Dear Sister, I often confused when I reflect on the charism and mission of our founding mother. Her fidelity to the inner call has given shape to our congregation. Today, however, I find most of the congregations do the same apostolates—education, health care, and social works. Thus I find difficult to identify the uniqueness of each Religious Congregation. What does Canon Law say about fidelity to the founder’s charism and mission?
The uniqueness of each founder’s/foundress’s charism is lived by the members of the particular congregation through varied ministries. However, the failure to envisage a right response of each Congregation’s charism in accordance with the multifaceted reality of today’s world may take away the uniqueness of each religious order. The Second Vatican Council mandated that religious congregations renew themselves and faithfully follow the charism of their founder/foundress. Revitalizing the charism would mean critically analyzing the existing apostolates and moving towards an incarnational approach (learn the needs of the people and respond) in order to evolve a thought pattern and action that is relevant to the present times.
The Codes of Canon Law (CIC & CCEO), do not contain the word ‘charism.’ The Code of Canon Law (CIC) explains charism as follows: “All must observe faithfully the mind and designs of the founders regarding the nature, purpose, spirit, and character of an institute, which have been sanctioned by competent ecclesiastical authority, and its sound traditions, all of which constitute the patrimony of the same institute” (can. 578). Almost similar words are used by the Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO) in canon 426. It states that each and every religious, whether superior or subject, is obliged not only to observe faithfully and integrally the vows which they have professed, but also to arrange his or her life according to the typicon (constitution) or statutes, thus having faithfully observed the intention and determinations of the founder, and so tend to the perfection of his or her state.
Sr Navya Thattil OSF
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