Eugene de Mazenod speaks to us

As Eugene was enthusiastically narrating to Pope Leo XII all the good that was being done by his missionary family in France, he continued:

You would have been touched, my dear friend, to see, while I spoke, how this holy Pontiff raised his eyes towards heaven, then joined his hands and bowed his head on them clasped together, glowing with gratitude and thanking God with all his heart. It seemed to me that this invocation alone would draw new graces on our ministry.

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 22 December 1825, EO VII n. 213

I find this moment extremely significative As Eugene was describing all that was being achieved, the Pope spontaneously entered into grateful prayer. I believe that this was the moment when the Pope recognized the inspiration and presence of God in what he was hearing. It was this moment that would lead him to decide to grant his approbation through the due process that would be observed.

Eugene narrated his audience with the Pope:

The Pope receives in his small private room. He was seated on a settee, with a desk before him on which he leaned. I made as I entered the first customary genuflection but there was not enough room between the door and the place where he sat to make a second; I found myself promptly at his feet that I did not try to kiss either because when bowing profoundly I did not see them or, too struck by the appearance of the Pontiff, whom my faith showed immediately as the Vicar of Jesus Christ, I became attentive only to the charm and the goodness of his face. I handed him with respect the letter from my uncle which he placed before him on his desk. Then began our interview, which ran on several subjects, and lasted nearly three quarters of an hour.

It would be impossible for me to relate to you all that was said, still less to describe to you the goodness, the pleasant manner and courtesy of the sovereign Pontiff. I was kneeling beside him. Several times he motioned for me to rise; I did not wish to, I was comfortable at his feet, besides I leaned against the desk. I could have remained longer in this position without discomfort. I explained the principal purpose of my journey, but many were the episodes that entered into this narration; even the miracles of Blessed Alphonse Marie de Liguori entered into it. You should have seen with what interest he listened to the succinct narration which I made to him of the good operated by our missionaries. I took care not to forget to tell him what you had just written to me: “At this moment the two youngest missionaries of the Society are working marvels, etc. One of them, Most Holy Father, is not yet old enough to become priest; he was ordained in August with the dispensation of sixteen months that your Holiness deigned to grant to us; and yet the good God has used them to convert Protestants, etc.”

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 22 December 1825, EO VII n. 213

Finally the day arrived when Eugne set out for the Vatican to meet the Pope, but not without some effort because the one responsible had forgotten about Eugene’s request:

When I saw this good man, Monseigneur Barbarini, I was not surprised at his carelessness; he is as useless as one can imagine; which does not stop him from being a good priest. I told him politely that, seeing he had forgotten me and not being able to defer any longer my appearance before His Holiness without incurring some reproach, I had come without any notice to beg the Monseigneur to kindly alert the Holy Father, as soon as the ministers had left, that I was in his antechamber.

Roman Diary, 20 December 1825, EO XVII

To Fr. Tempier he described the events:

So one fine morning I made my decision. It was the 20th, vigil of Saint Thomas, and having obtained the loan of the carriage of Mgr. the Dean, I arrived in full dress at the Vatican. The first person I met at the papal apartments was a certain prelate, one of those they call here de mantellone, that is to say, of inferior rank but always near the Pope to serve him as private secretary. This good man, a little awkward at his trade, advised me to retrace my steps because it would not be possible to see His Holiness that day; that I could not have chosen a worse day, that it was the last of the audiences of the year, that the Cardinals were coming in crowds, the Ministers and goodness knows who else, hence I must put off my visit until the first days of the new year. I mollified him a little and to be accommodating, he told me to come back the second day of Christmastide, then on the Eve, and finally the day following that at which we were. That did not suit me at all.

 I have since concluded that, thinking I wished to get in to see the Pope by his intermediary, he saw no way of introducing me that day. He was wrong, I had not the slightest wish to enter by the back door. The moment this good man disappeared, Mgr. Barberini arrived; I went up to him and explained my position, reproaching him somewhat for having grieved me by his forgetfulness. A little embarrassed by my gentle reprimand, of which he acknowledged the justice, he prayed me to enter the salon and, in my quality of prelate or gentleman, I went without ado into the apartment which is next to the study of the Pope

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 22 December 1825, EO VII n. 213.

Writing to his confidant, Henri Tempier, Eugene speaks of the efforts he has made to prepare for the visit to the Pope. Above all, he prayed fervently for the success of this mission.

When will my return be possible? I shall soon know for the Pope is expecting me; everyone has announced my visit to him and still I do not appear before him. It is on purpose that I did not wish to present myself before some Cardinals and other principal Prelates would have spoken to him about me. Now I can delay no longer and all the more so because when Mgr. Mazio asked for an audience for me, he had the kindness to say to this prelate: “But I am waiting for him; the Cardinal Secretary has already informed me.” If you only knew how apprehensive I am on seeing the moment come when I shall explain to him the principal purpose of my journey! Another person would perhaps be satisfied with having obtained what has already been granted very willingly and, I assure you, would know full well that so he should be.

 In any event, I have armed myself with all natural and supernatural aids by praying, asking for prayers, offering the holy sacrifice, invoking all the saints with all the fervour I could call upon. God will now guide his Vicar’s heart. I shall neglect nothing in explaining my request, nothing whatever that is apt to make the most impression on his mind; I have put down in writing the principal points and shall leave them in his hands. But if there is a general policy that opposes us, we must be resigned and consider ourselves fortunate to have what we have already obtained. One of my motives for wishing to delay in presenting myself was to have already in hand what I have mentioned above, just in case.

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 18 December 1825, EO VII n. 212.

 Here at least, my dear Tempier, the days of fasting are days of penance, especially for Provençals who cannot, whatever effort they make, swallow the detestable oil they eat in Rome. On rogation days, they observe what is called the strict minimum, that is to say, eggs and dairy products are forbidden. I thank God for my invincible repugnance for the foul oil and have contented myself these days solely with a piece of boiled fish on which I have squeezed half a lemon. Mgr. d’Isoard had wished that I dine with him; I took care not to accept his pressing offer because I admit that I felt nothing would have replaced the happiness that I experienced in doing three days of penance in the true sense and the real spirit of the Church.

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 18 December 1825, EO VII n. 212

Eugene was living at San Silvestro during this time and wrote about some of the older priests he spoke to who were an inspiration to him

I am grateful to God for having placed me in a situation where I could marvel at such sustained good conduct. There is only one thing that really bothers me, that, even though I am far behind them in virtue, they all smother me with every sort of consideration and treat me with respect I certainly do not merit.

He then refers to St. Giuseppe Maria Tomasi, of the Theatine Regular clergy who had been beatified in 1803, and was canonized the following century in 1986.

Besides living with such holy people, there is another remarkable circumstance which often during the day furnishes me with some good thoughts; that is, that Blessed Tomasi lived forty years in this same house, which seems to be completely imbued with the good odour of his virtues, and that my venerable master, venerable Don Bartolo Zinelli died here in the odour of sanctity, since they attribute several miracles and various prophecies to him; I came across the plaster mould that retraced his features, and his body rests in the church where I have the daily good fortune of celebrating holy Mass.

Roman Diary, 15 December 1825, EO XVII

Eugene recalls and prays for the deceased members of his family. He also refers here to his older sister, Charlotte Élisabeth Eugénie, who died at the age of 5 in 1784 when Eugene was only two years old.

Today again I fulfilled what is prescribed to gain the jubilee indulgence for the holy souls in purgatory, according to the indult granted to this effect by the Supreme Pontiff. I visited the church of Saint Lawrence in Damaso and the designated altars. May God render profitable to the holy souls, especially the souls of my dear relatives, the suffrages I applied to them.

 My father, who died so saintly in my arms, my dear grandmother whom I so tenderly loved, my grandfathers, my great uncle, my aunt, who assuredly came to mind as they are always present with me at Mass. I don’t know why I also mentioned my sister who died so young; but it is out of affection that my dear little niece Caroline also daily appears in this picture, since she certainly doesn’t need my prayers. But, that is what my heart is like, it cannot forget anyone it loves, living or dead.

Roman Diary, 15 December 1825, EO XVII

A rather realistic description of a funeral wake which was a stark reminder to Eugene of the Ash Wednesday words: “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.”

I was busy at home all morning. After dinner, I went to the Colonna palace to see Cardinal Ercolani, laid out in death on an ornamental bier. I expected to see a brilliant chapel, something magnificent. I saw only a large canopy on which was placed, at a great height, the body of the deceased cardinal in soutane, surplice and mantelletta with a red biretta on his head. The bier on which the body was placed was very vast, covered with a large golden cloth. Only four candles were burning around it. Many people filed past to see this spectacle which grieved me more than satisfied my curiosity, since, apart from the lackeys’ indifference which I noticed while passing through the first antechamber, I felt a kind of horror at seeing a number of flies devouring the eyes, nose and mouth of the deceased, an outrage from which his high rank did not exempt him no more than it will protect him from the voracity of the worms which will soon take charge of these remains as of a prey surrendered to them.

Roman Diary, 12 December 1825, EO XVII

In the evening of the beatification, Eugene participated in a jubilee pilgrimage walk to St Peter’s.

The Monsignor Dean of the Rota, in his prelate’s garb, carried the crucifix, I was beside wearing my soutane and long coat. As we went along, we sang the litany of the saints and I felt a real pleasure in making the streets of the Christian world re-echo my voice, singing the praises of God. When we arrived at Saint Peter’s we were presented for veneration by the faithful the famous relics of the Passion, such as the wood of the true cross, the holy lance, etc.

 I was deeply moved by the profound silence which reigned in that entire basilica during this ceremony. Everyone was kneeling in the most pious prayer. Nevertheless, it was an immense crowd. I should remark in this regard, what I have noticed ever since I came to Rome, continually making the rounds of churches; that I have noticed always and everywhere there has been the greatest respect, and that the piety of the faithful, who are however all ordinary people, poor peasants, most of them in rags, always edifies me more and more.

Roman Diary, 18 December 1825, EO XVII

Third Sunday of Advent: I have an insatiable appetite for seeing Church ceremonies when they are carried out with dignity. That’s why I gladly returned to the papal chapel. The Sovereign Pontiff did not attend so a Cardinal officiated once more and nothing is more majestic than to see this noble assembly.

Roman Diary 11 December 1825, EO XVII

A week later he was back in St. Peter’s.

This was a memorable day. I went to Saint Peter’s where Archbishop Mazio had me placed in a privileged spot, where I was able to see and hear everything marvellously. First of all, I saw the entire part of Saint Peter’s church from the confession to the far end where Saint Peter’s chair is, held up by four Doctors of the Church, two Latin and two Greek, lit up by a prodigious number of candles, for the day of the beatification of Blessed Angelo d’Acri, priest and Capuchin missionary, whose covered image was hung up at a great height, all surrounded with torches.

Roman Diary 11 December 1825, EO XVII

Describing the beatification ceremony to Fr Tempier:

Here is another of these missionaries beatified; they all have the same method and in ten or twelve days put on a mission for you with all that belongs or goes with it. That gives us courage and hope. I had been assured that the Pope would come down to pray before the newly Blessed and indeed that is what happened. So I had the consolation of being present for the inaugural ceremony for this saint, to whom I commended myself strongly, placing all of you under his protection, as well as the happiness of seeing and contemplating at leisure the Head of the Church. I cannot describe to you the impression made on my soul by the Vicar of Jesus Christ. I looked at him, it is true, with eyes of a lively faith; so I experienced feelings that were certainly not shared by most of the people close to me who only looked out of curiosity. He prayed with great fervour and I quietly united myself to him.

Letter to Henri Tempier in Marseilles, 18 December 1825, EO VII n. 212