Bishop Eugene continues to describe the awe-filled experience of the power of God at work to convert people at the conclusion of the parish mission.<\/p>\n
Yes, a thousand men made the vaults of this church resound with hymns most touching and most appropriate to the happy location in which the overabundant grace of the Lord had placed them all. Not being able to address this immense assembly, I requested Fr. Loewenbruck to make up for the incapacity to which I was reduced by the loss of voice that was the result of my illness. Father said what was necessary, then the Veni Creatorwas sung, and more than two hundred men and one hundred women broke away in order to come to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. It was necessary to see the contemplation of all these Confirmands, all adults, of every age and of every condition. Young men shining with youth, from twenty to thirty years; men of an age mature in years, and old men in great number also presenting themselves in the most respectful attitude, majesty on their brows and fervor depicted on their faces.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n What need is there for tongues of fire to see, in some way, the presence of the Holy Spirit? On these occasions, his presence is perceptible to me and I am penetrated with it to the point of not being able to contain my emotion. I need to force myself to not cry with joy, and, in spite of my efforts, very often involuntary tears betray the feeling with which I am animated and which is overabundant in every depth of the term!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I then offered the Holy Sacrifice and secluded myself after my thanksgiving, leaving to the parish priest the sweet consolation of distributing Holy Communion to this fervent assembly of Christians, my sickly condition not permitting me to obtain for myself this happiness which I appreciate so much!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Eugene de Mazenod\u2019s Diary, 21 January 1844, EO XXI<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Bishop Eugene continues to describe the awe-filled experience of the power of God at work to convert people at the conclusion of the parish mission. Yes, a thousand men made the vaults of this church resound with hymns most touching … Continue reading