Religious Life may look like a thick black wall to you: mysterious, maybe incomprehensible, yet somehow enticing your curiosity.
Check out here below how the members of the Congregation of St. Joseph understand and live religious life.
All the sentences are taken from the RULE which governs daily life for the members of the Congregation of St. Joseph.
The CSJ Way of Life
Give yourself completely to God.
Live your life in the certainty that God loves you at every moment, in an infinite, personal, tender, merciful way.
Be happy to occupy the last spot but to work as if you occupied the first.
Accept yourself; choose the most difficult ministries; serve the young people most in need of assistance.
Form a well united family like that of Nazareth.
Live among the young people as a “friend, brother and father”.
Nourish a profound respect for the young people whom you serve.
Attract the young people to what is holy by your most sweet love for them.
In imitation of St. Joseph, lead a life of hard work
Offer all you possess and all you receive: your personal talents, your time, the fruit of your work, the gifts you may receive, and even, when necessary, your own health.
Accept the lack even of what might be necessary, like the poor who can not afford the goods others enjoy.
Witness to the world that, for you, God is enough.
Dedicate your life to God with undivided heart, without indecision.
Offer your own will completely to God.
Be always ready to do what God wills as God wills it.
Accept the decision of your superior as the manifestation of God’s will for you.
Make the Eucharistic celebration the center of your community life.
Offer your brothers the sincere welcome of your heart.
Let a spirit of prayer pervade your whole day.
Know that you are better off in God’s hands than in your own.
Carve out of your day times for personal dialogue with the Father.
Conduct your ministry in unity of thought, action and friendship with your brothers.
Participate actively in the lives of the youths you serve.
Create a climate of trust and hopefulness with the young people assigned to you.
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Sometimes the Scriptures speak in an unequivocally direct way to our soul, challenging us to action, enlightening our search.
Take your time praying with the passages provided below.
You will find a sentence or question that will seem to be directed immediately to you…
New Testament Vocation Gleanings
I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Jer. 29:13
When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.
Jer. 29:11-13
"Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Mk. 10:18
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Rom 12:1
Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.
Mt. 16:24
If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Mt. 19:21
Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.
I Cor. 15:58
Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:2
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Mt. 16:25
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Mt. 10:8
He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Cor. 5:15
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21
Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mt. 10:38
Jesus said to them, “What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Teacher, where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come and see.”
John 1: 38-39
Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.
John 20:21
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
John 21:15
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VOCATION QUESTIONS FROM THE SCRIPTURES
Psalm 23
How deep is my trust in the Lord?
Psalm 139
How have you experienced God's loving presence?
Mark 8:27-29
Who do you say Jesus is?
Matthew 17:1-9
How important is it to you to be with Jesus?
Matthew 20:17-19
What return can you make to our Savior?
Luke 9:23-26
What are you willing to lose for Jesus' sake?
Luke 9:57-62
What is keeping you back from following wholeheartedly?
Romans 8:38-39
How strong is God's love for you?
Romans 9:6-15
How can God work through you?
Romans 11:33-36
Why is God worth giving your life for?