Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

115 sense 9 , and he obeys this rule entirely. This clearly shows that 22 years after making his Oblatio , our holy Father Founder remains faithful to the idea of a total dedication to God, although he expresses it in a different way. The way in which this dedication is shown in his Another Testament is interesting. This document was written some months before the Founder’s death: he states that he values God’s inspiration for the founding of the Marian Congregation more than the honors and benefices offered to him 10 . It is possible – even in the Church – to “live for oneself,” striving for glory and goods; probably, in most cases this is not a wicked way of life, but Fa- ther Stanislaus discerns that it is right to follow what is more difficult and what – as he believes – is God’s will for him. Offering oneself to God is also an important vocational element in the life of a modern Marian. Our standing Constitutions are not only a legal document, they also contain matters that could be called ascetic. Many ar- ticles can be used for meditation or conferences. As an example, we should mention here article 4, inspired both by the Oblatio and the exhortation Vita consecrata , which reads: Responding to the prevenient love of the Triune God, in order to bear more abundant fruit from the grace of Baptism, the confreres renounce everything and, through their religious consecration, total- ly devote and dedicate themselves to God the Father Almighty, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. May God truly be the center of life for the individual members and the entire Congregation. 11 It may be concluded in the light of the present arguments that the idea of a total, radical offering of oneself to God is a challenge for the Marian community today. Furthermore, it raises a question as to whether every Marian is ready to completely devote himself to God, to give Him all of his abilities and talents in order to build up the religious community and the whole Church. 9 Cf. Ibid. 10 Cf. Another Testament , in: Historical Writings of ..., p. 107. 11 Constitutions and Directory of the Congregation of Marian Fathers , p. 74, Rome, 2018.