Wherever we work, our mission is especially to those people whose condition cries out for salvation and for the hope which only Jesus Christ can fully bring.<\/strong><\/h5>\nThese are the poor with their many faces; we give them our preference.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\nCC&RR, Constitution 5<\/em><\/p>\nFr. Fernand Jett\u00e9, Oblate Superior General 1974 \u2013 1986), was a gifted writer when he reflected on our charism. As we explore our Mazenodian spirituality, let us reflect with him on this Constitution of our Rule of Life:<\/p>\n
“The preferential option for the poor has been with the Oblates right from the time of their founding.<\/em><\/p>\nWho are the poor, as far as we are concerned? According to the times, milieus, needs and particular sensitivities, some have tended to consider especially the condition of material poverty, while others looked upon the condition of spiritual poverty or neglect verified in one given group or another. In the case of the Founder, and traditionally within our religious institute, both forms of poverty have been taken into account; the second, however, has always been the specific element of our mission.<\/em><\/p>\nThe Founder speaks of the most poor, the most neglected, the most abandoned and uses these expressions as pretty well meaning the same thing. He had in mind first of all the religious ignorance and often the spiritual misery under which these poor people labour. Most of the time these persons and groups also live in conditions that are materially precarious or miserable, which conditions emarginate them in regard to Christians who are more prosperous. These poor people are generally not reached by the Church\u2019s ordinary ministry. To establish contact with them, special steps must be adopted, a certain distance taken from rich milieus, one has to strike out into unfamiliar territory, to learn a new language. Sometimes one also has to leave one\u2019s own country, for the poor may be people living in far away places that are quite isolated or difficult of access, where few priests or missionaries can or want to go.”<\/em><\/p>\nF. Jett\u00e9,\u00a0\u00a0OMI The Apostolic Man<\/em>, p 60-61<\/p>\n![\"omi](\"https:\/\/www.eugenedemazenod.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/omi-rule-300x135.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLuke 4:18:\u00a0 \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke 6:20:\u00a0 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: \u201cBlessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On March 17 I had written: \u201cTwo hundred years have passed since Eugene and his first companions expressed their founding vision in writing and in actions. Today that initial vision continues to inspire us and is expressed in a special … Continue reading
CC&RR, Constitution 5<\/em><\/p>\n Fr. Fernand Jett\u00e9, Oblate Superior General 1974 \u2013 1986), was a gifted writer when he reflected on our charism. As we explore our Mazenodian spirituality, let us reflect with him on this Constitution of our Rule of Life:<\/p>\n “The preferential option for the poor has been with the Oblates right from the time of their founding.<\/em><\/p>\n Who are the poor, as far as we are concerned? According to the times, milieus, needs and particular sensitivities, some have tended to consider especially the condition of material poverty, while others looked upon the condition of spiritual poverty or neglect verified in one given group or another. In the case of the Founder, and traditionally within our religious institute, both forms of poverty have been taken into account; the second, however, has always been the specific element of our mission.<\/em><\/p>\n The Founder speaks of the most poor, the most neglected, the most abandoned and uses these expressions as pretty well meaning the same thing. He had in mind first of all the religious ignorance and often the spiritual misery under which these poor people labour. Most of the time these persons and groups also live in conditions that are materially precarious or miserable, which conditions emarginate them in regard to Christians who are more prosperous. These poor people are generally not reached by the Church\u2019s ordinary ministry. To establish contact with them, special steps must be adopted, a certain distance taken from rich milieus, one has to strike out into unfamiliar territory, to learn a new language. Sometimes one also has to leave one\u2019s own country, for the poor may be people living in far away places that are quite isolated or difficult of access, where few priests or missionaries can or want to go.”<\/em><\/p>\n F. Jett\u00e9,\u00a0\u00a0OMI The Apostolic Man<\/em>, p 60-61<\/p>\n Luke 4:18:\u00a0 \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n Luke 6:20:\u00a0 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: \u201cBlessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On March 17 I had written: \u201cTwo hundred years have passed since Eugene and his first companions expressed their founding vision in writing and in actions. Today that initial vision continues to inspire us and is expressed in a special … Continue reading ![\"omi](\"https:\/\/www.eugenedemazenod.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/omi-rule.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n