The meetings of the Youth Congregation took place twice a week and consisted of a day constructed around an equilibrium of instruction, prayer and time to enjoy being with each other. Each activity had to be done fully, thus when they played:
Art. 5. They will then dedicate themselves to all types of games. They will run, they will jump, they will sing, in a word, they will enjoy themselves as much as they can, intimately convinced that the more they enjoy themselves, the more faithful they are being to this article of the rule and the spirit behind it.”
Statuts, Chapitre IX – Des jeux et divertissements
Eugene knew that this is what appealed to youth, and he insisted fully on them having fun, and doing so to the best of their ability.
Many thanks for the items such as Playing is Praying. One of St. Philip Neri’s biographers relates how some of the neighbors in Rome complained when his youth group made a lot of noise on Sunday afternoons. His retort is classic: “They may chop wood on my back as long as they commit no sin.” Your reminding us of St. Eugene’s strong sense of joy and the need for play, physical exercise, etc is very valuable.