Eugene’s reflections during his retreat lead him to see that he had certainly achieved many praiseworthy things in his ministry in Aix: preaching to the poor in Proven\u00e7al, the successful youth congregation, his prison ministry, and his willingness to give up his life to minister to the needs of the dying Austrian prisoners. Yet, the danger is to take the honour for himself and not to see himself as God\u2019s instrument.<\/p>\n
\nThat perhaps is what my treasure amounts to. These good works, these striking works for which men praise me, exalt me to the skies, these works which, if done solely for God, etc., would be in fact highly meritorious, coin of good alloy to exchange in expiation for and wipe out my numerous, enormous sins, these works, by the sole fact that in one way or another I want to attribute to myself a share of their glory, come perhaps to nothing, and that always supposing that they were begun for fitting motives and that self-love was not their chief motivation, for if I did not act for him and through him, these works despite all appearances were but sins.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
He turns to God in prayer, asking for the grace to do everything for God.<\/p>\n
\nGood God! to whom indeed alone belong honour and glory, do not permit this disorder. I am the least of your slaves, I say this with conviction, nothing is due me but opprobrium, henceforth I wish to act only for you, solely for you. I would simply be my own worst enemy were I to think otherwise. What I will pay particular attention to will be never to say anything that might make me well-thought of, tempt me to attribute to myself some part of that glory that belongs to you.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene’s reflections during his retreat lead him to see that he had certainly achieved many praiseworthy things in his ministry in Aix: preaching to the poor in Proven\u00e7al, the successful youth congregation, his prison ministry, and his willingness to give … Continue reading