Page 94 - Reflections on St. Joseph

FAITH

OBEDIENCE

WORK

Virtues of a Son of Joseph

Fr. Alvaro De Oliveira, OSJ
W
e live in a vague society that cares less of the fundamental values of man, in a time
of great mental confusion. This social phenomenon has a devastating effect on
human behavior. Many philosophers affirm that we are not in "an age of change, but
in a change of epoch." And we are part of today's nihilistic culture. It is not possible for us to
uproot ourselves from this world to go and live elsewhere. The religions, the ecclesiastical
world, the consecrated life, and even we Oblates of St. Joseph are in it. What can we do? "Or fight
or die", said St. Teresa: do we lie down and slowly vanish into thin air? Or react to regenerate
and renew our community, province,
Congregation?

Our holy Founder chose St. Joseph as his
model and pointed him out to his Oblates,
teaching them to imitate him and invoke him:
"You o Joseph, show us the way, sustain us at
every step, lead us where divine Providence
wants us to arrive." Among the many and rich
qualities of the life of St. Joseph, today we
want to reflect briefly on three virtues: faith,
obedience, work.

01 - St. Joseph is presented, in the New
Testament, with a few essential features. He
does not say a word in the Sacred Texts, but
some very profound words are reserved for
him. He is called by the Evangelist Matthew, "a
just man" (Mt 1:19): "a man of faith, God-
fearing, responsible, honest, sincere, worthy,

70 Reflections on st. joseph