In the references that we have to Eugene’s birthday, we see them as occasions for reflection on his life and its direction. Two examples from his diary:
August 1, 1841. Nothing special today, except that I am ending my 59th year. Thus a person draws near to the end almost without being aware of it. We grow old only one day at a time; but then your anniversary comes to remind you that you are one year older. Each year the number increases and the result is astonishment…
Journal, le 1 aout 1841, EO XX
Then ten years later:
August 1, 1851. Today I begin my 70th year. How many and how great the graces since the day of my birth…
Journal, le 1 aout 1851, EO XXI
“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” Voltaire
Happy Birthday St. Eugene. What a wonderful treat to wake up this morning and have Eugene once again speaking to us. Almost like this is his birthday gift to all of us. Thank you Frank.
There is in these few short lines from Eugene, some of the very graces that he speaks of as having come through the years one day at a time, from the very ordinary of his days. I love that he is looking back and discovering in all of his life the many occasions of grace and transformation. There have been many sorrows and struggles in his life and yet he is grateful for all of it. They are what made him the man that he was.
As I sit here with him this beautiful Saturday morning I pause to look back over some of the years of my life, giving thanks for all the graces that have been given to me and I am filled with gratitude. I give thanks once again for having come to know Eugene especially on this his birthday. Today we celebrate him and his life, our relationship with him – all that he has given to our lives. Happy Birthday dear friend.
Le 1er août 1782, Eugène de Mazenod voit le jour dans une « bonne famille » qui a su allier lettres de noblesse et fortune. La particule vient de son père « Charles Antoine de Mazenod… président du parlement d’Aix ». Sa mère Marie Rose Joannis, d’origine bourgeoise apporte un « réalisme pratique et avisé ». (*) Tout semble donc réuni pour assurer une vie heureuse à l’héritier du nom.
59 ans plus tard, après une vie à laquelle rien ne semblait le destiner, Eugène constate, comme nous le faisons tous, que la vie nous file entre les doigts et que chacun « se rapproche de la fin, presque sans en avoir conscience ». Dix ans plus tard, il écrira : « 1er août 1851. Aujourd’hui, je commence ma 70e année. Combien et combien les grâces, depuis le jour de ma naissance …»
Eugène a mûri. La conscience de son bonheur a pris le pas sur les tribulations qui ne lui ont pas manqué. Sans les effacer, mais en les remettant dans une juste perspective au bout de laquelle se trouve la joie de croire. Et l’élan de continuer l’année neuve qui s’ouvre à lui.
J’aime beaucoup ces mots de Voltaire : «”Dieu nous a donné le don de la vie; il est à nous de nous donner le don de bien vivre. »
(*) http://www.omiworld.org/content.asp?artID=2
Blessings to the Mazenodian family on St Eugene’s birthdate. I must admit that the specific comment about ending the 59th year is very apt for me… I don’t mind the age number, I am just surprised that it applies to me! So good to see you back, Frank!