Page 119 - Reflections on St. Joseph

but become our authentic interior dispositions, strong theological and Christological attitudes,
capable of conforming our lives to the life of Christ, as was the life of St. Joseph.

“In following Jesus Christ, their Teacher and Lord, the Oblates of St. Joseph live their proper
oblation and proper service in intimate union with God (celebration and contemplation, life
offered in obedience, chastity, poverty) and in authentic fraternal life. The term “intimate”
expresses well the overarching need to live alongside the God of salvation and holiness, as did
St. Joseph in the house of Nazareth” (Instrumentum Laboris n. 5).

10. The next General Chapter has the enormous task of reawakening in us Oblates this reality,
un-nailing it from the wall of our laments and replanting it in the furrow of hope, so that it
might bring new and holy fruits to the Congregation for a new spiritual, religious and josephite
vitality. We will set sail, as Pope John Paul II exhorted us, on new waters: “Be the road long or
short, easy or difficult, whether the goal is seen or unseen, whether quickly or slowly, with you,
O Joseph, we are sure to arrive safely” (L. 208).

The contemplative dimension of our life means, in a certain way, to know how to remain
faithful to our life of union with the Lord in the midst of many difficulties, as good “Children of
Marello, true disciples of Jesus Christ.” The theme of the next General Chapter calls us to once
again reflect on this aspect of our spirituality. The word “Children” reminds us of our joyful
belonging to the Congregation. The word “Marello” brings us back to our origins where we find,
more than a spirituality, a living example of the type of holiness that he has presented to each
one of us. The word “Disciples” places us in the way of ongoing formation, in the evangelical
discipleship school of Jesus, our Teacher and Guide.

At this school, the evangelical counsels, which we have embraced by the profession of vows,
find their meaning and life. At this school, we find St. Joseph in his intimate relationship with
the Divine Word. At this school, we find ourselves in the company of Confreres of generations
past and present, in silent hard-work and full of faith, which was and is a characteristic of the
Oblates of St. Joseph of every age. At this school, we learn to walk together as true brothers in
community and as apostles outdoors.

“Starting Afresh from Christ” makes a practical and compelling argument, like starting afresh
from “liturgical, community and private prayer nourished by the word of God and by personal
meditation” (C. art 46). The contemplative dimension of our life means today to remain faithful
to the simplest things, like our practices of piety, to sanctify the ordinary activities of our life,
to examine our character, our sentiments, to open ourselves up to the needs of others, in our
communities and outside our communities with others.

One consequence of a good spiritual life are a great love for our vocation and for our Congregation,
where we find all that we need for our sanctification and for the carrying out of our apostolate.

Another consequence of the life of union with God are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, among which
I would like to highlight the gift of counsel, which makes us masters of prayer and spiritual
guides for others. Our communities can become “schools of prayer, where the meeting with
Christ is expressed and not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration,
contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the heart truly falls in love” (NMI, 33).

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