Category Archives: DIARY

LIMPING OUT OF ROME

 Had dinner with the teologo Lanteri. Reserved a place in the carriage for Sunday the 30th, to return to France, by way of Loreto, Milan and Turin. Roman Diary, 22 April 1826, EO XVII  The weather was cold and damp; … Continue reading

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IF YOU HAD SEEN THE POPE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HE GRANTED ME YESTERDAY, YOU WOULD HAVE WEPT WITH JOY

If you had seen the Pope in the audience of a good half hour that he granted me yesterday, you would have wept with joy. With what goodness he spoke to me, with what grace he smiled at the things … Continue reading

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DEATH AS A TIME OF NEW COMMUNION

My morning has been employed in having young ladies of the French convent of Saint Denis make their first communion; think of my sorrow when I had to speak to these young people of the age of our poor Caroline … Continue reading

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ROLLING BALLS OF FIRE IN DANGER OF BURNOUT

Receiving news of the zealous preaching and ministry of the Oblates during the jubilee celebrations in Aix, Eugene responded: The news that you give me about the Jubilee of Aix is murderous. It is not possible for our Brothers to … Continue reading

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I COULD NOT HELP THINKING OF THAT BRILLIANT AND EDIFYING YOUTH CONGREGATION I HAD FOUNDED AT AIX

Describing a visit to one of the large Jesuit houses in Rome, Eugene was prompted to write: You could hear at the same time some other voices, in every part of the house, singing the divine praises; those were other … Continue reading

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I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THESE FACTS OF THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH

Before Eugene was able to leave Rome, he still had to complete some formalities with the Vatican. While waiting, he filled in his time with various occupations that he writes about in his diary. One of them was to read … Continue reading

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WHO IS SAINT EUGENE? THE YOUNG NOBLEMAN IN EXILE

1791 – beginning of 11 years of emigration in Nice, Turin, Venice, Naples and Palermo – years of flight and fear and changing fortunes. “As he had been declared under arrest by the revolutionaries, on his return from his mission … Continue reading

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OUR SACRED CEREMONIES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE A SPECTACLE

Eugene loved attending the liturgies in Rome, and in his journal he notes many minute details about them – especially the papal ceremonies. He usually tried to place himself as close to the front as possible. On Palm Sunday he … Continue reading

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GELATO AND LENTEN MORTIFICATION

From his writings as a young man, we know that Eugene loved Italian ice cream. Here he is a bit peeved that he sees other priests enjoying it, while he had given it up for lent. It also gives us … Continue reading

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THE APPROBATION OF THE OBLATES: GRATITUDE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD

Now that Eugene knew that the approbation was being granted, he began to look forward to finishing the remainder of the work connected with this, and to return home to his community. As he reflects on the events, we can … Continue reading

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