Dear Brothers,
This document has been submitted to me by the Restructuring Commission in preparation for the General Chapter. I now offer it to you for your own study and preparation for our coming General Chapter next October.
The aim of this paper is to describe the ingredients or components of the Passionist Charism – the essential characteristics that describe the Charism.
It is important to appreciate that this document does not pretend to present the definitive description of the Charism. It is presented as a resource and as a catalyst for further reflection and discussion in the Congregation both as a preparation for the General Chapter and for our work beyond the Chapter.
It is my hope that this document would be read by each Capitular so that he is familiar with the dimensions and complexity of the phenomenon of the Charism. It is anticipated that discussion on the ‘Passionist Charism’ will be central to all our discussions at the General Chapter. In this light it is important that each Capitular has ‘wrestled with’ and given serious thought to what he would contribute to this conversation and discernment at the Chapter.
It will be helpful if each Capitular arrives knowing how he would ‘see’, ‘symbolise’ or ‘describe’ the Charism. This could then become a starting point for contributing to discussions.
This document is being sent to each Capitular, but it is hoped that he will share it so that each community in the Congregation can also reflect on it and thus create a “retreat” atmosphere during these months preceding the General Chapter.
It is evident to the Commission – especially from reading the variety of responses – that there are valid and yet quite distinct perspectives in understanding and describing our Charism. Such differences span our globe and embrace linguistic and cultural perspectives, various lived experiences, theological, sociological, spiritual and philosophical perspectives of the various 59 countries where the Congregation is present and where it ministers, . Our varying perspectives may be found in the midst of similar groups and widely divergent groups. It is a universal phenomenon.
In this context it is important to note and promote our essential unity. Our discussions need not create dichotomies; rather we are challenged to be inclusive and to foster unity even in diversity. Here we may learn from the very life of St Paul of the Cross. In his life we see an example of different ways of responding to the one charism. For example, in many ways it can be seen that he adopted and lived a most prophetic life given to the poor and suffering and that he went out to them wherever they were. At yet the same time it can be seen that he operated in what can be described as most traditional ways and through the established pastoral strategies of his day. In the same way, both in our personal experiences as well as our experiences as a Congregation, and in the responses to the questionnaires, we have seen very different approaches to the interpretation of the charism emerge; but our commitment to the one charism in this preparatory document for the General Chapter, underpins these interpretations.
Everyone is sincerely attempting to share their perspectives on the charism and overwhelmingly there has been a concern to foster the life, unity and future of our Congregation for the Mission that God has entrusted to it by means of the gift of the charism for the Church and for the world.
Yours fraternally in Christ,
Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, C.P.
Superior General