The Founder’s love and affection for the Sisters and the Congregation “The more distant and separated I am from you, the more I love you and the more I pray for all of you.”

“Msgr. Zubieta’s deep affection is expressed through the memory of people who are far away or from whom he must separate, sometimes forever, as the missionary option demanded at that time.  He expresses deep sorrow in the face of death, or when he sees others suffer.  Then he speaks of “courage”, “serenity”, “sacrifice”.  He also expresses his affection in the joy of the encounter, the good times shared, the hope of meeting again to exchange joys and experiences.  Msgr. Zubieta expresses his affection for the family, the brothers of the Order, the sisters, the friends, the natives, the country that bids him farewell and the country that welcomes him in.

The affectivity was an important part of his life, by his generous dedication he establishes a relationship that goes beyond mere duty or fulfillment of obligations.  Msgr. Zubieta enjoys loving and being loved, and he expresses it with gratitude.  It is the gift of God’s grace, which transcends and comes through another person, which strengthens and vitalizes, and is so profound that it is capable of generating life.”

(The thoughts of Msgr. Ramón Zubieta y Les, a selection of texts taken from his writings, Madrid 2011)

“I am well up to now, although I never lack the ailments proper to age and the work that I have to bear, both material and moral, which are the ones that most finish me off. I let myself be cared for now; yes, it is true that I never had love for life, that I cared little about losing, but now that I have the work of the missionaries in my hands, I want to live until I finish or secure the work that I love so much that has cost me so much.

The little nuns here take care of me in such a way that they will make me become so fond of them and acquire delicacies that I never had. They are so good, and they are so deluded in believing that after my death, they would not be taken care of!  If they think that there will be no other Apostolic Vicar who will love them as I love them, they are not mistaken, but anyone will have better qualities than I do.…”

(Letter to Sister Catalina; Maldonado, January 1918; L05 – E/95 – Pág.181)