While Eugene was dealing with the Minister, an anonymous letter arrived from Aix denouncing him. The letter gives every indication of having been written by one of the priests of the city who was antagonistic to Eugene. He narrates:<\/p>\n
\nYou can let it be known throughout the city, my dear friend for the consolation of worthy people and to the despair of the wicked, that we are recognized by the Government and authorized to continue \u201cthe functions that\u201d we have \u201cso happily begun.\u201d These are the very terms of the letter which the Minister has just addressed to \u201cM de Mazenod, superior of the Missions of Aix.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
You will note that M. de Mazenod had never assumed this title in speaking or in writing to the Minister. Apparently it is to belie the author of the anonymous letter which denounced me to the Minister while designating me, such is the regard he has for my person, as \u201ca certain Sieur de Mazenod, priest of this diocese, calling himself a missionary.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Yes, my dear, will you believe it, in the midst of the unanimous chorus, as the Minister says further, of ecclesiastical, civil and military authorities who hasten to give him the most flattering tributes about me and our work, has been raised the voice of an anonymous wretch who has denounced the Sieur de Mazenod, who calls himself a missionary, as a man whose principles in respect to the hierarchy are most dangerous, who has dared to teach publicly in catechetical instructions that the Pope is infallible, who is at open war with all the parish priests of the city, against whom these same parish priests have brought a judicial complaint before the Vicars General over a grave insult that he took the liberty of perpetrating against them, etc., etc. His Excellency was indignant over the foulness of this man for whom he has the utmost disdain. Instead, he holds this Sieur de Mazenod in real esteem, is well pleased with him and has not judged him anything like as dangerous as M. Anonymous.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Henri Tempier, 5 August 1817, O.W. VI n.19<\/em><\/p>\n
The effect of the letter was to give the Minister the opportunity to show the government\u2019s respect for Eugene and to encourage what he was doing in Aix. Instead of destroying Eugene\u2019s cause, it enhanced it. A few days later the Minister received a letter from four of the Aix pastors officially denouncing Eugene for the \u201cinsult he had thrown at them.\u201d The Minister refused to take action and referred them to their diocesan authorities. The initiative had backfired and the pastors had lost this round, but were to continue their attack a few months later. The heart of the conflict was not tension between personalities, but around the question of the survival of the Missionaries of Provence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While Eugene was dealing with the Minister, an anonymous letter arrived from Aix denouncing him. The letter gives every indication of having been written by one of the priests of the city who was antagonistic to Eugene. He narrates: You … Continue reading