The turning point of Eugene\u2019s life came with his experience of God\u2019s love for him as evidenced on the Cross. His Good Friday experience was the door that opened for him to welcome the Risen Christ at Easter. Because of the importance of Easter, he insisted that the Missionaries always spend this feast together, and that they organize their pastoral commitments accordingly. Writing to the oblates doing the parish mission at Puyloubier, he underlined this:<\/p>\n
\nIt would be better to have communion on Holy Thursday and plant the cross on Holy Friday, then leave on Holy Saturday so as to be with your brothers on the holy day of Easter.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Pierre Mye, 16 March 1825, EO VI n. 174<\/em><\/p>\n
Two years before, Eugene had written from Paris to share his sadness at not being in community for Easter:<\/p>\n
\nMy heart was sad, my dear Court\u00e8s, as I came back from the church where I had just offered the holy sacrifice..\u00a0 far from you from whom I have never been separated on this memorable day. Yes, it is the first time since our coming together that I have not celebrated Easter with my brothers.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Hippolyte Court\u00e8s, 27 March 1823, EO VI n. 98<\/em><\/p>\n
Several years later, he continues the same theme of the importance of celebrating Easter as a community:<\/p>\n
\nI must admit that I could never have thought that I would have to go looking for you on a mission being preached during the Holy Week. Had you consulted me. I would have dissuaded you from undertaking a mission at the beginning of this week. This is the first time that such a thing happens to us, and see to it that it is the last also. First of all, because it has been our practice always to celebrate Easter in our communities, and because we must return from everywhere else in order to be together during the days of recollection that precede the great solemnity which crowns them.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Bruno Guigues, 14 March 1837, EO IX n. 609<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cTake with you the joy of Easter to the home, and make that home bright with more unselfish love, more hearty service; take it into your work, and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus; take it to your heart, and let that heart rise anew on Easter wings to a higher, a gladder, a fuller life; take it to the dear grave-side and say there the two words “Jesus lives!” and find in them the secret of calm expectation, the hope of eternal reunion.\u201d John Ellerton<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The turning point of Eugene\u2019s life came with his experience of God\u2019s love for him as evidenced on the Cross. His Good Friday experience was the door that opened for him to welcome the Risen Christ at Easter. Because of … Continue reading