I. Charism - La Salle.org

V. CHARISM IN THE RECENT INSTITUTE DOCUMENTS 191
ticipants of CIL 1989, and finally approved by the General Council
in September 1990 (p. 9-10). Its status is that of a Directory. Its systematic
character led it to compile a section on “the charism of the
Founder and the spirit of the Institute”. (Nº 21-39). The passage
which begins this section deserves to be quoted in its entirety:
“Every religious family, inspired by its founding charism expresses
its own way of living the Gospel for a specific purpose. St. John
Baptist de la Salle presents us with the Gospel as our first and principal
Rule. He invites us, following the inspirations of God, to be
attentive today to the distress ‘of the children of the artisans and the
poor’ (R1) and to exercise, by association, the apostolic ministry of
education, especially in schools made accessible to the poor, as a sign
of the kingdom and as a means of salvation. THIS IS THE FOUNDING
CHARISM of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
To make this great gift a reality today (MTR 9), entails rediscovering
Lasallian spirituality, which is none other than a development
of the Founder’s charism. Like any other spirituality, it has its own
characteristic spirit which is expressed in a specific salvific mission.”
(No. 21-22). Another element is indicated in regard to the process
of formation, which ought to help “progressively to discover and to
adopt the special and particular lifestyle, thanks to which, individuals
gradually assimilate the spirit of the Institute and the charism
of the Founder” (Nº 33). “To make the Lasallian charism known”
(Nº 97) of which the document speaks in reference to the
Aspirancy, should not remain at the purely intellectual level.
One can also find another synthesis after Nº 283, under the title: CON-
TINUOUS GROWTH IN THE CHARISM of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The
Rule underlines four aspects of the life and ministry of the Founder:
De La Salle’s self-abandonment to God, the fruit of the loving presence of
God in his life (Nº 284); Fidelity to the Church (Nº 285); The apostolic
and creative spirit of De La Salle (Nº 286); The definitive commitment
of De La Salle to the Christian Education of the poor (Nº 287).