Eugene wrote to Hippolyte Courtès who was a 19 year-old man from Aix, who had been a member of his Youth Congregation. There was a good relationship between them and for the rest of their lives they were to be friends and would confide in each other. The expressions “my dear friend” and “my child” are indicative of the sense of paternity that Eugene experienced in his dealings with the young members whom he got to know well through the activities of his youth.
The missionaries who are going to Arles will bring you, my dear friend, this tardy response to the letter which you had the goodness to write to me on August 29th. I think, my child, that I would not have dared to face you on my return had I not been preceded by this letter…
Hippolyte Courtès had joined the community of the Missionaries as a novice a week earlier:
I believe you follow the exercises of the house.
Eugene knows the religious qualities of this young man and so he urges him to continue developing them:
Continue, my dear child, to give the good example of regularity, of modesty, of obedience and of all the religious virtues…
Adieu, dear friend, I embrace and love you with all my heart.
Eug[ene] de Mazenod, missionary priest
Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 22 October 1817, O.W. VI n.27
A touching letter for sure. The relationship with the young men/boys of Aix continues to follow Eugene. It must have given him great joy to see how this ministry made a difference in the lives of these people as they got older. Just yesterday I received a facebook contact of one such man from my first assignment when I was chaplain to the youth (early 90s). So our presence and memory does continue to inspire others many years down the road. So in those days of doubt and loneliness, persevere and be true to Self and the life that we live within the Mazenodian family.
I think that one of the most beautiful things to see and read of is Eugene’s freedom to love, unabashadly, whole heartedly, without embarassment or apology. He gave himself fully over to God and so became incredibly free to love. He was truly a father to them. I find it inviting and inspiring.