– Colossians 1:12
Transitus Oblates, as participants in the “communion of saints”, are to venerate and to love those who, through imitation of Jesus Christ and by His grace, have attained eternal salvation––especially their patron saints and the patrons of Transitus: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese of Lisieux, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
As has been the practice of Christians throughout Church history, we are to pray for those souls in Purgatory (“the Church Suffering”), and ask those in heaven (“the Church Triumphant”) to pray for us (“the Church Militant”). By doing so, Oblates strengthen the unity of the entire Mystical Body of Christ in the Spirit, thus bringing all closer to Jesus Christ who is the “Crown of all Saints”. For just as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our companionship with the Saints in heaven joins us to Christ, from whom––our source, center, and summit––issues every grace and the very life of the Mystical Body of Christ.
“Let us contemplate the Saints. Yet let us not linger in contemplating them. Let us rather contemplate with them the One whose contemplation filled their lives! Let us make use of their example, but without dwelling too long on it, without choosing this or that saint as our only model and example of our Lord Jesus; for He is our only true model. In this way we shall make use of their teaching, not to imitate them, but the better to be able to imitate Jesus.” – Bl. Charles de Foucauld (Brother Charles of Jesus)
The Roman Martyrology (1961), which is read daily during the morning office of Prime, and Butler’s Lives of Saints are most recommended.
