Although the first meeting with the new Archbishop had been cordial, the situation soon changed:
Apparently since then our enemies have set in motion all their machinations and must have succeeded in changing the mind of the archbishop…
Letter to Henri Tempier, 9 October 1817, O.W. VI n. 24
In fact, the pastors of Aix had contacted the new Archbishop, as Eugene found out when he went to meet him:
I needed a very special grace not to quarrel openly with the Prelate for letting himself be influenced to the point of being drawn into the storm of the passions of men who for a long time now have impeded and persecuted us…
This is perhaps the greatest sacrifice of my self-love I have made. Twenty times in my discussion with the Prelate, I was tempted to jump up… But the Mission, the Congregation, and all those souls who have yet to be saved through our ministry held me back, nailed me to the hard cross which my nature could scarcely put up with…
He gave me all the blame and vindicated the parish priests… If I showed the Prelate some surprise at being so badly rewarded for my unstinting devotedness, his Lordship interjected Scriptural passages to prove to me that one must count solely on eternal reward, that one must sincerely say, like the prophet: “elegi abjectus esse in domo Dei” [Ps. 83, 11: “Willingly would I reach but the threshold of God’s house, so I might dwell no more in the abode of sinners!”], that I must beware of pharisaic pride which loves to be saluted in public places, take the first seat, be adorned with beautiful stoles, that he was free to make or not make me his Vicar General…
In all this, I certainly find only this last assertion reasonable but it was a quarrel about nothing since it was not I who had asked him to make me his Grand Vicar, that it was he who had broached the matter to me and if I had not refused, it was because I was inclined to believe that this title would be useful to gain more respect for our holy work…
…We parted good friends, that is to say, he embraced me two or three times as if the wounds which rent my heart could be healed by passing a sponge over my face.
Letter to Henri Tempier and Emmanuel Maunier, 19 October 1817, O.W. VI n. 25
Day four of the de Mazenod retreat here at Galilee Centre, Canada. keep us in your prayers.
We all know of Eugene’s temper and passion-for with in each of it is to be found. And so what do I/we do with it?
Does it rule me/us and dictate our public stance or do we rule it?
Do we use this fire in the belly as fuel for the mission or do we get burnt while singeing others?
And do I/we call it for what is often is, “ego” jumping up and wanting to be noticed.
Eugene teaches us here about the dying to self/ego for the sake of the Bigger Picture.