I. Charism - La Salle.org

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IV. DISCOVERING, LIVING, SHARING THE GIFT OF GOD
the Church as it can be, you must every day, teach them catechism,
helping them to learn the basic truths of our religion. (MTR 200. 1).
The specific ministry of John Baptist de La Salle is not identical to
that of the Brothers: his ministry involves the animation and the
life of the Community or of the Society; for them it is the Christian
school, the ministry of salvation integrated with that of the Church.
In defining the work of God, the ministry of John Baptist de La
Salle, in the Church, the Brothers are also making an interpretation
of the place of their ministry and of their existence as a Society.
They are saying to Monsieur de La Salle that for him as well as for
them, the existence of their Community cannot be dissociated from
the ecclesial mission. They see themselves as a part of the Church,
as a place where, in the faith, God speaks, acts, embraces the cause
of His people, constitutes a redeemed People.
It is this work which is “the holy work of God”. It is both the
charism and ministry of John Baptist de La Salle for the
Community and the charisms and ministries that the Brothers exercise
in meeting the needs of the young, and of the Church and their
Community. The Brothers, looking at their advance together, see
and speak of, the place as well as the determining role of John
Baptist de La Salle, as the director of God’s plan: this holy work of
God which is also yours, you have always directed it with great success
and edification. They fully recognise his vocation as Founder
and Institutor of the Brothers and the way in which he has lived it
with them and for them.
Since it has pleased the Lord to make use of you in order to establish
it and lead it for so long…/… that God has given you and
gives you the graces and the talents necessary to govern this new
company well.
What was lived by John Baptist de la Salle is seen as the holy work
of God. God is involved in it, He is its origin and its end: “the