Marseilles, being a port, was always in danger of outbreaks of diseases carried by the many ships which called at the harbor. The inhabitants of this city had lived through many cholera epidemics, with 1835 being one of these. 1835 was to be a difficult year for St Eugene. He continued to be embroiled in the ongoing conflict with the French government over having accepted to be made Bishop of Icosia without their permission in 1832. we have seen in many entries above how this conflict played out. It was also a time when some priests of the diocese had to be disciplined and who went public in their unfounded condemnations of Eugene. All in all, a difficult year.<\/p>\n
In the midst of all these difficulties, his faith in God shone through:<\/p>\n
\nProvided God be exalted, what does it matter if one remains humiliated, overlooked, abandoned by nearly everyone? I pray that in the eyes of men \u201cI am willing to look even more foolish than this\u201d [ed. 2 Samuel 6:22], even to be humiliated. Ever since I came into the world, God has led me by the hand; he has had me accomplish so many things for his glory, that I had reason to fear pride if men had perceived them and shown gratitude towards me; it is better for me that they be unjust and ungrateful; in this way God will be my sole reward, as he is already my sole strength, my only hope.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Bishop Frezza, 27 April 1835, EO XV n 177<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Marseilles, being a port, was always in danger of outbreaks of diseases carried by the many ships which called at the harbor. The inhabitants of this city had lived through many cholera epidemics, with 1835 being one of these. 1835 … Continue reading