Can I forget the bitter tears that the sight of the cross brought streaming from my eyes one Good Friday?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2026 Never was my soul more satisfied, never did it feel such happiness; for in the midst of this flood of tears, despite my grief, or rather through my grief, my soul took wings for its last end, towards God its only good whose loss it felt so keenly<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2026 May all my actions, thoughts, etc., be directed to that end. What more glorious occupation than to act in everything and for everything only for God, to love him above all else, to love him all the more as one who has loved him too late.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130<\/em><\/p>\n (cf https:\/\/www.eugenedemazenod.net\/?p=191<\/a> and following entries for the text)<\/p>\n This event was to become the focal point of Eugene\u2019s life \u2013 the prism of his life. As he received the light of Jesus Crucified into his life, it became the focal point through which he experienced the multiple colors of salvation and brought others to his same experience.<\/p>\n I wish you to change the end of our litanies; instead of saying \u201cJesus, priest,\u201d we must say \u201cChrist, savior.\u201d That is the aspect under which we ought to contemplate our divine Master.<\/strong><\/p>\n Our particular vocation is such that we are associated in a special manner with the redemption of men.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Letter addressed to \u201cour dear brothers, the missionaries at Aix\u201d, Our Rule of Life captures this focus for us: \u201cThrough the eyes of our crucified Savior we see the world which he redeemed with his blood, desiring that those in whom he continues to suffer will know also the power of his resurrection (cf. Phil 3: 10<\/em>).\u201d<\/p>\n As I reflect on the central forming\u00a0experience of Eugene’s\u00a0life, what is the\u00a0focal point of my experience of God? What is the origin of the light that shines in and through my life?<\/p>\n \u201cConcentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun\u2019s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.\u201d \u2013 Alexander Graham Bell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A spirituality is the result of a precise focus that brings together a specific light and gives a particular meaning to a person or group. \u201cSpirituality\u201d then refers to the totality of the expression of the focus and of its … Continue reading \n
\nJuly 1816, O.W. VI n 12<\/em><\/p>\n![\"200\"](\"https:\/\/www.eugenedemazenod.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/200.png\")
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