A few years\u2019 earlier Eugene had written about serving God in situations in which he felt no attraction at all:<\/p>\n
\nIf tired out body and soul, I want to seek some rest in a good book or in prayer, etc., and the business of the house obliges me to go on some boring errand or make some tedious visits, persuaded that preference must always be given to what God requires over what one would oneself desire, etc., I will not hesitate, and I will do it with such good grace that, supposing I had the choice, I would prefer what the service that God has confided to me requires to what I would have a greater personal liking for.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat Notes, July-August 1816, O.W. XV n 139<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0It is not often that in Eugene\u2019s writings that he lets his guard down and writes a humorous judgement on others. Writing to the 20 year-old Adolphe Tavernier – a member of the youth congregation and then a lawyer, with whom he was to maintain a friendship for the rest of his life \u2013 he describes a boring visitor and how he went out of his way to welcome him patiently:<\/p>\n
\nYesterday I was going over your little letter again and was about to answer it when \u201cboredom personified\u201d arrived and settled himself comfortably in my presence dressed up in all his finery; he sat down on my poor sofa as if on his throne, and full of his brand of wisecracks he made himself so comfortable that he did not budge until nine o\u2019clock. Blessed by that bell which came, alas, too late to rescue me from his terrible blows. Indeed, had it been permissible to give in to its natural effect, I would have fallen fast asleep at the very feet of the throne where I was slumped. But no: my grim task was to do violence to nature and entertain the personage who was slowly killing me.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Adolphe Tavernier, 12 October 1819, O.W. XV n.151<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.”\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Saint Francis de Sales<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A few years\u2019 earlier Eugene had written about serving God in situations in which he felt no attraction at all: If tired out body and soul, I want to seek some rest in a good book or in prayer, etc., … Continue reading