Being a Provencal with a fiery temperament, Eugene was able to understand and handle the sometimes-volatile reactions of the working class of Marseille during the mission. He loved them and was able to get through to them as Leflon narrates (Vol 2 p. 108-109):<\/p>\n
In addition to all this, at the very start of the mission, the missionaries encountered an obstacle which should have been taken into account beforehand; the insufficient number of parishes for a city of 109,000 inhabitants. The city’s eleven churches could not accommodate the large numbers of people who thronged to them. Consequently, there were disorders and brawlings which the Founder’s father related at length to Canon Fortun\u00e9:<\/em><\/p>\n Reported by President de Mazenod to Fortun\u00e9, March 14, 1820. P.R., FB VI-3., January 28-30, 1820.<\/em><\/p>\n Years later, when Eugene became Bishop of this city, he reflected:<\/p>\n Retreat preparatory to taking possession of the episcopal see of Marseilles, May 1837, O.W. XV n.185<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes, – and the stars through his soul.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Victor Hugo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being a Provencal with a fiery temperament, Eugene was able to understand and handle the sometimes-volatile reactions of the working class of Marseille during the mission. He loved them and was able to get through to them as Leflon narrates … Continue reading \n
The huge crowds in all the churches occasioned various disturbances and several scandalous incidents. \u2026 Also on Sunday, at the church of the Carmelites, the ceremony of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin was the scene of another disturbance. My son . . . arrived in the middle of fist fights and even stone-throwing. There were three times as many people outside the church as there were inside. The racket was frightful. Eugene mounted the pulpit and with a strong but even voice told them: ‘My brethren, now that you have turned the Lord’s august temple into a fish market, I have nothing more to do here, and so I leave you<\/strong>.’ He then left the pulpit. Instantly, everything quieted down. They pleaded with him to come back and after some urging, he re-ascended the pulpit and gave such a touching and beautiful sermon that he had everyone in tears.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Here I am in fact pastor and chief pastor of a diocese which, whatever one says of it, is not inhabited by saints\u2026 I must have no thought but for its good, no fears other than I have not done enough for its welfare and sanctification.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n