Theological Foundations new file

118 Theological Foundations the truth about the Immaculate Conception 8 ; the truth which was not generally accepted at that time, but which the Church always defended in its teaching. Hence the great role of its shepherds in guarding Christ’s sheepfold and the entire deposit of the faith. 2. Love of the Church In his teaching about the Church, the Renovator of the Marians focus- es his attention on the matter of the love of the Church. The great love for the Church which filled the heart of the Founder of the Marians found its extension in the life, the activity and the teaching of the Renovator of this congregation. There is an entry in his Diary which can be called a hymn in honor of the Church: “O Holy Catholic Church, true kingdom of Christ on earth, my dearest beloved! If I should forget you, let my right hand be forgotten; let my tongue cleave to my palate, if I should not remember thee, if I should not deem thee, my dearest Mother, above all my joy! If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand with- er! Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! (Ps 137, 5-6).” 9 Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz wanted these words to be a never end- ing cry of his heart. He wrote further: “Grant us , O Lord, the grace to be dominated by that one great thought: to toil and suffer for the Church. May the Church’s trials, tribulations and wounds be the trials, tribula- tions and wounds of our hearts. May our hearts burn with one desire: to dedicate our life to God and the Church, to become used up and con- sumed in toil and battle for the Church without hoping for anything in this world, without seeking or expecting any personal gain! (...). May we fear only this one thing: to die without having suffered or toiled or gained anything for the Church, the salvation of souls and God’s glory!” 10 In order to reach such a noble goal, we can use every honest means available. It might be a priest’s clerical garb or a religious habit, even lay dress, if it should turn out to be more appropriate. Science, art, and mate-