Eugene concludes his retreat by drawing up a daily program for himself. He does this to be in communion with the Aix Oblate community, but it is the basic program of life and prayer that he followed throughout his life.<\/p>\n
\nI will therefore always live in spirit in the most intimate union with them\u2026 so far as I can I will observe the Rule on my own, conforming so far as possible to the very times of the exercises. So I will rise at 5 o\u2019clock in the morning or 5:30 at the latest when I go to bed too late, which I will try to avoid.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
According as I rise at 5 or 5:30, I will meditate for three quarters or half an hour. Holy Mass will follow immediately on oraison. After thanksgiving of the Mass, I will read Scripture for half an hour. To be united with my brothers\u2019 time for saying the Office according to what time it is when the half-hour Scripture reading finishes, I will say my small Hours before or after my breakfast. I will not wait until eleven thirty to say Sext and None as I would all too often be exposed to the risk of postponing them, since it is the time for business in the secretariat, that is why I will not separate them from Prime and Tierce which I will be saying at eight o\u2019clock.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
After breakfast, I will get down to work which will always begin with an hour\u2019s theology study.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
When there is not any very urgent business in the bishopric, I will extend this one hour\u2019s study, otherwise I will get down to the matters pertaining to my office.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
During the hours dedicated to office business, I will try to dispatch the letters and move the correspondence forward so far at least as is consistent with the affluence of people who have business with us in those moments.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Immediately before dinner, I will do the exercise of particular examen as it is done in our houses, except that I will not start with reading the New Testament, as this reading is done at the Bishop\u2019s table during dinner.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
I will conclude the examen with our customary litanies. If one of our members happens to be in the bishopric at that time it will be in order for him to make the examen at the same time as, and with, me.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
After dinner when my uncle does not need me, I will make my escape as soon as possible unless the duties of propriety detain me in the drawing room.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
If I have some business outside, I will go out for that purpose. In this case I will bring along my breviary to say Vespers and Compline in the church I go into to make my adoration<\/strong>.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat notes, May 1824, EO XV n. 156<\/em><\/p>\n
“It is as missionaries that we worship, in the various ways the Spirit suggests to us. We come before him bearing with us the daily pressures of our anxiety for those to whom he sends us (cf. 2 Cor 11:28). Our life in all its dimensions is a prayer that, in us and through us, God’s kingdom come.”<\/p>\n
CC&RR, Constitution 32<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene concludes his retreat by drawing up a daily program for himself. He does this to be in communion with the Aix Oblate community, but it is the basic program of life and prayer that he followed throughout his life. … Continue reading