I. Charism - La Salle.org

230
VI. EIGHT TESTIMONIES FROM LASALLIANS
“Mutual Charismatic Esteem”.
Where do we go from here How can this new understanding of
charism enlighten our future as Lasallians What barriers and pathways
lie before us as we navigate the transformation that God
intends for our world, the Church, the Institute, and ourselves
We have two suggestions. First, fully embrace the teaching of
Vatican Council II on the role of the laity in the Church. Of course,
implied in this suggestion is our belief that we, De La Salle
Christian Brothers and Lasallian colleagues both, have not fully
embraced this teaching. Specifically, we must recognize that the lay
vocation is a complete vocation inclusive of all aspects of one’s life
whether as a consecrated brother or a consecrated spouse and couple
or a single person. The lay vocation is a total “yes” to God’s call,
a yes that demonstrates a total commitment of one’s life “as far as
we are able and as God will require of us.” It is not helpful to speak
of a Brother making a total commitment of his life to the mission
of the Gospel and the Institute in his vocation, while implying that
a lay colleague is not making a total commitment of his or her life
to the same mission because they have “other” commitments. In
our vocations, in response to the charism alive in our hearts, we
have made a total commitment of our lives. We are married; we are
parents; and we are Lasallians. One part of our vocation does not
exclude or diminish another part of our vocation. In fact, each part
enhances the other, just as the vow of celibacy or poverty may
enhance the vow of association for the educational service of the
poor for a consecrated brother. Yes, on a daily basis, we must prioritize,
make decisions, act on some things and not others, and try to
strike a balance in our lives. But striking this balance is not the
work of just married couples. It is the human work of all Lasallians.
The Lasallian charism is operative in us, fully and completely
though in a different form then a consecrated brother. This leads us
to our final suggestion.