Page 198 - Reflections on St. Joseph

hearing confessions, preaching, gathering memories of the past and notes for the future? How
much time do you need to take care of your social and material needs?”(L.23).

He himself then sought to be the first to do something, teaching the catechism during the Lent
of 1869. He wrote: “Oh, poor young people, you are too abandoned and overlooked! You are a
poor growing generation left too much to yourselves, and then slandered or at best harshly
judged for your frivolity and misguided generosity, for your untapped need for activity, for
wrongly directed affections that lead you astray through no fault of your own. Poor young
people! Let us pray, and let us pray especially for you” (L. 29).

In the draft of the rule of life for the Company of St. Joseph of 1872, he wrote: “One who decides
to participate in this Company must, however, promise in the presence of God to strive within
his means to promote the interests of Jesus (...)There is neither time nor place in which some
good cannot be done. Every word, every step, every wish, can be the raw material for the
interests of Jesus. In a frightful variety of ways the kingdom of God is being brought to ruin. Let
us strive in every place to do our work of restoring it with Heaven's help” (L. 76).

4. Marello the priest and the laity

It would be too much to recall all of the thoughts and examples which he gave in this work of
expanding the kingdom of God.

The Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph will be his most eloquent example of his
anxiousness to do good, instituting a Religious Family which was to multiply his works of
ministry and perpetuate them even after his death.

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Reflections on st. joseph