The enforced break turned out to be an important moment of reflection and clarification for Eugene. For almost a year he had been constantly occupied with every detail of the birth of the Missionaries of Provence. Now he was forced to stop and spend several weeks resting and reflecting. He also took the opportunity to make a personal retreat, which we will examine in the coming days and see how it became the occasion for some significant insights.<\/p>\n
\nDivine Providence, knowing my spiritual needs, has permitted a slight excess of bodily tiredness to cause my health to deteriorate and my brothers\u2019 charity to be unduly alarmed and require me to come into this desert place to take a little rest.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The doctor thought in this way to care for my health, and God, in all his goodness and mercy, was preparing me a means of salvation. I will try to profit from it and seriously examine my interior life, for my pressing tasks impede me, they really do not leave me the time, either when I am in town or on the missions for thinking about myself. And what is the result? That each day I get more miserable, and, never having donned many virtues, I am left with nothing but rags.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
This is a distressing thought, for since I am destined to busy myself continually with my neighbour\u2019s salvation, my position placing me continually in a multiplicity of relationships, if I do not have the talent, or rather, if God in his goodness does not do me the favour of letting me grow in virtue in the midst of this tumult of business and of sanctifying myself on the wing, I am a pitiable thing and certainly my affairs are in a real mess.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat Notes, July-August 1816, O.W. XV n 139<\/em><\/p>\n
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The enforced break turned out to be an important moment of reflection and clarification for Eugene. For almost a year he had been constantly occupied with every detail of the birth of the Missionaries of Provence. Now he was forced … Continue reading