I. Charism - La Salle.org

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V. CHARISM IN THE RECENT INSTITUTE DOCUMENTS
In the report A Community of Brothers associated for the educational
service of the poor, we again find the charism of the Brothers, “the
charism we have” (1.3 p. 19), “the charism of brotherhood” which
each Brother has (1.4 p. 20) - but also that of the Institute: “the
commitments we can make in fidelity to the charism of our
Institute and our vow of association.” (2.4 p. 25). In The Shared
Mission, “Our charism suggests that the gap which exists between
the cultural world of the young and the actual situation of the
Institute and the Church, is our special field”; the Institute offers to
those men and women who wish to be involved in the partnership
the opportunity to commit themselves more closely and deeply to
the spirit and charism of St. John Baptist de La Salle, who saw educators
as Ministers of the Gospel. (1.1 p. 30), recalling (3.3 p. 42)
article 20 of the Rule (“a charism which today still animates the
Brothers and many educators”) and the Message to the Lasallian
Family (“In the association for the shared mission, the Brothers are
the heart, the memory and the guarantors of the Lasallian charism”
(3.6 p. 44) - ‘in a manner of speaking’ has disappeared). “In the light
of the charism and the Rule, those who participate in the mission
of the Institute - whether they be Brothers or not - feel that they are
challenged by the poor and by the situations of distress…” (3.3 p. 41).
“Advancing in age”, seeing his activity diminish, can lead a Brother
to ask himself “whether his life is losing its meaning within the continuity
of the Lasallian charism” (2.1 p. 66): spontaneously, the
charism is seen from the angle of activity, of the mission - the
“charism of brotherhood” seems forgotten here! However, Brothers
who have retired can “look back with pride on their lives as educators
and in thanksgiving to the Lord for calling them to take part
in the Church’s mission of education under the inspiration of St.
John Baptist de La Salle” (3.1 p. 68). “The Government of the
Institute” only mentions Lasallian charism in connection with the
Guadalupanas De La Salle Sisters (with whom the Institute has
some “affinities” - Prop 40, p. 92) and the Lasallian Sisters of