A Great Master in Spiritual Life

Father Marie Eugene of the Child Jesus, Carmelite, was beatified on the 19th of November 2016. He wrote a great synthesis on Spiritual Life called: “I want to see God” (click here).

Who is Father Marie Eugene?

Henri Grialou was born in 1894 at Le Gua, Aveyron (southern France). Henri‘s call to the priesthood came when Henri was only ten. He entered the seminary at Rodez in 1911. Interrupting his studies for the priesthood, he volunteered for the army in 1913. War followed and for five years Henri Grialou took part in major campaigns at Argonne, Verdun and Chemin des Dames … In 1919 he was able to resume his seminary studies at Rodez.

Whilst on a retreat in preparation for his ordination to the diaconate, on the evening of 13 December 1920, Henri received a sudden overwhelming revelation that God wanted him to enter Carmel.

On 4th February 1922, Henri Grialou was ordained a priest. He entered Carmel at Avon (Fontainebleau) on 24 February 1922, taking the name Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus.

In 1929, three young women who ran a private school in Marseilles, came to Fr Marie-Eugene for advice and direction on their lives. Among them was Marie Pila (1896-1974). From this first meeting a new spiritual family, Notre-Dame de Vie, would be born a few years later.

In 1937 he was then elected as a member of the General Council of the Order in Rome, where he remained until 1955, apart from the war years of 1939-1945. More specifically, he was given the responsibility for all the French speaking Carmelite monasteries.

On his return to France in 1955, he was elected Provincial (1957-60 and again in 1963-67). He closely observed the upheavals of the 1950s and the new initiatives for the apostolate in the Church.

From 1965 onwards, his health gradually deteriorated. After many months of severe suffering, he died on Easter Monday, 27th March 1967, the feast day he had previously established to celebrate Notre-Dame de Vie.

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His Synthesis in two volumes: “I want to see God” and “I am the Daughter of the Church” (click here).

Documents on the Beatification (click here).

The School of Mary organised a Day with Father Marie Eugene in order to make him known. He is of great importance for the School and one of its Holy Patrons.

Here is the first video of the this day:

If you would like to watch the three other parts of this Day with Fr Marie Eugene, please do contact us.