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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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