I. Charism - La Salle.org

III. CHARISM IN THE CHURCH 33
The word charism exists in Greek and in Latin but not in seventeenth-century
French. John Baptist de La Salle frequently writes
about the Spirit (l’Esprit) and the gifts (les dons) of the Spirit. He
refers in his Meditations 4 to the Trinity as the source of all the gifts
that a person requires as a religious educator. De La Salle speaks
about gifts, not charisms, but his Meditations are consistent with the
meaning of charism in the Church since Vatican Council II:
Those who instruct others… are only the voice of the One who disposes
hearts to accept Jesus Christ and his holy teaching. The one who
disposes them, according to Saint Paul, can only be God 5 , who
imparts to humans the gift of speaking of him (Meditation 3.1).
Saint James assures us that every excellent grace and every perfect gift comes
from on high and descends from the Father of lights. 6 (Meditation 3.3).
De La Salle’s most explicit teaching on the charism, the vocation,
and the ministry of the teacher occurs in Meditations for the Time of
Retreat:
Reflect on what Saint Paul says, that it is God who has established in the
Church apostles, prophets, and teachers, 7 and you will be convinced that
he has also established you in your work. The same saint gives you
another expression of this when he says that there are diverse ministries
but there are different operations, and the Holy Spirit manifests himself in
each of these gifts for the common good, that is to say, for the good of the
Church. One receives by the Spirit the gift to speak with wisdom, another
the gift of faith by the same Spirit 8 .
You must not doubt that it is a great gift of God, this grace he has
given you to be entrusted with the instruction of children, to
3
1 Cor 12:31.
4
John Baptist de La Salle, Meditations. Landover, MD: Christian Brothers Conference, 1994.
5
1 Cor 3:5-6.
6
James 1:17.
7
1 Cor 12:28.
8
1 Cor 12:5-9.