The day before his death Eugene entrusted this message to his Oblate family:<\/p>\n
\nBe sure to tell them that I die happy\u2026 that I die happy that God was so good as to choose me to found the Congregation of the Oblates in the Church.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Then as the last wish in his heart:<\/p>\n
\nPractice among yourselves charity
\n<\/strong>charity
\n<\/strong>charity
\n<\/strong>and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\nJoseph Fabre (Eugene\u2019s successor as Superior General), Circular letter of 1861<\/em><\/p>\n
Last year, the Oblate Congregation and the Archdiocese of Marseille gathered at St Eugene\u2019s tomb to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his death. His present successor as Superior General recalled:<\/p>\n
\nFor us Oblates, Saint Eugene was a man on fire with a great love for Jesus Christ, for the Church and for the poor. He shared these gifts with the people of Marseille for 37 years, as Vicar General and then as Bishop.<\/h5>\n
At the same time, he was the Superior General of the Missionary Oblates and he guided this growing Congregation from the bishop\u2019s house across the street.<\/h5>\n
It is from this same city that he sent us to preach the Gospel throughout the world… We Oblates are proud to continue following his inspiration in nearly 70 countries, with more than 4,000 missionaries and numerous lay associates.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Father Louis Lougen OMI<\/em><\/p>\n
In his homily during the Mass, St Eugene\u2019s present successor as Bishop of Marseille said:<\/p>\n
\nBishop de Mazenod was animated by a passion to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. It is the way to the encounter of the poorest that Christ came to him and tied it to Him. He made an untiring apostle<\/h5>\n
In this he is a model for us.<\/h5>\n
May the passion of the Gospel fill us! May it lead us to the poorest today in the church … “<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Archbishop Georges Pontier<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The day before his death Eugene entrusted this message to his Oblate family: Be sure to tell them that I die happy\u2026 that I die happy that God was so good as to choose me to found the Congregation of … Continue reading