Reviewing the Diary of the Youth Congregation, Eugene wrote about the 28 month gap in keeping the diary up to date.
I assigned a congregant to make a note of the principal events so that at the first free moment I might write them up and transcribe them, but the notes were made very poorly, with the result that today, June 23, 1818, I have practically no documentation on all that has happened over the last two and a half years, and yet it is a time replete with interesting happenings.
Eugene then detailed some of the interesting happenings such as the improvement in the regulation and administration of the growing Youth Congregation while at the same time being involved in the establishment of the Missionaries and all that went with it. He referred to the difficulties that accompanied this – which we have explored in previous entries:
Obstacles and contradictions also increased in proportion, but the arm of the ever and infinitely merciful Lord has not grown shorter over those whose only purpose in all their endeavours, all their operations, is his greater glory, the building up of the Church and the salvation of the souls whom he redeemed with his blood, and the obstacles and contradictions served only to give more strength to a work he protects and which, on the face of it, should have had as its sole adversaries impious and bad Christians.
Even so my patience was cruelly tried, and it took nothing short of the conviction of the good being done in the Congregation through a felt and daily working of grace, and the certainty of the ravage that the enemy of our souls would have wrought in this chosen flock, if I had abandoned it, to restrain me from renouncing it permanently or even from never wanting to do the least good ever again in a town for which I had sacrificed myself and where I had been made to drink the cup of bitterness. The congregants should know that the only insult I ever received in my life was on their account and as a result of trying to be of help to them, and that I have never had such sources of annoyance as over them.
The only reason why Eugene persevered and did not allow all the hardships to overcome him was his conviction of the good being done through the Youth Congregation:
But they should know too, for their edification, that I promptly forgave the insult, and that I still endure the sources of annoyance with patience and resignation so as to please God, and expiate the faults I commit every day by not fulfilling perfectly enough the task the Lord imposed on me in their regard. So it is in order not to abandon them that I persevered with my ministry towards them despite the hindrances put in its way and persecutions aroused against me in this matter,
While the storms against Eugene had raged – particularly in 1817 – he had been offered a way out of the difficulties by being invited to leave Aix and to take up an appointment in Chartres which would have led to his becoming bishop:
and I derive too much consolation from being able to tell them I sacrificed for their benefit extremely advantageous and beguiling offers not to share this with them in the hope that they will compensate me with their perseverance in God’s service and their attachment to the Congregation.
Diary of the Youth Congregation, 23 June 1818, O.W. XVI
“Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
I wondered why the urge to come here today, after having reflected on “Going Deeper”, yet the urge was strong. Once again I find the similarities in my life and struggle like that of Eugene. This in itself has from time to time concerned me, for my struggles and doubts and sorrows are not given the same importance as those of Eugene who I see as leader, founder of the Oblates and saint. But I am nevertheless able to draw similarities in my life.
Frank wrote: “The only reason why Eugene persevered and did not allow all the hardships to overcome him was his conviction of the good being done through the Youth Congregation.” There is no Youth Congregation here, but there are the Associates and for some reason this has not been easy and yet it is where there is life.
I find it amazing that it is through the Oblates, through St. Eugene that I am able to look at myself and my life and see who I am. God has given me extravagant love – over the top, in such great abundance that I need never ask for more and yet I know there is no limit. I noticed last night that it is also with my ministry that I am able to face who I am and see God all around me. It is humbling but I am grateful.