Eugene de Mazenod was born in 1782 in France into an early life of turmoil. Because of the influence of his grandmother and aunt, his parents argued constantly. Then when he was eight they went into an 11-year exile in Italy to escape the French Revolution. After his return to France and several listless years, Eugene had a mystical experience and entered the seminary. After he was ordained he went to work preaching missions, working with the poor, the sick, and prisoners, and founded the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate which today has over 5000 missionaries serving 68 countries. As bishop then archbishop, he built and restored 50 churches, founded 23 parishes, increased vocations, and wrote extensively.
CHALLENGE
Though St. Eugene de Mazenod tried to keep them together, the fighting between his parents led to their divorce when he was 20, which was very unusual in the early 1800’s. Every family is an important brick that builds society, and if families fall, society will fall with them. How dysfunctional is your immediate family? Whatever the problem is, great or small, today, commit to fixing it.
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Have you ever wondered: “How did society get so messed up?” Recipient of a Catholic Writer’s Guild 2022 Seal of Approval, Rebellion answers that question using fast-paced storytelling style, telling you the riveting true story of the war between good and evil that started in the Garden of Eden, and continues to affect marriages, families, and society to this day.
