OUR LIFESTYLE IS OUR MESSAGE (Constitution 9)

While recognizing our own need for conversion, we bear witness to God’s holiness and justice.  (Constitution 9)

The Oblates, representing the entire Oblate Charismatic Family, gathered at the 2022 General Chapter spelt this out for us:

Our pilgrim journey and Oblate identity as missionaries to the many faces of the poor call us to live as consecrated men through our vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and perseverance, “making visible the marvels wrought by God in the frail humanity of those who are called” (Vita Consecrata 20). Animation around the vows is always essential in first and ongoing formation.

Reflecting on the vows helps us to understand the freedom we gain from them—freedom to love, to go where we are called, and to live simply. Our faith and trust in God as religious men are directly reflected in how we live our vows. Authentic and fraternal growth can spring forth by living the vows daily, recognizing our human frailties, and persevering in our efforts at conversion. We look to Mary as our model and rely on her help for the strength to overcome obstacles we encounter along the way (cf. C 13). (Acts of 2022 General Chapter n. 7.3)

All members of the Oblate Charismatic Family are consecrated through baptism. The call to recognize our own need for conversion and to bear witness to God’s holiness and justice is an integral part of our being first and foremost Christians, and then in our particular lifestyles and ways of commitment.

We all need animation, ongoing formation and reflection. Our OMIWORLD website (www.omiworld.org) contains a remarkable amount of resource material (and useful links) to help us.