Easter Sunday 1839, and Eugene had received notice of a scandalous retaliation for a good deed that he had done for the welfare of his diocese.<\/p>\n
Oh well! The good God leads the way and He allows men to show no gratitude to me for anything, but rather to misrepresent my intentions and distort them when they cannot contradict the evidence of actions that speak for themselves.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Eugene then reflects on the motivation behind all his actions. It is God’s love for him! God’s love is the food that nourishes him, and it was instinctive for his soul to be filled with it:<\/p>\n
I believed that it was all right for me to enjoy a feeling which I was convinced was legitimate and natural, and the example of which, I felt, was given by Our Lord Jesus Christ, the model of all perfection. I sometimes had the audacity to tell myself that I perfectly understood the love God has for man, that He loves each one according to his merits without detriment to anyone. Nourished by these thoughts, my soul, so to speak, gaped, opened, and expanded in proportion as it continued to find food for this supposedly instinctive feeling.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
As a result, Eugene was able to love others by sharing the Savior’s love for him – it was to “be” in order to “do.”<\/p>\n
In my illusion, it seemed to me that by following God\u2019s example, I could love every person in such a way that not a single one could complain of giving me more affection than I gave them. I felt within me something resembling immensity, a well of justice and equity, that allowed me to divide my affection in proportion as each one deserved it and returned it.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Eugene de Mazenod\u2019s Diary, 31 March 1839, EO XX<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another<\/em>. John 13:34<\/p>\n
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this,\u00a0to lay down one\u2019s life for one\u2019s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. \u00a0<\/em>John 15: 12-14<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Easter Sunday 1839, and Eugene had received notice of a scandalous retaliation for a good deed that he had done for the welfare of his diocese. Oh well! The good God leads the way and He allows men to show … Continue reading