From the time that he was appointed Bishop of Marseilles Eugene wrote a daily journal recalling the events of the day and his personal reactions. It gives us an intimate picture of what was going on within him.<\/p>\n
On Easter Sunday 1839, he wrote one of the longest entries we have. He was shocked by some scandalous allegations that had been made against him – and in the emotion of the moment he pours out his heart in his diary. Deeply hurt by this rejection, it gives him the opportunity to vent and to look back on his life and the motivations for his actions.<\/p>\n
It is a long document, but well worth the reading because it reveals some important facets of his life. The next ten entries of “St Eugene Speaks” deal with it. Some of the passages are long, but stay with them because we really touch something of the heart of Eugene in them<\/strong><\/p>\n Bishop Eugene wrote in his diary:<\/p>\n March 31: The holy day of Easter.<\/strong><\/p>\n Last year, on Holy Thursday, they came to warn me that certain evil people were preparing a despicable pamphlet against me. They showed me a sample of a first draft of this writing which was the most disgusting thing in the world. I accepted this chalice of bitterness that was appropriately presented to me as we were about to go for the Mandatum [ed Holy Thursday liturgy] prior to singing the Good Friday Office.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n We have seen this false accusation in https:\/\/www.eugenedemazenod.net\/?p=4439<\/a> and https:\/\/www.eugenedemazenod.net\/?p=4441<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, on Easter Sunday, Eugene was informed that someone else was about to publish a scandalous publication against him.<\/p>\n This year, Mr. Bourgarel, a very honest and young lawyer, presented himself to me as I was about to leave to preside the Easter celebration at the cathedral. He informed me that the despicable Arbieu woman \u2013 that wretched woman whom I had denounced to the Procurator General for running a house of prostitution under the apparent auspices of the holy name of Mary and wearing a religious habit to better deceive the parents who thought they were placing their children in a boarding school \u2013 was having a lawsuit drawn up by some lawyers, as shameful as herself, against me and many priests in which are contained all kinds of slander. I should have preferred that this warning come two days earlier; it would have been food for thought in Holy Week, a thorn from Golgotha, but certainly not a meditation for the solemnity of this day. But, then, every day is good for sharing in the shame of the Cross we must carry daily as we follow in the Savior\u2019s footsteps.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Eugene de Mazenod\u2019s Diary, 31 March 1839, EO XX<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then Jesus said to his disciples, \u201cWhoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.<\/em> \u00a0 Matthew 16:24<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From the time that he was appointed Bishop of Marseilles Eugene wrote a daily journal recalling the events of the day and his personal reactions. It gives us an intimate picture of what was going on within him. On Easter … Continue reading