THE CHARISM OF THE CONGREGATION OF MATER ORPHANORUM
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MIHI FECISTIS
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The clear explanation of the coat of arms is given by the Founding Father in the opening pages of the Constitutions book of the Congregation: The coat of arms bears the monogram of Mary, divine Mother of orphans, crowned Queen, at the top, with the meaning "Mater Orphanorum" the image of Christ Jesus carrying the cross with the inscription below: MIHI FECISTIS, “Everything you do to the least of my brothers you have done to me”. (Matt.25, 40)
THE SPIRITUALITY OF MATER ORPHANORUM
The end of the spiritual life consists in the most perfect possible union with God, on earth.
The Oblate will reach this union with God in her life, dedicating herself to the salvation of orphans and abandoned youth and to charitable works, seeking to fulfill God's will through them. For the Oblate, the will of God is "clearly indicated by the Constitutions". Therefore, she will attempt to observe them with great fidelity.
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SPIRITUAL AND CHARISMATIC CONNECTION WITH SAN JERÓNIMO EMILIANI
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The exemplary life of the passionate charity of St. Jerome Emiliani motivated the most sensitive heart of Father Giovanni Antonio Rocco. The spirit and the charism are liberated in a great Paternal and maternal love that God has and gives to the orphans, the widows, the little ones, the abandoned, the marginalized and the poor. Doing it for everyone to manifest God’s love as father and mother and the love of Mary Most Holy who is sweet Mother of the orphans.
Father Antonio Rocco (Founder of Mater Orphanorum), inherited the great love to the Blessed Mary and our sweet Savior from St. Jerome Emiliani (Universal father of the orphans) to spread it to the whole world in the name of God who is close to us. God is close to human misery and in the life of each person who opens his or her heart to God, whether rich or poor, good or bad because for God every human being is worthy in the death of his Divine Son: "My Sweet Jesus, do not be my judge, but my Savior."
MIHI FECISTIS
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me”
(Matthew 25:40).