Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph
(JMJ)
To Be Unknown to the World is the Quiet Joy of Belonging Entirely to God
09 Feb 2026 - 28 Feb 2026
The Church dedicates the month of February to celebrating the joy of consecrated life. This year (2026), on the 18th of this month, we also mark the beginning of the holy season of Lent, a sacred time in which we are invited to walk more closely with Christ along the path of His redemptive suffering and death. In this providential convergence, we are called to a deeper reflection on the nature of our vocation. Lent invites us to silence, humility, and self-emptying, while consecrated life calls us to a radical belonging to God alone. Together, they direct our hearts toward a hidden life rooted in Christ. Accordingly, it is appropriate for us to revisit the teachings of Fr. M. Wolff, our holy founder, on the importance of remaining unknown to the world as Sisters of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, that is, embracing our vocation to religious life to live in the world while not being of the world.
Chapter XV of Reflections and Guidelines for the Practice of Perfection, Dedicated to the Congregation of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, by Rev. Fr. Mathias Wolff, published in 1868, (Pg. 213-217), describes how a Sister of JMJ is expected to lead a hidden and more pleasing life to God, while being present to the world.
To be unknown to the world is a profound and demanding spiritual calling. From the earliest centuries of Christianity, some souls have responded to this call by withdrawing completely from the world. Inspired by God, hermits such as St. Paul the Hermit and St. Arsenius left everything behind to live in deserts, hidden from human eyes. Their lives were literally unknown to the world, yet deeply known to God. This path, though radical, shows that holiness does not depend on visibility, influence, or recognition, but on total belonging to God.
However, others (like the members of the Congregation of JMJ) are called to remain in the world while not belonging to it. When one must live in the world because of one’s vocation, the challenge is to fulfil necessary duties faithfully while guarding the heart from attachment.
By limiting interaction with the world to what is required and remaining inwardly united with God, a person quietly witnesses that worldly honours, pleasures, and curiosities no longer rule their life. Such discretion is not only wise but edifying.
The desire to know everything, comment on everything, or involve oneself in worldly affairs often leads to ridicule and diminishes respect for religious life.
Silence, restraint, and humility protect both the soul and the dignity of the vocation.
When interaction with the world leads to mockery or contempt through no fault of one’s own, this should be received as a grace rather than a burden. To be misunderstood and despised is to share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ Himself.
Though Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth, filled with all wisdom and holiness, He was judged as a fool, a deceiver, and a criminal. In His Passion, He was never more unknown to the world than when He was most revealing the love of God. To suffer misunderstanding for His sake is to be most pleasing to Him. The saints understood this deeply. St. Ignatius desired that his followers be ready to endure insults, false accusations, and contempt with courage and joy. Such trials form strong souls who seek not their own honour but conformity to Christ.
Those overly sensitive to praise or criticism cannot endure this path of consecrated life in the Congregation of JMJ. True servants of God must be courageous, even heroic, ready to embrace obscurity, suffering, and sacrifice with holy cheerfulness.
To be unknown to the world is not a loss. It is a freedom. It is the quiet joy of belonging entirely to God, who alone truly sees, knows, and rewards.
Therefore, as we celebrate the joy and blessedness of consecrated life, let’s reflect and renew our commitment:
What is my relationship to the world’s assets and attributes?
How indifferent can I remain to the praise and criticism of the world?
Is the foundation, means, and end of all my life and work for the glory and honour of God alone?
