WE SHALL FINALLY SEE WHO HAS BROUGHT THE GREATER NUMBER OF SOULS TO GOD

Posted on November 28, 2023 by franksantucci

From their first sermons in Limoges, the style of the Oblates was not understood and appreciated by the clergy and others. Fr Courtès did not allow himself to be disheartened and responded well to the critical comments. Eugene commended him:

Bravo, my dear Courtès. That is the way to answer all these pretentious remarks from men who judge everything by their own measure and who do not know how to recognize that true merit can be found in a sphere other than that of their own rotation.

Let us spurn their prejudices and go at our own rate. We shall finally see who has brought the greater number of souls to God, those academics they seek after, or apostolic men who preach as they should to instruct and convert.

Letter to Fr Hippolyte Courtès in Limoges, 30 December 1847, EO X n 961

REFLECTION

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”  (J. Wooden)

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1 Response to WE SHALL FINALLY SEE WHO HAS BROUGHT THE GREATER NUMBER OF SOULS TO GOD

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    November 28, 2023 at 12:44

    We must remember that Eugene himself faced opposition from other priests and bishops at different times in his life, especially in that part of his life which Hubenig’s “Living in the Spirit’s Fire” described as being “The Trials of an Apostolic Man”. It was a time when the Church herself seemed to want to stay on the good site of the King of France.

    Today St. Eugene continues to show us how we too can experience the immensity of God, serving God and sharing with all those on the edges of life. It is never about giving glory to ourselves, but rather to lovingly serve the Church and all others who would come to know her.

    Those of us called to be members of the Mazenodian/Oblate Family; to accompany others along with ourselves in the ongoing flow of love which God steeps within us. People do not look to us to see how great we are but perhaps to see the greatness of God in our lives.

    It is in this way we accompany others as together we walk – as pilgrims of hope in communion.

    Reply

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