The future of a tree lies in its roots

A missionary has to live and work according to the charisms of his founders. In the words of Libermann; "It is not sufficient to be sent: you have to have the spirit of mission". This apostolic spirit is acquired through the practice of the apostolic life:

"The life of the apostle is nothing more than the life full of love and holiness that the Son of God lived when he was on this earth: by it, he continually sacrificed himself to the glory of his Father for the salvation of the world".

To be all things to all people

Preaching the Gospel means, in the first place, sharing the life of those to whom you are sent. It means being all things to all people.

Following the example of Jesus who is sending them, the missionary must have a total availability towards everybody, sharing their lives by learning and respecting their language, their culture and their customs. Francis Libermann wrote to his confreres in Dakar and Gabon in 1847:

"Forget about Europe, its customs, its ways of thinking; you have to make yourselves blacks with the blacks, so as to form them in their own way and not according to the European model. Relate to them as slaves do to the customs and habits of their masters , for their perfection and sanctification, so that gradually, in the fullness of time, you will make them a people of God. This is what St. Paul had in mind when he talked of being all things to all people in order to win them for Christ ".Live the paschal mystery.

The role of the missionary is not to get totally bound up in his own work, but to offer up his own life so that a new life can be born. It is above all in the life of evangelisation that we see the truth of one man sowing and another reaping the harvest (Jn 4:37). For Libermann,

"the work of a missionary is to build strong foundations for a building that will be put up after he has gone; he will sow and the reaping will come later. The labour of those who build underground foundations does not look very attractive or enjoyable; it is those who will later build the house of God on these foundations who will see its full beauty. The former will clear the ground and patiently sow the seed in tears: those who follow will have the consolation of the harvest. The first group will plant with back-breaking work: their successors will water the plants and enjoy the fruits of their labour".

Community and apostolate

The Spiritan way of being a missionary is firmly planted in community life.

"Always try to be one heart and one soul, my dear brothers, so that the Lord will bless you. Never forget the words of Jesus: people will know that you are my disciples by the love that you have for each other...Spiritan community will be built on a spirit of simplicity and welcome".

Apostolic qualities

There is no future in setting out for the missions without an apostolic spirit.

"Remember to be apostles. Enthusiasm for the task will achieve nothing on its own; it needs to be accompanied by patience, kindness, constancy and fidelity if you are to remain faithful to God when you come up against suffering, opposition and contradictions. Sticking to your apostolic task is a powerful weapon for saving souls".

Action and contemplation

Libermann directs his brothers towards apostolic prayer. He rides over the traditional dichotomy between prayer and action by calling them to live a prayer life of "practical union" which is based on a daily fidelity to the Holy Spirit.

"Let us be faithful to the suggestions of the Holy Spirit. This fidelity becomes a natural instinct for somebody who has given himself completely to God so as to have the freedom to look after others".

Libermann guided his religious family with a mixture of kindness and firmness. It is not the Congregation that is important but the apostolic service given to the poor. They are the heirs to the Kingdom of God.