The Oblates trace their roots to "the dream" of St. Francis de Sales. It was a dream born of a conviction - that all people, of every social stratum, of every position, of every job, talent, or condition were called to holiness. St. Francis de Sales pursued this through his writings, preaching, and many teachings. He wanted to found an order that would be dedicated to carrying on this work after his death, but he died without seeing this fulfilled. A chief focus of St. Francis de Sales was the gentleness and humanity of Jesus. The gentleman saint took this from his favorite Gospel quote: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (MT 11:29).
Working to “Live Jesus,” DeSales sought for himself and implored others to integrate the very person and personality of the Savior into the character of the disciple. Consequently, “Live Jesus” grew to become a popular maxim for DeSales. One of the foremost Christian humanists of his day, St. Francis de Sales developed a fascinating and engaging perspective of the human person. He said, “The person is the perfection of the universe, the mind is the perfection of the person, love is the perfection of the mind and charity is the perfection of love.” Mother Mary Chappuis, a nun from the Order of the Visitation founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, prevailed upon Father Louis Brisson to form a congregation of men committed to living and transmitting this ideal of Salesian humanism.
In 1876 a small band of six men, led by Father Brisson, professed their first vows as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and began to live the religious life in Troyes, France. Despite humble beginnings, the order experienced a rapid growth. Oblate communities now exist in India, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South America, South Africa, Namibia, Switzerland, and the United States. The first foundation in the United States was Salesianum School, a high school for boys in Wilmington, Del., in 1903.
Although the first undertakings of the Oblates in the United States was the Christian education of youth, members devote themselves to many other varied apostolates to serve people’s needs. In the United States, the Oblates have worked in every apostolate where a need has been manifested. They have opened schools, staffed parishes, established retreat houses, and built summer camps. They have also witnessed their Christian faith by living and working in inner-city neighborhoods, serving as chaplains in hospitals, prisons, on college campuses, and as military chaplains.
“It is not easy to describe the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. It has been our desire from the beginning, I believe, to be a community of men who live in the world imitating Christ. Individually it is impossible to model Christ in all his perfection, but together as a religious family in many parts of the world and through various ministries we imitate Christ in his teaching, praying, and proclaiming the Good News to all. We have done some truly wonderful things for and with Him; we are making the world a better place. I am blessed to be part of this community.”
Fr. Ed Ogden, OSFS
St. Margaret of Scotland
Newark, DE
