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- MAY THE MOST HOLY AND IMMACULATE VIRGIN MARY, OUR LOVING MOTHER, KEEP YOU ALWAYS UNDER HER PROTECTION
- IT WILL SERVE AS THE UNIFORM WHICH CONSTITUTES US EXTERIORLY AS MARY’S ELITE TROOPS
- OUR FOUNDING VISION TODAY: MISSIONARIES TO THE POOR ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE OF MARY, WHO WAS FULLY ATTENTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE POOR
- WE WERE INCONSIDERATE IN REGARD TO OUR MOTHER
- WE ASK YOUR HOLINESS TO GIVE US THE NAME OF OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE
Recent Comments
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on IT WILL SERVE AS THE UNIFORM WHICH CONSTITUTES US EXTERIORLY AS MARY’S ELITE TROOPS
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on OUR FOUNDING VISION TODAY: MISSIONARIES TO THE POOR ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE OF MARY, WHO WAS FULLY ATTENTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE POOR
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on WE WERE INCONSIDERATE IN REGARD TO OUR MOTHER
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on WE ASK YOUR HOLINESS TO GIVE US THE NAME OF OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE BE-ATTITUDES: LIKE MARY
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“A father’s communication with his many children… that is one of the most agreeable occupations of my life” 1857
“The Holy Spirit gives us the means to apply this charism in our daily lives.” The charism, given by the Spirit, has been shared with us, the Body of Christ, the people of God, in service to the Church and each other. The “Rules” are nothing less than the “living expression of this charism”, the Constitutions and Rules.
Imagine – “an evaluation of how faithful we have been to the charism” aloud and with each other. Not by anonymous letters but a honest and full evaluation of the ministries from the previous six years and how we respond in the future. Now imagine what it would like it our actions and ministries were no longer relevant and if we did not renew and nourish the vows and commitments we make and renew each year. This is for all of us who are members of the communities and families we belong to.
I am reminded of the Synodal Process that is taking place around the world. We do not get to pick and choose which parts of the charism we will live, which sacraments we will or will not receive and which commandments no longer apply to us. We are a part of a bigger package and it is for the Spirit to determine what we need to sustain and give further life and light as we share our charism with our very lives.
Formation is vital because without it we will not be able to live it fully. We must understand it and allow it to become a “living part of each of us” be we religious or lay; to become in integral and ongoing part of our family life.
“This Mazenodian identity is meant to be imparted in a deep way at the novitiate in a particular way.” We members of the laity are not sent to any novitiate and yet I have been known to say that that the formation that I received with the Oblate Studies Program was/is my novitiate. And that experience is ongoing and renewed with ongoing formation.
This is the concern of all of us who are members of the Mazenodian Family. The charism must be foundational within us in order for it to fully integrated within our daily lives.
We do not receive this charism and live it only by putting our fingers or a net out into the wind and capturing it as it flies past us. It is a gift that grows within us: renewed and nourished by formation. Other wise it will die within us; never to be shared with anyone.