Rector's Reflection- Part 4

The Journey from Eugene de Mazenod

                                   to

              St Eugene de Mazenod

                                Part 4

Eugène became a priest because he wanted to reach out to the most abandoned in society because, in his words, “the truth must be known to all, all having an equal right to its possession.”

When he returned to Aix-en-Provence, he did not take up a normal parish appointment but started to exercise his priestly ministry in the care of the spiritually needy - prisoners, youth, servants, country villagers. Despite opposition from the local clergy, Eugene pursued his vision.

Fr Eugene did not simply preach the same to everyone. When preaching to the poor of Aix-en-Provence, he spoke in Provençal, the language spoken by the poor people. Fr Eugene spoke in terms they could easily understand which endeared him to people and increased the success he had in evangelization.

Fr Eugene’s missionary vision was becoming a reality through adapting himself to the needs of the poor as he stated:

“The gospel must be taught to all in a way it can be understood”. 

It was from this pulpit (left) in the Church of Madeleine, Aix, that Fr Eugene commenced his ministry of preaching with a series of Lenten sermons for the poor: the domestic servants, farm labourers and artisans who could not attend church during the day because of their hours of work and most of them did not understand French. The first sermon took place on the 1st Sunday of Lent, March 1813 at 6.00am.

To an overflowing crowd in the Church of Madeleine, Aix, he implored the people: “Come now and learn from us what you are in the eyes of faith.’ 

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Rector