Refounding & Reconfiguring Process

Foundational Texts

Prepared by Dialogue With US Subcommittee Common Identity

The Common Identity subcommittee has made available Fr. Roger Balducelli's book The Foundational Texts: The True Understanding of the Congregation According to Fr. Brisson. First published in 1989 when he was superior general, the Foundational Texts contain Fr. Balducelli's understanding, formed by many years of Salesian scholarship, of how Fr. Brisson understood the foundation of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the role of the Good Mother in that foundation, and Fr. Brisson's vision of Oblate identity, life, and ministry from 1873 - 1903.

Additionally, they made available, for the first time, the seven-volume English translation of the chapters, retreat conferences, sermons, and allocutions of Fr. Brisson as well as his biography of the Good Mother. These texts were translated by Fr. Joseph Bowler, OSFS. from the Tilburg Edition, the seven-volume French collection. In the past, these volumes were often found in house libraries as well as our houses of formation.

The committee hopes that their inclusion in the website will make Fr. Brisson's thought and understanding of our Oblate way of life, ministry, and mission accessible to us in the 21st century as we embark on refounding the congregation here in North America.

The Foundational Texts: The True Understanding of the Congregation According to Fr. Brisson

Texts of Fr. Brisson chosen by Fr. Roger Balducelli, OSFS, edited and revised by Dialogue With US, Common Identity Subcommittee

These texts cover a variety of topics pertaining to Oblate life and are organized by these topics:

The Way
The Way
History of the Congregation
History of the Congregation
Community Life
Community Life
Ministry
Ministry
Evangelical Counsels
Evangelical Counsels
Prayer
Prayer
Role & Teaching of the Good Mother
Role & Teaching of the Good Mother
Full List of Texts
Full List of Texts

Foundations Texts

Seven Volumes of Brisson
Seven Volumes of Brisson
Biography of the Good Mother
Biography of the Good Mother
 

The Seven Volumes of Fr. Louis Brisson, OSFS

Full List:

Vol I - Chapters by Brisson

Vol II - Chapters by Brisson

Vol III - Chapters by Brisson

Vol IV - Retreats by Brisson

Vol V - Retreats by Brisson

Vol VI - Retreats by Brisson

Vol VII - Instructions and Sermons by Brisson

The Foundational Texts: The True Understanding of the Congregation According to Fr. Brisson

Full List of The Foundational Texts of Fr. Brisson chosen by Fr. Roger Balducelli, OSFS, edited and revised by Dialogue With US, Common Identity Subcommittee

#1 “The Oblates are called to enter society such as it is, and by all possible means.”

#2 “Do you know how vocations are formed?”

#3 “It would be impossible to recognize true vocations in a novitiate totally isolated from the world.”

#4 “With us, our strength lies with the individual, making full use of what God has given to each of us.”

#5 “The Oblate is essentially an interior person.”

#6 “The Oblate meditates to arrange his affairs.”

#7 “Love is our special bond.”

#8 “In order to be a good Oblate, one ought not to isolate oneself, acting individually.”

#9 “Let us clearly understand that we are Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.”

#10 “There are two ways of approaching our neighbor: authoritatively or persuasively.”

#11 “Understand well, my Friends, this theology of abnegation.”

#12 “Why do the Swiss only make cooked cheese?”

#13 “In the last analysis, what makes a man?”

#14 “Understand well your dignity in being your own master.”

#15 “Here is the true meaning of obedience: it is an act of true independence of the will.”

#16 “In thus obeying God, in the fullness of our freedom, we are truly a person; otherwise we are nothing at all.”

#17 “It is your duty to preside, but how are you to preside?”

#18 “The mortification of charity” and “the mortification of a good Capuchin.”

#19 “The Superior General is not established as Superior General of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales to do what is done everywhere.”

#20 “The great difficulty with obedience stems from the person who commands rather than with the order itself which is the object of the obedience.”

#21 “In every congregation, there is a foundational vision grounding the establishment of the congregation.”

#22 “Let us return to our origins.”

#23 “What did the Good Mother mean by the expression: The Way?”

#24 “It is imperative that we be apostles of the Gospel.”

#25 “From our education, we have fake notions of mental prayer.”

#26 “Firm up your principles: what is evil is evil and can never become good.”

#27 “There are some who do not feel obliged to be charitable toward their Superiors.”

#28 “The motto for all our works ought to be: ‘Do well and let them talk!’”

#29 “It is absolutely necessary to determine the true meaning of the Good Mother’s words.”

#30 “To be abreast with our age, we must have contact with workers.”

#31 “We need to get out of the rut!”

#32 “The precept of charity well understood ought to inspire in us respect for one another.”

#33“Individualism: each one stays in his own little corner; each one remains in his own little house.”

#34 “God has desired of you all that you have done in your work.”