Carthusians Indoors, Apostles Outdoors
The life of the Oblate of St. Joseph is characterized by a phrase often repeated by the founder, St. Joseph Marello: “Be Carthusians indoors, and apostles outdoors.” It is a phrase that most succinctly sums up the charism and spirituality of the Oblates, in that we strive to live a rich interior life that also leads us to apostolic service in the Church.
Excerpts of a Conference Given by the first Superior General of the Oblates and the first biographer of St. Joseph Marello, Fr. John Baptist Cortona
“Be Carthusians indoors, and apostles outdoors.” With this maxim, St. Joseph Marello called the first Oblates to a life rooted in deep interior union with God. Fr. John Baptist Cortona explains that this spirit of recollection—remaining attentive to God’s presence throughout the duties of daily life—is essential for holiness and for the religious vocation itself.
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By cultivating prayer, recollection, and fidelity in even the smallest actions, the religious allows Christ to work through him. This interior life becomes the foundation for effective apostolic ministry, since, as the Lord teaches, “He who abides in Me bears much fruit.” In this way, the Oblate is able to serve God both in contemplation and in action (Cortona, Conference on Holy Recollection, Oblates of St. Joseph formation conference).