We will always be close to the people with whom we work, taking into account their values and aspirations…
Awareness of our own shortcomings humbles us, yet God’s power makes us confident
Constitution 8
After visiting all the people in the village, the Missionaries spent the following weeks in the church being close to the people through their availability
They will spend the whole morning in the church, and – except in case of necessity – no one will leave without permission of the one presiding
1818 Rule Part 1, Chapter 2, §2
Each morning the Missionaries were to be present in the church where the people knew that they were available for them. Once the confessions began in earnest then the Missionaries were available there in every possible moment. Their desire give themselves totally to the people was shown in that once the people began to come to confession, the Missionaries dedicated all the time necessary to helping each one.
Just as the Saviour patiently spent time with sinners to lead them to conversion, so too must His co-operator have the same patience and availability. Practically every account of the missions speaks about the endless hours the missionaries spent being available to people to listen to them in the confessional and in personal dialogue.