The ministry of the young Father de Mazenod in Aix from 1813 onwards and as founder of the Missionaries of Provence from 1816 onwards had repercussions on the local church. Some of the diocesan priests saw a conflict of interests in this that led to stormy confrontations and relations with Eugene. In these coming days I would like to explore this theme in our reflections. As we prepare to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Eugene’s ordination to the priesthood in December 1811, these texts will help us to explore Eugene’s understanding of the priesthood, and the spirit in which he lived it.
Writing to his friend and confidant, Forbin Janson, in mid-1816, we find Eugene describing the attacks by some local priests on the work of the Missionaries – but never did they criticize the quality of life of the missionaries.
Providence wills that I push things forward around here. Not only is hell to be stormed but we must defend ourselves against jealously and all other mean passions which agitate certain priests, pitiable though they are since they are judged by the public in a manner quite mortifying for them.
As, happily, they have not much to say against the Missionaries, they have made their attack against the missions themselves with a hypocrisy which could have seduced large numbers had we left their speeches unanswered.
A parish priest went so far as to write ex officio a syllogistic letter to one of our group to prove to him that he had compromised his conscience by abandoning the service of his parish in order to become a Missionary. It is a curious specimen which it could have entertained you to see, if the recipient had been here at this moment I write to you. There is not one of us who has not been fired at. I will even say confidentially that only one of the Grand Vicars is on our side; the other overwhelms me with compliments but were it not for his being obliged to live in dependence on the other, who is infinitely superior to him in merit, he would have blocked us; we would have been nipped in the bud. This little schemer, whom I was kind, not to say virtuous, enough to recommend to you, is our bitter enemy, although in secret for he dares not attack me frontally.
Our response to all such people is to do as much good as we can; but they are truly pitiable.
Letter to Forbin Janson, July-August, 1816, O.W. VI n. 13