Madame de Mazenod, Eugene\u2019s mother, had a strong personality too, so it is easy to imagine that sparks flew from time to time between son and mother. In his retreat resolutions Eugene wrote:<\/p>\n
\nLess severity towards my mother, more consideration to do everything I can not to upset her –\u00a0provided that order, regularity, and the spirit of mortification do not suffer.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Seemingly she was concerned about Eugene\u2019s hectic lifestyle and was convinced that he was determined to wipe himself out through overwork:<\/p>\n
\nI must try to dissuade her from the idea that I want to kill myself.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0Summary of retreat resolutions, May 1818, O.W. XV, n. 146<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n
Uncle Fortun\u00e9 de Mazenod described how Madame de Mazenod was involved in organizing her son\u2019s life:<\/p>\n
\nI found your wife at the mission house all busy preparing the luggage of your son and what was required for the journey …<\/h5>\n
Letter of Fortun\u00e9 de Mazenod to Eugene\u2019s father, 7 April 1818, OMI General Archives F.B. V, 1-7<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Fortun\u00e9 took a more passive approach to Eugene\u2019s mother \u2013 as he wrote to his brother:<\/p>\n
\nI have decided,\u00a0following your example, to leave your wife to say all that she wants without interrupting nor contradicting her. I say “Amen” to all her ideas and to all her projects, this is my insignificant response. By this means we get on well and I never\u00a0change from this useful approach. By the grace of God, I do not worry about anything and I thank God every day for giving me the gift of patience which I so often need to use.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter of Fortun\u00e9 de Mazenod to Eugene\u2019s father, 2 May 1818,
\nOMI General Archives F.B. V, 1-7<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cPatience is the companion of wisdom.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Saint Augustine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Madame de Mazenod, Eugene\u2019s mother, had a strong personality too, so it is easy to imagine that sparks flew from time to time between son and mother. In his retreat resolutions Eugene wrote: Less severity towards my mother, more consideration … Continue reading