In Eugene\u2019s assessment of the year he is hard on himself. He judges himself to have been out of balance in his dedication of time to others, and is aware that some of the weaknesses of his character became too obvious as a result.<\/p>\n
\nOnce more in this retreat I shall have to lay down an iron rule for my use of time. I acknowledge that I have let myself wander too easily from the order I laid down for myself. No one will deny that it is good to be always ready to serve one\u2019s neighbour, but this year this service has been a veritable slavery, and I am much to blame for it. Complacency pushed too far degenerates into weakness, and its consequences are unfortunate in the extreme, as they end up leading one into time-wasting.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
I must fix for myself a rule of conduct with my young people. Work on the virtue of gentleness, on mortification in the use of my tongue when I am crossed, on humility, self-love, etc., hunt it down precisely when it conceals itself, retrieve myself by prayer, office, mass, preparation, thanksgiving, reading Holy Scripture, pious reading, the examen, in a word leave no stone unturned, for I need reformation in everything.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Eugene\u2019s assessment of the year he is hard on himself. He judges himself to have been out of balance in his dedication of time to others, and is aware that some of the weaknesses of his character became too … Continue reading