The day came for Eugene to go to the Under-secreatry Adinolfi, to find out the reaction of the Pope. The Archpriest had recommended to the Pope that he give a decree of praise (laudanda) the Oblates and not a formal approval.<\/p>\n
\nThis morning, at the time appointed, I betook myself to the Archpriest\u2019s house who, in parenthesis, lives at the other extremity of the city. He received me immediately with good grace, dealt with some affairs in my presence with one of his secretaries, and then commenced to speak of our affair. He first read to me the succinct report that he had made to the Holy Father which, it must be said, basically contained my memoir and the essential points which ought to stand out but, as he had given me to understand the day before yesterday, he concluded in favour of the laudanda after the text had been examined to see if there was anything to change.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The Pope, however, had other ideas:<\/p>\n
\nBut, give praise to the goodness of God and unite yourselves, all of you, to me to thank him! Such was not the mind of the Holy Father: \u201cNo,\u201d said the Pontiff, \u201cThis society pleases me; I know the good it does, etc., etc.\u201d And he entered into multiple details which surprised the Archpriest to the uttermost. \u201cI wish to favour it. Choose a Cardinal, one of the mildest of the Congregation, to be the ponent of this cause; go to him on my behalf and tell him my intention is not merely that these Rules be praised but that they be approved.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
O Leo XII! Even were the Congregation to reject our Rules, you would nonetheless be considered for ever amongst us as the benefactor and the father of our Society.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Henri Tempier, 22 December 1825, EO VI n 213<\/em><\/p>\n
At the bottom of the undelivered letter that Eugene had written to Adinolfi, he added:<\/p>\n
\nNota Bene. This letter was not necessary. Before it arrived at his address, the Holy Father had positively told the reverend Archpriest, that he loves our Society, that he wishes to favor it, and that his intention is that its Rules be not only praised, but approved. He had directed M. Adinolfi to go on his behalf to the Cardinal Ponent of the Cause and let him know this.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to the Archpriest Adinolfi, Under-secretary for the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, 23 December 1826, EO XIII n. 49.<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cRejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!\u201d Philippians 4:4<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The day came for Eugene to go to the Under-secreatry Adinolfi, to find out the reaction of the Pope. The Archpriest had recommended to the Pope that he give a decree of praise (laudanda) the Oblates and not a formal … Continue reading