During a meeting with the Lay Paulists in the Philippines, I came to know that one of the members of the lay community joined after being inspired by the example of her late mother, who had also been a Lay Paulist. The daughter shared how her mother found strength and courage in her fight against cancer through her vocation as a Lay Paulist, developing in the process a deep devotion and spiritual relationship with our Founder. It was deeply moving to witness such a beautiful confirmation that living out our charism is indeed a sure path to holiness – even for our lay brothers and sisters.
As we, the Paulist family, once again commemorate our faithful departed, it is good to be reminded of the reason our merciful Father has gathered us into this family. In the very first paragraph of our MSSP Constitutions we read:
“The Missionary Society of St Paul (M.S.S.P.) … strives to assist its members, both priests and brothers, to achieve sanctification through loving God, each other and their neighbour, according to the charism of the Founder, Mgr. Joseph De Piro.” (CC no. 1)
Only afterwards does the Constitutions state the purpose of the Society as “the evangelisation and the implanting of the Church in missionary lands known as missions ad gentes.” (CC no. 2)
This order is significant. It tells us that our commitment to grow in holiness should precede our commitment to evangelisation – even though these two dimensions are intimately connected. Jesus expresses this in his own striking way: “What gain, then, is it for anyone to win the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36)
I find it necessary to remind myself of this often. It is so easy to fall into the trap of doing things for the Lord, rather than doing what the Lord wants me to do for Him. Ultimately, holiness is precisely that: embracing God’s will for me as it presents itself in the ordinary circumstances of life.
Recently, I was struggling with a toothache – a small but persistent nuisance. After some reflection, I realised that even this was an invitation from God to entrust myself into His hands. He knows best what I need to grow towards the purpose of my existence, which is my sanctification.
How much unnecessary anxiety and frustration would be lifted from our shoulders if we truly believed that everything God permits us to experience is part of His wise and loving plan to lead us to our ultimate goal! Whether it be sickness, injustice, failure, or even sin – whether directly willed by God or simply permitted by Him – all can be transformed by His infinite power into a path of holiness. As St Paul beautifully reminds us: “We are well aware that God works with those who love Him, those who have been called in accordance with His purpose, and turns everything to their good.” (Romans 8:28)
Our Founder exemplified this attitude from a young age. Alexander Bonnici recounts the following in his biography of Joseph De Piro, when the latter was only 22:
“Giuseppe was growing spiritually and accepting all trials as coming from God’s hands. And trials were not lacking. He did not seek worldly honours, and sometimes he gently rebuked members of his family, as when his elder sister Teresina wrote to wish him every success. In a letter to his mother, dated 23 February 1899, he asked her to mention to Teresina his reaction to her greetings: ‘I don’t want Teresina to keep sending me greetings of this kind. There is only one good wish I accept with all my heart: that I may be able to recognise God’s will and follow it faithfully. This is enough for me.’”
This should be enough for us too. It was enough for many beautiful people in our Paulist family who have gone before us to the Father, and who continue to inspire us today – including the mother I mentioned earlier. Among them we also count many of our first members, most of them being lay brothers, whose faithfulness kept the Society afloat. Few of these lay brothers had the chance to engage directly in ministry, as Brother Joseph Caruana did. Most were entrusted with humble tasks – running the kitchen, tending the farm – yet the love and dedication with which they served were their own way of participating in the evangelising mission of the community. Perhaps they occupied in our Society a similar space to that which St Thérèse of the Child Jesus discerned for herself in the Church when she said: “I understood that if the Church had a body composed of different members, the most necessary and most noble of all could not be lacking to it, and so I understood that the Church had a heart and that this heart was burning with love. … My vocation is Love!”
On this day, let us remember with gratitude these beautiful members of our Paulist family, especially those who were called home during this past year. Through their intercession, may our loving Father fill us with His love, so that we may seek Him above all things.
Your brother,
Fr Martin Galea mssp
Superior General.