Tag Archives: community

THE CONFIDANT OF MY MOST SECRET THOUGHTS

Throughout these hectic days when Eugene was spending all his time shepherding the progress of the application for approbation of the Oblates, what gave him the inner strength to keep him going? It was his constant striving to live united … Continue reading

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I AM ONLY HAPPY BESIDE THOSE WHOM THE GOOD GOD HAS GIVEN ME

On leaving the house of the Archpriest Adinolfi, I said a heartfelt Te Deum laudamus and entered the church where lies the body of Saint Joseph Calasanz, there to thank our Lord and pray him to finish his work. Despite … Continue reading

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THE PEOPLE OF PROVENCE CANNOT SWALLOW THE DETESTABLE OIL THEY EAT IN ROME

A touch of Provencal gastronomic superiority – and a touch of virtue! It is a pleasure! Here at least, my dear Tempier, the days of fasting are days of penance, especially for Provençals who cannot, whatever effort they make, swallow … Continue reading

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ALTHOUGH ABSORBED IN GOD WE WILL LOVE OUR FRIENDS MORE THAN EVER

Having taken a long digression to explore what was behind Eugene’s choice of the name of Oblate s of Mary Immaculate, it is time to return to the narration of the events as they unfolded in Rome. Eugene had left … Continue reading

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GOD DID NOT PREVENT JESUS CHRIST FROM LOVING PEOPLE, AND AMONGST THEM, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS

In his writings, Eugene’s affective nature often expresses itself. It was essential for him to have warm friendships. He always saw this as a God-given gift, and found as his model Jesus himself, who had close friendships in the Gospel. … Continue reading

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I BEAR WITHIN ME OUR WHOLE FAMILY IN ALL THESE HOLY PLACES THAT I VISIT EVERY DAY

Community for Eugene meant being in communion with his brother Oblates wherever he was, and whatever he was doing. In every holy place that he visited in Rome, they were present with him. Here are found all the saints since … Continue reading

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COMMUNION WITH OTHERS

Eugene describes the carriage journey from Genoa to Rome to Henri Tempier. I was so happy during my journey! The Lord had made me experience so much happiness at the altar to which I ascended every day, in spite of … Continue reading

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HE THINKS HE IS DOING GOOD AND DOES NOT KNOW ANY BETTER

The 31 year-old Jean Joseph Touche was already a priest when he joined the Oblates. One of the historians of Laus tells us that Father Touche had “a flare for the unconventional that was more or less careless and his … Continue reading

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A COMMUNITY LEADER KNOWS, GOES AND SHOWS THE WAY

By the end of 1825 the Oblates consisted of 22 fully professed members (15 priests and 7 scholastics) and had communities in Aix en Provence, Notre Dame du Laus, Marseille and Nimes. An expanding mission needed sufficient personnel to support … Continue reading

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THE PRACTICE OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION

In all families there are moments of tension, misunderstanding and harsh words. The Oblate family was not spared. The newly-ordained Hippolyte Guibert had been reported to Eugene as having passed comments to someone else on one of the members of … Continue reading

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