Pope Francis extolled the Christian faithfuls to continue to demonstrate the virtues of the bridegroom of the Virgin Mary.

He made the call while addressing participants in the 17th General Chapter of the Oblates of Saint Joseph in Rome.

He said, "Rich in the industrious simplicity of Saint Joseph, you are called to be witnesses in the world of a particular message, of a consoling good news: that God uses all, with preference for the smallest and humanly disadvantaged, to plant and nurture His Kingdom.

"I encourage you, therefore to continue to live and work in the church and in the world with the simple and essential virtues of the  Bridegroom of the Virgin Mary - humility, which attracts the benevolence of the Father, intimacy with the Lord, who sanctifies all Christian activities; silence and concealment, united with zeal and industriousness in favour of the Lord's will, in the spirit of that happy synthesis left to you by Marcello as a motto and program: Be carthusians in the house and apostles outside the home", he added.

Pope Francis further admonished the faithfuls to imbibe the teaching and maintain a united spirit.

The Holy Father reserved praise for Saint Joseph noting that he is an example to all Saints.

He said, “The General Chapter of an institute of consecrated life is a special moment of grace, certainly for its members and it's communities, but also beyond them, for many other ecclessial realities: parishes, families, and lay groups, in various connected ways. The mission transmitted to you by the founder, Saint Joseph Marcello shows your peculiar charism to reproduce in life and in the apostolate the ideal of service as Saint Joseph of Nazareth lived it, starting from the imitation of his discreet, humble and industrious lifestyle. He lived with fidelityand simplicity his vocation as custodian of Mary and Jesus.   He was close to his bride in joyful and difficult moments, and with her, he established a wonderful familiarity with Jesus, whom he had continually before his eyes".

He urged the church to learn from the humility and simplicity as demonstrated by Saint Joseph, reminding them of the calling to be witness in the world of a particular message of a consoling good news.

"Saint Joseph Marcello exhorted his spiritual children to put in first place love and obedience to the teachings and directives of the Supreme Pontiff.

Pope Francis encouraged Christian faithfuls to remain resolute and not be swayed by the rampant relativism which threatens to strip off the very idea of Christian fidelity.