Page 191 - Reflections on St. Joseph

carried away by sympathy or antipathy, between affinity or not with each person's
character, we must care for the interests of Jesus, care for the salvation of souls, which was
the main interest of Jesus, in the style of Joseph and Mary, with their gentleness, attention,
care, being also willing to suffer, "as long as the Lord is pleased".

Mary and Joseph worked hard for the growth of Jesus. As Oblates, following the example and
style of Mary and Joseph, we want Jesus to grow, for His kingdom to extend. Through
catechesis to children, adults, couples and families, therefore our collaboration in parishes
and in other pastoral and apostolic activities of the Oblates, is very important for the
development of our common spirituality. Of course, the first evangelization is the example
of life, which must be coherent with the Gospel we proclaim.

Even before Jesus' arrival, Mary and Joseph were building their family, in simplicity and
humility. We Oblate sisters are inspired by the Holy Family, even if ours is not perfect and
our limits are felt and seen; yet ours is a strong family, because it is bound by the bonds that
the Lord himself has established among us, the moment he chose us from different parts of
the world. The reason why we live fraternal life in community is Jesus and we ask Him to
help us build our family, seeking to live in an authentic way the spirit of the house of
Nazareth. If we can help each other, to serve each other in charity, to forgive each other, to
listen to each other and speak to each other, to carry out the simple daily actions, common
to each family, with "extraordinary" love, to safeguard the family itself, to create union and
harmony between us, we will build a community in imitation of the Holy Family of Nazareth
and so we can extend it to those we meet: at Hostel Marello, in the parish, at school, in the
missions, despite the difficulties we may encounter. In this way we can build a bigger family
and help the laity to build their family. In this way the dream of Mary and Joseph and the
interests of Jesus would be fully realized.

The family spirit is a characteristic of our spirituality and if we take care of it with seriousness and
commitment, giving it the right importance, always having our sight towards the Holy Family, it
will be one of the strengths for the Church. Today the family is hindered and undermined on
different fronts and we Oblate sisters have the task of "living it fully", in simplicity, in humility, in
mercy, in hard work, in collaboration, in respect of roles, in sharing and in brotherly love. If we
"live" the family as from the example of the Holy Family, we will be the leaven that ferments all the
dough and the Church, the whole society, will benefit from it.

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Reflections on st. joseph