The Spirituality of the Missionaries of Compassion is closely linked to the personality of its Founder, late Rev. Dr. Jose Kaimlett. He was a man of action. His thinking, teaching and spirituality were very much praxis oriented. Not diminishing the importance of prayers and liturgical services, his conviction was that our spiritual life cannot be an isolated or confined to the prayers and pious practices in the church; but is very concretely linked to the emancipation of our suffering brothers and sisters. In fact, he vehemently advocated and encouraged the daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist and special devotion to Our Blessed Mother through the recitation of the Holy Rosary and special prayers to St. Joseph, the Heavenly Patrons of the Society.
The Spirituality of the Missionaries of Compassion is unique in the sense that our spirituality is based on the notion and belief that today Christ is present and alive in the people who suffer. The scene of the last judgment in Mt 25, 31 – 45 aptly describes the presence of Jesus in the hungry, sick, suffering and needy. The simple life that was lived by our founder is in an inspiration for all of us. We are ardently trying to follow him and his simple life style as our spirituality.
More than just combining our religious life with spiritual prayers and devotional liturgies with concrete actions of charity and solidarity with the poor, sick and suffering, we strongly believe that our call to religious life is to identify ourselves with the poor and suffering as much as possible and thus help them alleviate their suffering.
The heart or the center of our spirituality is our simplicity in our day to day living and our lifestyle. Being simple in our lifestyle and gentle in our approach to others is the hallmark of our spirituality. “Come and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.” Following the supreme command of Our Divine Master, our founder would always advice us to recognize Jesus in our brothers and sisters in need and reach out to them with love, joy, kindness and compassion. This is how our founder lived out his spirituality. He wanted each and every member of the Society of the Missionaries of Compassion to live out this spirituality, especially in our priestly ministry.
Though Christ is primarily and in a unique manner present in the Blessed Sacrament, His presence among the people suffer, is also promised by Him as in his statement in the scene of the last judgment. Our day begins with daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before the morning prayers, meditation and the celebration of the Holy Mass. With a deep and profound faith in the real and total presence of the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament our founder has made it mandatory for all our members to have daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
The spirituality of the Missionaries of Compassion is above all a spirituality of the heart and reached out to people in their suffering, supporting them and helping them to alleviate their suffering. Our free and selfless service is meant for the poorest of the poor and suffering. Even today we live in a real world in which most of the human race goes to bed hungry every day besides the many other forms of suffering they may have.
What can we do for them if not to have a generous heart to be united with them in their suffering? Thus our charism is to have active participation in the alleviation of the sufferings of the people, even voluntarily accepting to suffer with the people. Our basic charism is of service to the poorest of the poor, sick and suffering. Being with the suffering and needy, and in solidarity with them we realize God’s Will for us.
