I. Charism - La Salle.org

I. CHARISM - ITS SEMANTIC FIELD 7
I. Charism - Its semantic field
To understand the concept of Charism it is advisable to consider it
in connection with other concepts with which it forms a conceptual
map. Within this map it can be seen how the idea of charism differs
from, conforms to or in some cases even identifies with other
terms with which it is related.
• Charism: a gift or personal quality with a positive social impact.
• In a context of faith: Charism is a gift which the Holy Spirit gives
to a person for community service or, better yet, to enable the person
to contribute to the community’s mission.
• The community is the framework in which a charism is developed,
in its various manifestations: the small community or the
immediate community, the local community or the community of
reference, the Church community in a broad sense (beyond the
sense of the institutional Church). In the last analysis, charism is at
the service of God’s Kingdom.
The community (each in its own location), discerns and authenticates
personal charisms, according to their importance for the community.
• Every charism is at the service of the unique Church mission. The
charism highlights for the individual a specific mission or portion
thereof within the great mission of the Church.
• The carrying out of a mission, when dealing with a role which is
especially important for the community, can be designated as a
“ministry”. The community entrusts or validates a ministry; the
community designates a person as “minister”, and the community