As Eugene de Mazenod moved through life he became aware that Christ wanted to unite the whole human race. Therefore, de Mazenod devoted much of his work to the evangelization of the poor as he spoke through Spanish martyrs and worked to become a perfected individual. Overtime, De Mazenod was able to become a fulfilled and perfected person. De Mazenod began his spiritual and life of purpose in 1782 in Aix-en-Provence France living. Eugene was the only son of wealthy aristocratic parents. His father Charles was a member of the French nobility and President of the Aix Parliament. His mother, Marie-Rose Joannis was a prominent merchant. However, in 1790 when de Mazenod was only eight years old, he fled along with his family to exile …show more content…
in Italy because of the French Revolution. De Mazenod was in Italy for eleven years and the majority of his education came in Venice. He also spent a majority of his life among Italian nobles becoming a wise individual. When the Revolution commenced, Eugene’s mother returned to France, but his father did not. Eugene de Mazenod wanted to return home in 1802 to re-unite with his family. However, his parents became divorced and there was constant fighting at home. Therefore, Eugene became an unsupervised for the majority of his adolescent years. (St. Eugene De Mazenod-Catholic Online) In know means was de Mazenod perfect, therefore he was able to become a saintly figure. De Mazenod during this time began living a life of goodness. In his adolescent years, De Mazenod made a conversion from an immoral life to one filled with holiness. (Missionary Oblates)
Enformacio/Testimony: Part Two
Eugene de Mazenod deserves Saint hood because throughout his life he continued working on himself even after his adolescent years. De Mazenod learned to govern with enlightened wisdom and spiritual goodness. Each action he made was inspired by a conviction, and expressed to love the church is to love Jesus Christ. De Mazenod wanted each individual he met to become a fully complete person, an authentic Christian and a credible saint. In order to counter his struggles he started teaching catechism. Then he started working with prisoners in 1805. This was beneficial because God assisted him by giving a mystical experience at the cross on Good Friday in 1807 when de Mazenod was briefly touched by the love of God. De Mazenod then entered the seminary in 1808 of Saint Sulpice, Paris. Luckily, for De Mazenod was ordained on December 21st, 1811 in Amiens France. (Eugene De Mazenod-Vatican) During this time, de Mazenod renounced his family’s wealth, and wanted to become a parish priest in the Aix-en-Provence. He wanted to devote the rest of his life to working with the poor, while preaching about different missions and bringing them to the church in their native dialect. He worked with the poor, the sick, and prisoners and spent a majority of time with the young, so they did not struggle like he once did. De Mazenod put his life on the line working with prisoners, as he nearly died typhus. (St. Eugene De Mazenod-Catholic Online)
Furthermore, the Diocese of Marseilles had been largely suppressed after the 1802 Concordat. However, when it was re-established, de Mazenod uncle Canon Fortune de Mazenod, was named the Bishop. Then, he appointed Eugene Vicar General immediately. Most of the work re-building the Diocese fell to him. Fast forward a few years, in 1832 de Mazenod himself was named bishop. Eugene de Mazenod ordination took place in Rome. This was “in defiance of the pretensions of the French Government that it had the right to sanction all such appointments” (Missionary Oblates, Par. 5). The consequence was a tense diplomatic battle. Unfortunately, De Mazenod was caught in the center of the battle. He was accused of various accusations and other threats. Furthermore, de Mazenod was under immense pain of his religious family during this time. Though broken inside, de Mazenod, the impasse was finally broken. And then, five years later, de Mazenod was appointed to the Sea of Marseilles as the Bishop. (Missionary Oblates)
Eugene de Mazenod was a gatherer and spent his life gathering clergy around him. De Mazenod and the clergy did their work from a former Carmelite convent. The priests among them formed the Missionaries of Provence. The missionaries conducted the parish missions throughout the entire region. The missions led by de Mazenod were successful as his work continued to spread. Their work brought requests that came from outside the region. De Mazenod then realized he needed a formal organization as “he realized he could not meet all the needs of the poor” (Malcolm 11). Therefore, in February 17th, 1826 de Mazenod received the approval from Pope Leo XII to start a congregation, which was called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The new congregation was founded on his core missionaries. “Together with their growing apostolic endeavours- Eugene insisted on deep spiritual formation and a close community life. He was a man who loved Christ with passion and was always ready to take on any apostolate if he saw it answering the needs of the Church” (Missionary Oblates, Par. 4).
Although, de Mazenod would have loved to remain a missionary, deep down, he was aware that the position with the church hierarchy would insure the progress and success of his congregation. One thing led to the next as de Mazenod was appointed Vicar-General of Marseille in 1823. Then, he became the Titular Bishop of Icosia in 1832. After that, he was the Co-adjutor in 1834. A few years later in 1837, de Mazenod became the bishop of Marseilles, France and ordained by Pope Gregory. (Eugene De Mazenod- Vatican)
Part Three Testimony:
Eugene de Mazenod resume is profound and worthy of canonization because he will bring layers of value from his experiences throughout the purposeful life he led.
He founded twenty-three parishes over his time and built more than fifty churches, this is a purposeful deed. His contribution to society went further as he cared for older and persecuted priests. Furthermore, he was able to restore the “ecclesiastical discipline”, and help the lives of young people. De Mazenod welcomed thirty-three congregations of religious individuals in the diocese. (Woodward 40) He will bring satisfaction to the church because he almost doubled the number of priests in his diocese. Unlike the majority before him, de Mazenod realigned parishes and did his effort to weaken the government control. De Mazenod possessed qualities of being a strong supporter of the papacy and did so by fighting the government’s role in the intervention into church matters. The majority of his life Eugene endorsed the principle of the Immaculate Conception and continuously worked for its promulgation. He was able to create a wide ranging volume collection of printed writings. Furthermore, he was able to help Saint Emly de Vialar re- build the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition they went to Marseille. Also, he was prestigiously named senator and member of the Legion of Honor by Napoleon III in the year of 1856. (Eugene De
Mazenod-Vatican)
Eugene de Mazenod may have founded one of the least known missionary communities, however he carried promise due to “ de Mazenod’s (his) role in the re-evangelization of France after the French revolution” (Winter 22). His legacy was one to be remembered as his spirit captured the attention of all who came to him. If canonized, de Mazenod would bring a modern sense of character to the church. He was a unbelievable human saint who “ in many ways anticipated the problems and challenges of our own era” (Winter 22). Strong females, young and old, influenced de Mazenod throughout his life and he was able to help guide them throughout their upbringing.
Eugene de Mazenod was a devoted man of advent and coming, which makes him the perfect candidate for the church. De Mazenod knew that Christ wanted to unite the human race to himself therefore de Mazenod devoted much of his attention to evangelization of the poor. The saint who had many vibrant moments in the church dedicated his whole life to preparing for it and along the way prepared our age. Towards the end of his life, he had become more open and free man. His attitude was one that was perfect for humanity, as he was one of trust and faith. He was able to posses the qualities of a saintly figure and one who performed miracles for many. De Mazenod was a theoretical thinker whom believed everything which occurs on earth, both on a personal and civil depends on Divine providence. He believed all must strive to lead people to act like human beings, and then like Christians. De Mazenod was a man that used his childhood to become a missionary for many after him.