Page 145 - Reflections on St. Joseph
P. 145
At the ORIGINS
of the CONGREGATION
of OBLATES of
the
ST. JOSEPH
LAY DIMENSION
Fr. Severino Dalmaso, OSJ
1 – particularly important period in the life of Saint Joseph Marello was the birth and first
years of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph. This is a period which remains
in the shadows due to a lack of information and of writings from the Founder, except
for the three letters from the Fall of 1877 in which the basis for the Congregation was
established. Paradoxically, we have more information about the life of the Congregation from
the years in which Saint Joseph Marello was Bishop of Acqui (1889 – 1895), than we do from
1878 to 1888, which are the most important and decisive years for its future development. That
is due to the numerous letters which Bishop Marello wrote to his Oblates, letters which
constitute a true treasure for knowing his spirituality and how much he loved his Sons.
First Vatican Council
(ca. 1869)
121
Reflections on st. joseph