I. Charism - La Salle.org

V. CHARISM IN THE RECENT INSTITUTE DOCUMENTS 193
Formation. Perhaps there is even a certain shift in meaning, in
including THE YOUNG - whom we first of all consider as beneficiaries
of the Lasallian mission - among those who CAN SHARE THE
LASALLIAN CHARISM. It is not “young Lasallians” who are being
referred to here, but the young towards whom the Brothers and the
Partners are being sent. The boldness of the expression SHARE presupposes
that these young are the agents of their own formation
and that of their companions (they are also evangelising their educators!),
and find themselves therefore in the state of living the “distinctively
Lasallian characteristics” enumerated on pages 4 and 5.
One could find here a new field for the CHARISM OF BROTHERHOOD
(Cf. Circ. 435, 1.4, P. 20) which each Brother - and not just each
Brother - carries in him. This is without doubt an entry point for
the young and for educators who are from different religious or
spiritual traditions than the Brothers.
The Institute, as a community of living men (Declaration 7.2),
plays a central role in this EXTENSION of the Lasallian charism,
which is in the nature of ENCULTURATION in a world which is from
now on multi-religious: it must assume, interpret and bring up-todate
the charism of the Founder (Cf. Circ. 422, p. 15); Guide Nº
100), something which the Rule expresses faithfully (Rule 1987 ed.
Decree p. 9). Perhaps we ought to put more emphasis, in OUR PRES-
ENTATION OF THE LASALLIAN CHARISM, on the evangelization of culture
(cf. Rule, art. 18), on the spiritual experience which arises from
the work of interpreting the charism (cf. Circ. 422, p.15), on the
renewal of the practice of mental prayer (id., p. 22) and on the
“exodus” (Circ. 403, p. 62) to which this work invites us “to set out
once again in the footsteps of St. John Baptist de La Salle” (Circ.
422, p. 22).
Alain HOURY, fsc
and the Formation Commission (17. 9. 2003).