Our Mark of Distinction

The Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the renewal and reform of our Congregation led by Blessed George Matulaitis-Matulewicz. To mark the year of thanksgiving, which began Dec. 8, we offer you the following in a series of excerpts from Blessed George's Journal that he kept from 1910 to 1925.

October 18, 1910

What is to be our mark of distinction, then? Our self-denial and our wholehearted dedication to God and to His Church; our inner, spiritual life and, on the other hand, our work with and among people, gathering about us people of good will; also a fearless zeal that knows no vacillation or faintheartedness, ready for anything (willing to risk anything) that might be needed for the greater glory of God, for the good of the Church, for the salvation of souls; a spirit of initiative, disciplined and ordered within the bonds of perfect obedience.

Each one of us ought to try to become skilled in some field for the benefit of the rest of the Community. But here too there must be order and discipline so that each individual would not go off on his own, but that all pull together. We should live together in the closest unity, joined by the bonds of brotherly love, ready to give our lives for each other - one for all and all for one.

One of the most pressing needs of our times is, it seems to me, to involve larger groups of people from every segment of society in a more active apostolate for the faith and the growth and defense of the Church. Just as at the present time good Catholics are involved in charitable institutions, they could also become active for the propagation of the faith and in making the Church better known and loved. Lay men and women could do so much good here, once they have been instructed and educated in matters of faith and better informed about the needs of the Church; fired with holy zeal, they could then be organized into groups and actively involved in the task of spreading the faith. They could bring Christ into those places where we priests do not have access. We should gather such people of good will around us and prepare them for such an apostolate, which would certainly result in the greater glory of God and promote the welfare of the Church. As for us, a special characteristic of our work among the people should be our ability to organize, unite, and direct them toward the task of spreading the faith and defending the Church.
SJBGC

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