Pope Francis recently met at the Vatican a group of Oblates of St. Joseph, also known as the Josephites of Asti, a religious institution founded by Italian bishop and saint, Joseph Marello and inspired by St. Joseph of Nazareth.
This Congregation is focused on parish ministry, missionary apostolate, and the education of young people and was created by Bishop Marello in the 1870s in Asti. This small town in the Piedmont region in northern Italy is where Pope Francis' family originates from, and in fact he defined it in his speech as “a beautiful land, with good wine," noting that it is the place of his family home.
In his August 26, 2024, speech to the Josephite brothers and priests, in Rome for their General Chapter, the Pontiff gave them some tips that are useful for all Catholics, on how to best live their faith.
He based his advice on the examples and teachings of St. Joseph of Nazareth and St. Joseph Marello and he especially highlighted the importance of setting an example for young people.
“The young do not need us: They need God! And the more we live in His presence, the more we are capable of helping them to encounter Him, without pointless protagonism and having at heart only their salvation and their full happiness,” he said.
In today’s world that is often focused on “appearance, obtaining consensus, [and] always having new experiences” there is the risk of living a life “entirely 'outside' leav[ing] a void within,” Francis explained. “Make your heart, your communities, your religious houses, make them places where one can feel and share the warmth of familiarity with God and among brothers.”
1Hiddenness
The first quality that Pope Francis highlighted for a fruitful life was “hiddenness,” which he defined as having a life of dedicated prayer in order to stay close to Jesus. “Saint Joseph Marello synthesized this value with the motto: 'Be Carthusians indoors, and apostles outdoors' [...]. When I read it, it struck me as a beautiful summary,” the Pope explained.
“It is important first of all for you, so that you are able to root your life of faith and your religious consecration in 'staying; with Jesus daily. Let us not delude ourselves: without Him, we cannot remain standing, none of us: everyone has his or her own frailties,” he continued.
He called the Josephites to cultivate “an intense life of prayer – well, intense is too strong an adjective, a good life of prayer,” to participate in the Sacraments, listen to the Word of God, and participate in Eucharistic adoration.
“To adore, in silence: We should all do this, but men and women religious … This is how, first of all, St. Joseph responded to the immense gift of having the very Son of God made man in his home,” the Pope said, highlighting the importance of St. Joseph’s example. “Staying with [Jesus], listening to Him, talking with Him, and sharing everyday life with Him. Let us remember this: Without Jesus, we cannot remain standing!”
2Fatherliness
The second element that Pope Francis emphasized was “fatherliness,” which he defined as having “the heart of a father, moved by the beauty of his children humiliated by the indifference and disinterest of those who should instead be helping them to give the best of themselves.” He highlighted that this was the attitude that St. Joseph Marello had and that he instilled in his congregation.
“The bishop-saint talks about 'incorrect generosity,' of 'misdirected affections' [...]. he sees in young people a great potential for good, which is simply waiting to blossom and bear fruit, if supported and accompanied by wise, patient and generous guides,” the Pope said, encouraging the priests to do the same. “Brothers, this is a great task, this: laborious but indispensable, always, and especially in our times.”
3Attention to the least
“One of the striking things about Mary’s holy Spouse is the generous faith with which he accepted in his home and his life a God who, contrary to all expectations, appeared at his door in the son of a fragile girl with no possibility of recrimination,” Pope Francis said, explaining that the last element to learn from both Josephs is their care for those who are most vulnerable in society.
Attention to those in need “is not a question of stooping paternalistically to their supposed 'inferiority,' but sharing our own poverty with them,” the Pope added. He explained that St. Joseph Marello reserved “in his heart as a pastor a very special place for the most problematic young people” and dedicated his life to them.
Similarly, “there was no right that Mary and her Child could humanly claim before the holy Patriarch, other than that of a Presence that only faith could recognize and charity welcome,” the Pope said. “And Joseph was capable of taking this step: He recognized the real presence of God in their poverty and made it his own; indeed, he joined it to his life.”
Pope Francis, who is very devoted to St. Joseph, even made a joke about him in his speech:
“I have a painting of a sleeping St. Joseph in my room, but it is said that in his life he was unable to sleep -- he suffered from insomnia -- because every time he fell asleep, his life was changed [laughter],” he said. “The man who let his life be changed ... and it does me a great deal of good to think of this.”
