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De Mazenod's most basic attitude before humanity is one of trust and faith. Two very solid convictions explain this attitude. First: everything which occurs on earth, on the personal as well as the civil and social level, depends on Divine Providence. Second: God wants all to be saved, and all, both rich and poor, have been purchased by the blood of Christ.
In his pastoral letters, he emphasizes the following points:
- All are called to salvation and holiness. He proposes to the Oblates: "We must strive first of all to lead people to act like human beings, and then like Christians, and finally, we must help them to become saints.
- To remain on the road to sanctity and make progress, Christians should look upon themselves with the eyes of faith. No matter how poor or destitute they might be, in the eyes of faith all are "children of God" "brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ" and "heirs of His eternal kingdom."
- Holiness consists in conversion of heart, fidelity to the law of God and to the inspiration of his grace, in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. To love the Jesus Christ is to love the Church.
- The journey to holiness demands a constant ongoing conversion
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