion, best expressed … Continue reading

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DO NOT GIVE UP WHEN YOU FAIL

Having stressed the importance of avoiding sin at all costs, Eugene now encourages the young men of his Youth Congregation to be aware of God’s mercy when they do not live up to their ideals. To this end, they will … Continue reading

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CHOOSE LIFE

The 1813 Rule for the Youth Congregation stated as fundamental attitudes of this group: the choice of living in relationship with Jesus Christ, following his will and way of life, and doing this in communion with the Church. In the … Continue reading

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I HAVE A GREAT TRUST IN GOD’S GOODNESS

In reviewing the course of his spiritual journey, Eugene becomes aware of an important area of growth that has happened in his life. Whereas in the previous retreats he had concentrated on his sinfulness and an almost morbid preoccupation with … 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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VOCATION: THE GOOD WE INTEND TO DO MUST REMEDY THE GREATEST EVILS THAT FACE US

The time had come for Eugene to begin to invite others to join him in his missionary project. As members of the Mazenodian family, lay and religious, we are invited to see in these vocational texts something about our own … Continue reading

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LET US TRY THEREFORE TO CONFORM IN ALL I DO TO THIS DIVINE MODEL

Eugene continues to meditate on Jesus as model All metaphor aside, I have been a sinner, a great sinner, and I am a priest. With the exception of having defiled my body with women, a wretchedness from which the goodness … Continue reading

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