The first request of the Bishop of Ajaccio was that the Oblates establish a major seminary for the education and formation of priests in Corsica.<\/p>\n
\nBecause of the quality men that you need, it will cost me a lot to tear them away from the various ministries that they are carrying out with incredible blessings and success; but I am determined to make every sacrifice to establish solidly the immense good that you have in view and which will be done, with God\u2019s help, through the cooperation of the men of God whom according to your command I am going to place at your disposal to set up your Major Seminary.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Bishop Casanelli d\u2019Istria, 19 September 1834, EO XIII n 83<\/em><\/p>\n
The Founder\u2019s biographer, Rey, gives the background to his immediate positive response to the Bishop\u2019s request.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the missions, the first, and properly speaking, only end of the Oblate Congregation necessarily evoked another end, that of the sanctification of the clergy\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, to prepare the people for the missions and even to make the missions possible, to support the work of the missionaries, to assure their success, to gather, maintain and carry on its fruits, it was necessary to have worthy priests, and holy priests at the head of their parishes\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n
In addition, we would say that the sanctification of the clergy, next to the missions, and with the missions, is the main end of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The holy Founder formally declared this to them: \u2018Assuredly, the most excellent end of our Congregation next to the holy missions is the direction of major seminaries. For the missionaries would expend the sweat of their labors in vain in their attempts to snatch sinners from spiritual death if they did not have in the parishes priests imbued with the Spirit of God, faithfully following the example of the Divine Shepherd and pasturing with vigilant and constant care the sheep which had been brought back to the fold. That is why, to the extent that we are able, we will devote ourselves generously heart and soul to such a noble and important ministry’\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n
See: https:\/\/www.omiworld.org\/lemma\/ends-of-the-congregation<\/a>\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The first request of the Bishop of Ajaccio was that the Oblates establish a major seminary for the education and formation of priests in Corsica. Because of the quality men that you need, it will cost me a lot to … Continue reading