Each year the Oblates in Rome go to the church of Santa Maria in Campitelli to celebrate the Eucharist in memory of February 15, 1826 when, in the building across from the church, the home of Cardinal Pacca, the commission of cardinals had gathered to give their views on the Constitutions and Rules of the Oblates, in view of papal approval.

Eugene spent the morning in the church, praying for the success of the meeting, which besides Cardinal Pacca, included Cardinals Pedicini and Pallotta. This is what he says in his diary:

…. I rushed to get to Cardinal Pacca in time to tell him a few things before the other cardinals gathered at his place. I informed his Eminence that I would stay in the church of Campitelli during their meeting so that, if they should need me, they could get a hold of me quickly, since that church is right across from the Cardinal’s palace. As I was going out, I requested that they let me know as soon as the meeting was over. That is exactly what they forgot to do, so that I was able to hear nine masses, one after the other, entirely at peace without being disturbed.

Well! Can I say it? I have never felt more at home in a church. I had made the decision on entering that I would pray wholeheartedly while the cardinals were discussing our business matters. The time seemed short to me. I left the church at one o’clock since I knew they had forgotten me, because I could not presume that the cardinals would put off their lunch that long on a fast day. (February 15, 1826).

February 16, 1826 St. Eugene tells Tempier what had happened the previous day in Santa Maria in Campitelli.
Hush, dear Tempier! I speak to you softly yet loud enough for you to hear. Yesterday, the 15th of the month of February of the year of grace 1826, the Congregation of Cardinals, assembled under the presidency of Cardinal Pacca, prefect, has unanimously approved the Rules, except for slight modifications proposed by the Cardinal ponent, the judgment of the Congregation being that our Holy Father the Pope grant the brief of approbation in good and due form.

Make arrangements so that God may be thanked…. Let us acknowledge that the conduct of divine Providence in this matter has been admirable and that none of us should ever become oblivious of how evident his protection has been…. It is true that I have always put all my confidence in the goodness of God. As I have told you, I offered the Holy Sacrifice every day for this intention; I constantly invoked the holy Virgin and all the saints, but especially the sovereign Mediator, to whose glory all our intentions are directed….

Then he reports on what he had written previously in his diary:

Without drawing breath, I hurried on to tell Cardinal Pacca that I would be waiting in the church of Santa Maria in Campitelli, opposite his palace, while the Congregation was in session. Coming out, I asked them to send me word when the meeting ended; they forgot, so I had time to hear nine Masses. However I assure you that, being prepared for a long wait, I did not find the time long at all; on the contrary, I was quite happy in this beautiful church, occupied as one would wish to be occupied always. However, when I realized it was impossible that the Cardinals should still be in session, I left the church. It was one o’clock. In fact, the meeting had ended more than an hour earlier. I waited till evening to get some news of the result from the Archbishop Secretary. As he was not in the first time I called, I returned later, and, with his usual goodwill towards me, he told me everything had gone wonderfully well, and the Congregation had approved, with some modifications which he would put before me. We set to work immediately, and continued to work for more than two hours. He wielded the pen and wrote down our determinations with his own hand.
(February 16, 1826).

On February 17, 1826, Pope Leo XII approved the Congregation and its Constitutions and Rules. Saint Eugene announced this to Fr. Tempier on February 18, 1826:

Te Deum laudamus, te Dominum confitemur. Te per orbem terrarumsancta confitetur ecclesia. Per singulos dies benedicimus te et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum seculi. 

My dear friend, my dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation of Cardinals and specifically approved the Institute, the Rules and Constitutions of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary… this enterprise which now we can call divine.

The conclusion to be drawn from this, my dear friends and good brothers, is: we must work, with renewed ardor and still more total devotedness, to bring to God all the glory that stems from our efforts and, to the needy souls of our neighbors, salvation in all possible ways; we must attach ourselves heart and soul to our Rules and practice [more] exactly what they prescribe to us…. They are Rules approved by the Church after most minute examination. They have been judged holy and eminently suited to lead those who have embraced them to their goal. They have become the property of the Church that has adopted them. The Pope, by approving them, has become their guarantor…. Just now I can say to you quietly what I will say to you out loud when the brief is delivered: know your dignity, take care never to dishonor your Mother who has just been enthroned and recognized as Queen in the household of the Spouse, whose grace will make her fecund enough to engender a great number of children, if we are faithful and do not draw upon her a shameful sterility by our prevarications. In the name of God, let us be saints.