The confessional was the privileged place of encounter and reconciliation between the penitent and Jesus the Saviour. It is thus not surprising that the missionaries dedicated every available moment to this ministry during their village missions. The pattern was set in their first mission together in Grans:<\/p>\n
\nwe never stop hearing confessions. We take in every variety; therein consists our prayers, our preparation, our thanksgiving and everything else, day and night<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Letter to Henri Tempier, 11 March 1816, O.W. VI n. 11<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0The narrations abound: for example, during the mission of Eyguieres,<\/p>\n
\nSo we have to go beyond our strength, we are in the confessional until a quarter to midnight, and at that late hour when we have to go up for something to eat, we are obliged to send people away<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Letter to the community at Aix, 7 March 1819, O.W. VI n. 41<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
From Barjols he wrote:<\/p>\n
\nHere we are in the confessional, without stirring, from morning until evening<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Letter to Henri Tempier, 14 November 1818, O.W. VI n. 34<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
After the Barjols mission Eugene speaks of the positive results of their efforts:<\/p>\n
\nThe parish priest at Barjols tells me that during the past 18 years he had only ten men at Mass …, whereas, during the mission we heard more than 3000 general confessions and those who made the mission before Christmas came to Communion again on New Year\u2019s Day to prove they had made the firm resolution to carry out their Easter duties\u2026<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Letter to M. Arbaud, 12 January 1819, O.W. XIII n. 22<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The confessional was the privileged place of encounter and reconciliation between the penitent and Jesus the Saviour. It is thus not surprising that the missionaries dedicated every available moment to this ministry during their village missions. The pattern was set … Continue reading