IT IS REALLY OVERWHELMING

This Diary entry gives us a clear idea of the work capacity of Eugene. Superior General of Oblates in 4 continents, Bishop of the second-largest diocese of France, dealings with the Vatican offices, as well as his involvement in the political issues concerning the Pope who was an exile in Gaeta outside of Rome. He could no longer summarize all his letters in his diary.

I shall no longer quote my correspondence. It has increased too much and is really overwhelming. How is it possible, on my own, to keep up with all our houses in France, those in England and the missions in Canada, in the rest of America and in Algeria and Ceylon? So much for our own!And then there are the bishops, Rome, Gaeta and now Naples, and the affairs of my diocese!

Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 21 October 1849, EO XXII.

REFLECTION

“Many of us feel stress and get overwhelmed not because we’re taking on too much, but because we’re taking on too little of what really strengthens us.” (M. Buckingham)

The secret of Eugene’s coping with overwhelming responsibilities was his existential and life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.