Joe Woods' Life in Christ--the Way

Joseph E. Woods OSFS

In 1951, Fr. Woods (1917-2005) arranged his notes on what he deemed the central mission for disciples formed in Salesian spirituality--to live Christ for others ... not to live LIKE Christ ... but to BE Christ for others. This is The Way or La Voie, handed down by Louis Brisson OSFS and Mary de Sales Chappuis VHM (also known as the Good Mother). These venerables went so far as to say the Way IS the Oblate vocation. And this is the gist of Father's notes.

While Father was writing for his brother Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the notes are a powerful source for lay partners in ministry--since our call to live the Way is the same. He taps a variety of Salesian sources, not the least of which is St. Francis de Sales.

The notebook is readily organized for an instructor's use and is complete with various prayers Fr. Woods thought complemented the instructional material. There is for example, the Litany of the Way (p. 52), which one can easily imagine set to music. At the time Fr. Woods wrote Life in Christ he was teaching at Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia and was responsible for nurturing the vocations of seminarians teaching at North. Thus, the notes suggest an instructional program, no doubt with the seminarians in mind.

Our Life in Christ: According to the teaching of Saint Francis de Sales is located in the Religious Life section in the Fournier and the Power-Graden Libraries.