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

You can view the entire compilation below. These texts cover a variety of topics pertaining to Oblate life and are organized by these topics:

Full List of The Foundational Texts

#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.”