Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph

The Spirituality and Charism of the Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph

The spirituality of the Congregation is based on the Ignatian Spirituality, as the founder, Rev. Fr. Mathias Wolff, was a Jesuit priest who solely directed himself in accomplishing God’s will, deeply desiring to do everything for the greater honor and glory of God.

Thereby, the Spirituality of the Congregation of Jesus, Mary, Joseph is ‘an ever-renewed search for God’s will’ which demands discernment as a way of life. Directing his sisters towards this, Fr. Mathias Wolff had urged us to integrate both the interior and exterior spirit.

Interior Spirit

A true member of JMJ is interiorly possessed by God, and this state of being filled by God's will influences her external works and inspires her to seek in everything only the greater glory of God.

The interior spirit consists of (Sent by the Lord Pg.18)

• A deep spirit of self-denial

• A comparative insight into the comparative value of what is earthly

• Extensive knowledge of spiritual matters

• The enjoyment of God and a taste for the Divine

• A fervent prayer life; great love of prayer

• Unremitting trust in the Holy Spirit

• Inner freedom of heart

• A fervent zeal for everything that concerns the honour of God.

Exterior Spirit

A true JMJ sister should confirm her normal way of life to that of other people. She is obliged to devote herself to the tasks with apostolic dedication and the love of her neighbour.

The following is needed to form this exterior spirit: (Sent by the Lord, Pg. 19 & SC 61)

• Obedience

• Modesty in external behaviour

• Incessantly thoughtful – Constant recollection

• Courageously carries out the tasks assigned to her – Great courage in apostolic works

• Is cautious in speaking – a great prudence in speaking.

• Does not put herself in the foreground

Thus, the spirituality of the Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph is an ever-renewed search for God’s will, a spirituality of ongoing discernment in integration of both interior and exterior spirit. (Const No:3)

Charism of the Congregation of Jesus, Mary, Joseph

Charism is a gift of the spirit who grants to a person certain sensitivity for a special aspect of the mystery of God in Christ. The Charism of the Congregation of JMJ evolved from the zeal of the Founder, Fr. Mathias Wolff. It is his personal charism – being always ready to save souls and working like a giant, which he passed on to his foundation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Founder gave the charism to his Congregation as its Characteristic feature, “An ever adaptable Apostolic Availability”. We are thus invited to live out this dynamic charism courageously, following the footsteps of the Founder in response to the signs of the times emerging in today’s world. This presupposes that we are alert and docile to the whispers of the Holy Spirit, intent on the most Holy Will of God.

The person and the charism of the Founder, as seen in his first sisters, always stirred them up to obedience.

Three instructions accentuated by Fr. Wolff in 1827 are:

Religious Spirit: “My intention is not to make of you Christian daughters; no, I want you to become perfect religious.”

Spirit of Obedience: “You must have perfect obedience to go wherever the superior will send you.”

Growing in deeper intimacy with the Divine: “One should omit oral prayer and reading rather than miss meditation, the divine food.”