Oblate Constitutions and Rules
Saint Eugene's spiritual synthesis is found most
clearly in the Rules and Constitutions of his
Institute. These reflect both his own personal
experience and the perception of the needs of
the day.When writing the Oblate Constitutions,
Saint Eugene borrowed copiously from Sulpician
and Jesuit mentors as well as missionaries he
admired such as Charles Borromeo, Vincent de
Paul, and Alphonsus de Liguori.
The Constitutions reflect his unique personality
and Gospel rootedness. "The spirit of total
devotion for the glory of God, the service of
the Church and the salvation of souls is the
spirit proper to our Congregation", he
wrote in 1817. He further stated, in 1830, that
we must look upon ourselves "as the servants
of the Father of a family commanded to succor,
to aid, to bring back his children by working to
the utmost, in the midst of tribulations, of
persecutions of every kind, without claiming any
reward other than that which the Lord has
promised to faithful servants who have worthily
fulfilled their mission".
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