In his message, Saint Joseph Allamano urged his missionaries to be “Missionaries, yes but Saints as well” (cf. this I want you to be, no.1). Those words reach me not as sound, but as light. To say that he inspires me would be insufficient. Rather, I would say that he speaks to me; quietly, persistently, and with clarity that reaches both the heart and the conscience. His message calls me to live a holy life, and to build with love wherever the World is broken. Sustaining the spirit is to listen attentively to a voice that does not fade with time, in his gentle yet demanding wisdom, I discover that the true strength of my vocation lies in this union: to live as a missionary who is unceasingly striving for holiness. This reflection enlightens my heart to see holiness not as a distant ideal, neither performing miracles as the founder highlighted, rather, as a daily discipline, where prayer nourishes action, ordinary duties become sacred, as the spirit is sustained through being generous, strong and constant in my vocation.
My vocation with the Consolata Religious Missionaries opened before me like a door into a new and demanding reality. I soon realized that becoming a Consolata was not merely about embracing a missionary destination, or even aspiring to priesthood. Saint Joseph Allamano had something far deeper in mind; “First saints, and then missionaries!” As I reflect on the life and teachings of the Founder, my inspiration is deepened by the realization that ordinary things can be transformed into something extraordinary. In fact, I first came to know about St. Joseph Allamano through books, when he was still recognized as Blessed, and I continued pray for his canonization as a saint. Providence granted me the opportunity to witness the memorable event of St. Joseph Allamano’s canonization. His passage from Blessed to Saint was not merely an ecclesial moment for me; it was a deeply personal confirmation. It strengthened my resolve to live my Christian and missionary values with renewed focus, confident that the path he taught truly leads to holiness.
When I ask myself today what the Founder is saying to me, I hear a call both demanding and hope-filled: Become a saint. Not later, not in theory, but now, in the ordinary activities in my life. As such, he articulates; «That you become saints: this is my principal concern and my constant preoccupation. It is not enough that God has given you a very special vocation nor is it enough that you enjoy its benefits and advantages. You must appreciate it and pursue the perfection it presupposes. This is our goal: to become saints, great saints, saints as soon as possible» (cf. this I want you to be, no.1§2). Nevertheless, this message transcends time, place, and religious vocation. It speaks to everyone who feels a desire for meaning and a call to live more deeply. In a world that is filled with distraction, Saint Joseph Allamano assures us that holiness is not beyond reach. It begins wherever we are, with whatever has been entrusted to us, when we choose to do all things well for the love of God.
As we celebrate the centenary of the death of Saint Joseph Allamano, I do not wish merely to admire the zeal that animated his life, but to delve deeper into the very being he constantly invited his missionaries to become. With filial confidence, and through the intercession of Our Lady Consolata, to whom Saint Joseph Allamano entrusted the Congregation as its true Foundress, I pray with profound enthusiasm to the Father; «who inspired in Saint Joseph Allamano an ardent desire to cooperate in His universal plan of salvation, making him a teacher of priestly life and the father of missionary families for the proclamation of the Gospel to all peoples, that He may grant me the grace to grow in the same zeal, to the point of giving my life for my brothers.» (cf. Prayer of St. Joseph Allamano). In serene and reflective meditation on his teachings, may I continually rediscover focus, deepen my commitment, and spirit of self-giving in response to the urgent demands of the mission. With firm confidence I can say, “Il mio Fondatore è Santo e mi parla” [my Founder is a Saint, and he speaks to me] - Sustaing the spirit: Missionary and Saint.