In a later letter, continuing to lecture his uncle as to the necessity of accepting the nomination as Bishop of Marseille, Eugene realized that because this step was essential for the survival of the Missionaries, he would have to commit himself to assisting his uncle. This meant that Eugene was prepared to establish the Missionaries in Marseille, so as to be near the Bishop and to assist him and be his \u201cother self.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe King has named you Bishop of Marseilles, and everyone approves of this appointment. I announced it to you in a thousand letters written from every direction and I am writing this one without attempting to repeat all that I said in previous ones.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
God alone is the author of this appointment; men have been involved in it only in as much as that was needed to obey and follow the direction indicated by Divine Providence. It chose Marseilles for you, which in my opinion is the most valuable See in France because there you will be able to support and protect all the good that my fervent community has done unceasingly since it began. It needs such support and God, in whom alone it has always placed its hopes, has provided it.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
You see that I consider things with a faith-vision; that is the only thing that I have in mind when I feel obliged to tell you, in line with the opinion of all who are the most reliable here, that you are obliged in conscience to respond to the King\u2019s confidence and to consecrate yourself with absolute devotion to the service of the Church in the post being assigned to you…<\/strong><\/h5>\n
As for myself and my work, which are the salvation of youth and the poor countryside people, that is all that I could ask from God.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Come right away by the shortest route. Farewell.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
P.S. Take courage, I will be your other-self.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0Letter to Fortun\u00e9 de Mazenod, 16 September 1817, O.W. XIII n. 12<\/em><\/p>\n
Fortun\u00e9 responded a couple of weeks later:<\/p>\n
\n… I submit, albeit with fear and trembling. And if I have the good fortune of accomplishing any good in the diocese of Marseilles, I will be the most convincing proof that the Lord has no need of the talents of any creature and can, if He so pleases, use the weakest and lowliest instruments to accomplish His holy purpose and manifest His glory.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter of Fortun\u00e9 de Mazenod to Eugene de Mazenod, 9 October 1817,
\nP.R., FB I-2<\/em><\/p>\nThe three brothers arrived in Marseille on 27 December and were met with\u00a0joy by Eugene after a separation of 15 years. His father and his uncle Louis settled in Marseille.<\/p>\n
The agreement between the Pope and the King of France, the Concordat, did not go through and consequently the Diocese of Marseille was only re-established in 1823. Fortun\u00e9 would spend the next five years waiting for the re-establishment of his diocese. He spent these years living in Aix en Provence with the community of the Missionaries. All Eugene\u2019s dreams of episcopal protection were to wait until then.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a later letter, continuing to lecture his uncle as to the necessity of accepting the nomination as Bishop of Marseille, Eugene realized that because this step was essential for the survival of the Missionaries, he would have to commit … Continue reading