The third section of the Rule life focused on the relationship of the young people with the Church:<\/p>\n
\nIn the same way they will accept the teachings of the Holy Church. They will observe them with the full knowledge that they cannot, without being guilty, refuse this mother who has given them life in Jesus Christ as a result of the authority entrusted to her by her divine Spouse.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
R\u00e8glements et Statuts de la Congr\u00e9gation de la Jeunesse, 1813, p. 20<\/em><\/p>\n
Here Eugene returns to a favourite theme: the Church as the Spouse of Christ who is a mother for her members because she has brought the life of Christ to birth in them. She has \u201cengendered\u201d them as children in the Son, and Eugene\u2019s aim was to make people understand what it meant.<\/p>\n
Again, referring to his letter from the seminary on the catechism class with the poor boys of Paris, we can recognize Eugene\u2019s concern to make them understand the meaning of belonging to the Church \u2013 and not merely doing things out of blind obedience:<\/p>\n
\nI will have in my catechism class a large number of older boys who have not yet made their first communion. Taking them on does not constitute a problem for me, as with God\u2019s help we will not do such a bad job. Clearly they have to make their first communion, but it is still more necessary that they do it well.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0Letter to his mother, 4 February 1809, O.W. XIV n.44<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The third section of the Rule life focused on the relationship of the young people with the Church: In the same way they will accept the teachings of the Holy Church. They will observe them with the full knowledge that … Continue reading