Eugene continues his 1839 reflections on his vocation. Having spoken about the motto and coat of arms he had sketched at the seminary, with the Cross and crown of thorns above the overturned insignia of power and status, he proceeds:<\/p>\n
\n\u2026 There you have the true expression of the secret of my vocation. I thus responded to the Bishop of Metz that my whole ambition was to consecrate myself to the service of the poor and of the youth. I thus started out in the prisons, and my first apprenticeship consisted of gathering around me young boys whom I instructed. I formed a large number in virtue. I saw up to 280 grouped around me, and those who today still remain faithful to the principles that I had the happiness of instilling in their souls and who do honour to their faith in every rank of society or in the sanctuary, will uphold for a long time, either in Aix or in the other places where they are dispersed, the reputation that this congregation had rightly acquired for itself while I was able to care for it.<\/strong><\/h6>\n
Well, this twofold ministry contributed to keeping me faithful to my ideals. Among these poor prisoners whom I helped spiritually and materially, and among these youth who looked on me as their father, I only came across souls full of recognition, hearts full of affection that responded perfectly to the tender charity that I felt for them. They loved me to the point that some mothers declared that they would have been jealous had not this sentiment shown the goodness of their children, but that in truth they loved me more than they loved them, their own mothers.<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Diary of 31 March 1839, O.W. XX<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene continues his 1839 reflections on his vocation. Having spoken about the motto and coat of arms he had sketched at the seminary, with the Cross and crown of thorns above the overturned insignia of power and status, he proceeds: … Continue reading