Presentación en diapositivas del documento del P. Louis Paulussen S.J. "Dios trabaja así", preparado por AMDG. Traducción al español por el P. Roberto Dolan B. S.J.
1. La HISTORIA de la CVX Un Viaje de Gracia en Gracia
2. En los inicios de la CVX se encuentra una gracia llamada: IGNACIO de LOYOLA. Su secreto siempre había sido el amor ardiente de Dios: un fuego, que ardía discreta y prudente- mente y conquistaba de manera irrestible …
3. Así, llegó a ser el corazón de una pequeña comunidad… Buscaba formar a hombres verdaderamente libres. Libres no sólo para amar y servir, pero libres para amar y servir siempre . Libres porque fueron totalmente pobres y puros… Así llegó a ser el fundador de la Compañía de Jesús
4. Por esto, llegó a ser el que inspiraba los grupos laicos en torno a sus primeros compañeros. Estos grupos colaboraron con los padres en su apostolado. Tuvieron diferentes nombres pero, sin embargo, el mismo espíritu.
5. 1548 – Nadal comenzó un grupo en Calabria. 1540 - Pedro Fabro dirigió un famoso grupo en Parma, también llamado la Compañía de Jesús. Este grupo produjo el primer mártir jesuita.. Antes de 1545 – Francisco Javier escribió sobre un grupo de jóvenes escogidos, enardecidos por el amor y celo apostólico, le ayudaron en su misión. 1545 – Paschase Broet escribió sobre un grupo que prosperaba en Faenza. 1547 – Ignacio inició la “Compañía de los Doce Apóstoles” en Roma.
6. Estos grupos fueron los precursores de la “ Congregatio Marianae” o la Congregación Mariana. La CM es el antepasado inmediato de la Comunidad de Vida Cristiana.
7. JEAN LEUNIS 3 de Mayo de 1556 Fundador de la CM Había recorrido todo el camino a pié. Un joven de 24 años, vestido como obrero, se presentó en la casa jesuita cerca de la pequeña iglesia de Madonna della Strada en Roma. Quería entrar a la Compañía de Jesús. Procedía de Liege, Bélgica .
8. En el Colegio Romano Jean Leunis reunió un grupo de estudiantes y los preparó para hacer trabajo apostólico en la ciudad de Roma . Este grupo se convertió en la Congregación Mariana del Colegio Romano.
10. La madre y cabeza de todos los grupos con el derecho de afiliar otros grupos de la misma naturaleza. PRIMARIA (grupo primario) 19 de Nov de1584 –la muerte de Jean Leunis El 5 de Dic. 1584 – la creación canónica de la Congregación del Colegio Romano por la Bula Pontífica Omnipotentis Dei promulgada por el Papa Gregory XIII.
11. Todos los aspectos de la existencia humana juntos en una manera Cristiana de vivir. Esto fue aclarado en las reglas más antiguas, de 1574. LA META UNIDAD DE VIDA
14. “ Puesto que es una costumbre que tales Congregaciones se encomienden a un patrono en el cielo, por protección y orientación de quien tomarían su nombre, y ya que tenemos una devoción particular a la Santísima Virgen de la Anunciación, Madre de Dios, con toda humildad nos dedicamos a ella, implorándole que nos ayude en todas nuestras acciones…”
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16. Las Reglas Comunes de1587, preparadas por el Superior General, el P. Claudio Aquaviva,S.J . La preparación de laicos, conscientes de su vocación personal en la Iglesia de su tiempo.
17. 1540 – 1773 Aprox. 2500 grupos afiliados 1773 – 1948 Aprox. 80,000 grupos 233 años - 2500 175 años – 77, 500
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19. La Compañía de Jesús y CM desaparecieron El 14 de November de 1773 - En todas partes la CM podía continuar sin los jesuitas y todos los Obispos en todo el mundo podían crear las CM. CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM Así lo hicieron muchos CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM
21. ¿Se puede aceptar la pérdida del espíritu auténtico sin hacer algo por su restauración? ¿No fue la CM una hija de la Compañía de Jesús? ¿No es parte de nuestra vocación, especialmente desde que la CM llegara a ser una obra de la Iglesia universal, inspirar al movimiento con el carisma específico del “hombre de la Iglesia” Ignacio de Loyola?
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23. La Formación de Sus Miembros Las Congregaciones Marianas deben, por lo tanto, dar a sus miembros una formación que los capacitará para ser ejemplo de vida Cristiana y de celo apostólico . Las Congregaciones Marianas debidamente afiliadas a la Prima Primaria… son asociaciones religiosas establecidas y constituidas por la Iglesia.
24. Fin Apostólico, La Cooperación “Entre sus fines principales las CM incluyen todas las formas de apostolado, en particular, el apostolado social, ya que, la obra apostólica de difundir el Reino de Cristo y de la defensa los derechos de la Iglesia, es un mandato recibido de la misma Jerarquía Eclesiástica.”
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26. El P. Janssens nombró al P. Louis Paulussen sj, Director del Secretariado Central en Roma. La orden que el P. Paulussen recibió del General: Favor de viajar lo más posible; el tiempo de estar sentado en casa ha terminado!
27. Preparar una Federación Mundial Para reunir a gente – laicos y sacerdotes – en una federación mundial, unión mundial, comunidad mundial… “ Es esencial que reunamos a la gente. Es esencial que trabajen, deliberen y oren juntos, que puedan cooperar unos con otros y servir a la Iglesia a nivel mundial.”
28. En Octubre de 1951 en Roma: El PRIMER CONGRESO MUNDIAL para el apostolado laico. Encuentro con la CM dentro del Congreso: - un grupo de 25 - 19 laicos, 2 sacerdotes diocesanos, 4 Jesuits LA URGENCIA DE COOPERACIÓN SOBRE UNA BASE INTERNACIONAL PERMANENTE
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31. Con esta carta, se fundó de manera oficial La Federacíon Mundial. 13 de abril de 1954 - Pio XII nombró al Arz. Joseph Gawlina Asistente Eclesiástico de la Federacíon Mundial.
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33. ROMA 1954 La Universidad Gregoriana - una continuación directa del Colegio Romano Un punto de arranque para una renovación a nivel mundial Los delegados planificaron el encuentro y organizaron las elecciones del Consejo Ejecutivo.
34. NEWARK 1959 EL DESEO COMÚN: renovación seria y rápida Mandato de la FM al Secretariado Romano: Elaboren nuevas Reglas Comunes
35. 1959 hasta 1964: un tiempo de diálogo escrito a nivel mundial Las características principales de los PRINCIPIOS GENERALES Federaciones Nacionales Secretariado aparecieron poco a poco.
36. BOMBAY 1964 Alineando los PP.GG. con el Concilio Vaticano II Esperen…
37. ROME 1967 19– 21de Octubre, 1967 Domus Pacis Roma 140 delegados de 38 países
38. Los delegados participantes, movidos por el Espíritu del Señor, y influenciados por el Vaticano II y el redescubrimiento de las fuentes Ignacianas, aprobaron un amplio programa de actualización para esta antigua organización de 400 años.
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40. Promúlguese: Que la federación del mundo con un apostolado voluntario común asuma acción concreta orientada a terminar con la pobreza y la injusticia mundial según el espíritu del ‘ Populorum Progressio.’
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42. STO. DOMINGO 1970 11-15 de Agosto,1970 Casa de Retiro Manresa-Loyola Haina, Sto. Domingo DELIBERACIÓN COMÚN Principios Generales: logros y carencias Rol de la CVX en la crisis de la Iglesia y en el desafío del desarrollo
43. “… los delegados debían haber estudiado y discutido sobre la crisis en la Iglesia hoy; en lugar de ello, vivieron la crisis.” ( Progressio , Otoño 1970) El fracaso del programa planificado. La renuncia de cuatro federaciones de la federación mundial. Informes de las delegaciones nacionales con sugerencias para la actividad futura de la Federación Mundial
44. La Naturaleza de la CVX La Estructura de la CVX Las Comunicaciones El Apostolado Común Voluntario Las áreas necesitadas de acción durante los próximos tres años:
45. Toda división lleva en sí la promesa de una unión más fuerte… Por esto Santo Domingo significa para nosotros invitación y provocación. (Fr. Paulussen) Un desafío de primer nivel
46. AUGSBURG 1973 CVX: Una Comunidad al Servicio de la Liberación de Todo Ser Humano 5 – 9 de Agosto, 1973 Augsburgo, Alemania 170 delegados de 40 países
48. “ ¿La liberación de todo ser humano, en el interior de un problema político, corresponde a la CVX como tal , y no es solo algo que sus miembros, como individuos, asumen como prioridad ?” Una respuesta afirmativa con matices diferentes.
49. Cuatro puntos concretos de dirección y acción : Compromiso para la transformación de estructuras políticas, económicas, sociales, culturales y religiosas usando el discernimiento para determinar las prioridades y los métodos de acción Apertura al mundo por la presencia, la acción y la colaboración de toda persona de buena voluntad…, solidaridad con los muy pobres y oprimidos, y trabajo ecuménico.
50. Reconocimiento de la importancia capital de una formación… arraigada en los Ejercicios Espirituales y en las culturas de los diferentes países. Una vida comunitaria…en la que el compartir y la ayuda mutua se extiende a todas las Comunidades, a otras naciones y a los pobres.
51. MANILA 76 180 delegados de 39 países de cinco continentes Pobres con Cristo Para Mejor Servicio
52. Cursos de Formación en Manila ANTES de la Asamblea: CURSO DE FORMACIÓN I CURSO DE FORMACIÓN II DESPUÉS de la Asamblea: CURSO DE FORMACIÓN III (21-30 de Agosto)
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54. La FORMACIÓN: -- un acento fuerte para arraigarse en situaciones concretas y en la inserción en los sectores más pobres. -- el énfasis en la ayuda que se da de manera que se vivan y implementen los Ejercicios Espirituales.
55. La COMUNICACIÓN: Buscar el crecimiento de las personas y comunidades por medios de: --el intercambio de personas entre países, --el hermanamiento, --el uso más amplio de publicaciones: PROGRESSIO y Proyectos ; el intercambio de los periódicos nacionales --reuniones internacionales para compartir información de situaciones específicas y metodología de la acción
56. ROMA '79 HACIA UNA COMUNIDAD MUNDIAL AL SERVICIO DE UN MUNDO 8 – 18 de Setiembre, 1979 Villa Cavalletti, Roma 42 países representados
58. Fue claramente un sí, pero un sí humilde, expresado no sin reservas y miedo. El silencio momentaneo así lo reconoció. Luego vino el aplauso. En seguida vino el canto. Fue el momento de ser Comunidad Mundial. Un momento de gozo. Y reflexión. Después de la votación se dió un silencio de asombro. La Asamblea General estaba diciendo SÍ .
59. PROVIDENCE '82 25 de Agosto – 7 de Setiembre Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A. Delegados de 44 países EL LLAMADO A SER COMUNIDAD MUNDIAL
60. LA REPETICIÓN IGNACIANA Providence ’82 fue el vivir de nuevo la gracia de Roma ‘79, enriquecida por las experiencias de los años intermedios. Providence ’82 buscó “la confirmación de la decisión tomada en Roma.”
61. ¿TE SIENTES LLAMADO, AHORA, A UNA COMUNIDAD MUNDIAL? SÍ – 37 NO – 0 ABSTENCIONES - 2
62. La Decisión: Realizar la Asamblea General cada cuatro años. Cuatro años para VIVIR la gracia de Providence ‘82 en el espíritu del tema bíblico de la Asamblea: “… se te ha declarado lo que es bueno, lo que Dios de ti pide: tan sólo esto, obrar con justicia, que sepas amar y caminar humildemente con tu Dios. (Miqueas 6:8)
63. LOYOLA '86 21 – 30 de Agosto, 1986 Centro de Espiritualidad Loyola, España 134 delegados de 50 países MARÍA - MODELO DE NUESTRA MISIÓN “Hagan Lo Que Él Les Diga.”
64. La Gracia de Loyola ‘86 La Confirmación de nuestra identidad, arraigada en los Ejercicios Espirituales de San Ignacio: Enviados en Misión en unión con Cristo pobre y humilde y en imitación de María “ También hemos reconocido que no podemos ser fieles a nuestra misión sin situarla en el contexto de nuestra comunidad, sintiendo que es la comunidad entera que es enviada, unida en mente y corazón.”
66. GUADALAJARA '90 30 de August – 7 de Setiembre, 1990 Guadalajara, Mexico CVX AL SERVICIO DEL REINO “Yo los escogí y los he puesto para que vayan y produzcan fruto, y ese fruto permanezca.” (Jn 15:16)
67. La Gracia de Guadalajara ’90 “ Hemos experimentado una gracia de conocernos, como movidos por el deseo de servir con Cristo en el trabajo del Reino, y hemos sido confirmados en este llamado… A la vez, hemos llegado a conocernos como aún necesitados de mayor unidad y libertad espiritual, como una comunidad de discípulos.”
68. La Aprobación de los Principios Generales y las Normas Generales revisados por la Asamblea Mundial La Aprobación Canónica por el Consejo Pontíficio para los Laicos, el 3 de diciembre de 1990, fiesta de San Francisco Javier.
69. HONG KONG '94 160 delegados y observadores de 59 países
70. HONG KONG '94 20 – 30 de Julio, 1994 Hong Kong University, Hong Kong CVX COMUNIDAD EN MISIÓN “ He venido a traer fuego a la tierra y cuánto deseo que estuviera ardiendo ya.”
71. La Gracia de Hong Kong ‘94 El llamado de una conversión profunda que perdura con referencia a nuestra MISIÓN Esta conversión pide el magis en: - La integración de las realidades sociales en nuestra vida y acción - La consciencia de nuestro ser una comunidad llamada a ser puesta con Cristo y enviada por él - La lectura de los signos de los tiempos y la traducción de nuestra experiencia espiritual como un servicio para construir la justicia y la paz.
72. ITAICI '98 Delegados y Observadores de 54 países
73. ITAICI '98 22 – 31 de Julio, 1998 Villa Kostka, Itaici, Brazil Profundizar nuestra Identidad como un Cuerpo Apostólico – Clarificar nuestra Misión Común “ CVX una carta de Cristo, escrito por el Espíritu, enviada al mundo de hoy.” (Cf: 2Cor. 3:3)
74. La Gracia de Itaici ‘98 Hemos descubierto tres áreas de misión: Primero, queremos traer el poder liberador de Cristo a nuestra realidad social. Segundo, queremoos encontrar a Cristo en todas nuestras culturas y permitir que su gracia ilumine todo lo que necesita transformación. Tercero, queremos vivir a Cristo para llevarlo a todo aspecto de nuestra vida diaria en el mundo.
75. Medios necesarios para la misión Los Ejercicios Espirituales como fuente espiritual que nutre y nos da fuerza para la misión Formación para la misión, para que nuestra comunidad llegue a ser un instrumento más eficiente de servicio.
76. NAIROBI '03 Una Comunidad Apostólica que comparte la responsabilidad para la misión. Discerniendo Enviando Sosteniendo Evaluando
77.
78. En los inicios de la CVX se encuentra una gracia llamada IGNACIO de LOYOLA. Su secreto siempre había sido el amor ardiente de Dios: un fuego, que ardía discreta y prudente- mente y, conquistaba de manera irrestible … Su secreto ya no es un secreto para nosotros.
82. Louis Paulussen, SJ, Dios trabaja así , Progressio, June 1979 Emile Villaret, SJ, Historia abreviada de las Congregaciones de la Virgen , Missouri, 1957 Progressio, invierno 1968 Progressio, otoño 1969 Progressio, verano 1970 Progressio, otoño 1970 Progressio, mayo 1971 Progressio, setiembre 1973 Progressio, setiembre-noviembre 1976
83. Progressio, setiembre-Noviembre 1979 Roma ’79 (“Hechos” de la Asamblea), diciembre 1979 Progressio, enero-marzo 1983 Progressio, julio 1986 Progressio, setiembre-noviembre 1986 Projects, no. 86, 27 – setiembre de 1990 Progressio, Nos. 2* 3* 4* 1994 Progressio, Nos. 1* 2* 3* 4* 1998 Notas de Frau Ingeborg von Grafenstein El informe del Vice Asistente de la Asamblea de Nairobi
84. Las fotografías fueron tomadas de Los archivos de CVX Alemania y CVX Filipinas y de la Web mundial. AMDG
Notas do Editor
At the origins of the CLC is a wonderful grace God called by the name Ignatius of Loyola. He was a man with a great secret. His secret had always been the infinite love of God: a fire, gently burning, discreet, prudent, but irresistibly conquering…
Thus, he became the heart of a small community… he tried to form really free men. Free, not only to love and to serve, but free to love and to serve always. Free, because totally poor and pure… Thus, he became the founder of the Society of Jesus.
Thus, he became the man who inspired the lay groups around his first companions. These groups of lay-men cooperated with the fathers in the apostolate.
These groups sprung in the 1540s. In 1540, Peter Faber led a group in Parma, also called the Society of Jesus. This group produced the first Jesuit martyr. Sometime before 1545 – Francis Xavier was helped in his difficult mission by a group of young men, on fire with love and zeal. In 1545, Paschase Broet wrote about a flourishing group in Faenza. In 1547, Ignatius himself started the Society of Twelve Apostles in Rome. And in 1548, Nadal began a group in Calabria.
These groups were the pre-cursors of the Marian Congregations or the CM (Congregatio Marianae). The CM is the direct ancestor of the Christian Life Community.
An important date in CLC history is May 3, 1556. On that day a young man of 24, dressed as a worker, presented himself in the Jesuit house near the little church of Madonna della Strada in Rome. He wanted to enter the Society of Jesus. He came from Liege, Belgium. He walked all the way. His name - Jean Leunis, rightly known as the founder of the MC! Ignatius himself and Polanco, his secretary, examined the candidate. After some days, on June 18, Jean Leunis began his novitiate. Six weeks later, Ignatius of Loyola passed away.
The story is well known. In the Roman College, Jean Leunis gathered a group of students and prepared them to do apostolic work in Rome. This group became the Marian Congregation of the Roman College.
Jean Leunis’s life as a Jesuit was spent from one city to another. Everywhere he went, the MC sprouted and flourished.
Jean Leunis died on November 19, 1584. The seed that fell to the ground bore fruit in a few days. On Dec. 5, 1584, Pope Gregory XIII, with the issuance of the pontifical bull Omnipotentis Dei, canonically established the Congregatio of the Roman College. The group Leunis left behind came to be known as the Primaria, the mother and head of all groups, with the right to affiliate other groups of the same nature.
The MCs aimed at unity of life – which meant bringing all aspects of human existence together in one Christian way of life. This was clear in the oldest known rules of 1574, prepared by Jean Leunis.
Leunis believed in and promoted community life. The title page of the rules he formulated carried the Latin text “ubi duo vel tres congregati sunt…” (Where two or three are gathered…) Leunis and the first members incorporated this text into their very name. It was a name that signified their strong bond of community.
The strong bond of community was nurtured by common activities done daily. The members of the Congregation faithfully practiced what they believed: “All are members of one family and brothers in Christ.”
The other part of the name of Leunis’ group is Marian. The preamble of the first rules explains why. The Congregation, according to custom, chose a patron in heaven for protection and guidance. They chose the most Holy Virgin of the Annunciation.
Thus, the Holy Virgin of the Annunciation became known as the Madonna of the Prima Primaria. Thus, we celebrate March 25 as World CLC Day.
The oldest rules of 1574 were replaced by the Common Rules of 1587, prepared by Superior General Fr. Claudio Aquaviiva. Fr. Aquaviva and his advisers sought, above all: The formation of laymen, conscious of their personal vocation in the Church of their time.
Statistics have it that from 1540 to 1773, a period of 233 years, 2500 groups were affiliated to the Prima Primaria. This number grew to about 80,000 from 1773 to 1948, which means an increase of 77,500 groups in only 175 years.
Why this rapid multiplication? This was brought about by what Fr. Paulussen called “strange decisions.” On July 21, 1773, Pope Clement XIV signed a document suppressing the Society of Jesus, all its works, ministries and activities. More than 20,000 Jesuits were sent home. And the General was imprisoned. But thanks to Tsarina Catherine II, the Society and all its works, including the MC, continued to exist in some territories she had occupied.
Elsewhere, the Society and therefore also the MC disappeared. But a second strange decision caused the MC to make a comeback. On Nov. 14, 1773, Clement XIV decided that the MC could continue everywhere without the Jesuits. He decreed that all bishops the world over could establish the MC. And many did. The MC increased and multiplied but the original Ignatian spirit declined. What mushroomed was a pious mass movement that was popularly considered as an infallible means to protect youth from evil.
Certainly, this phenomenon did not go unnoticed by the Society of Jesus. There were reactions that gave rise to good Jesuit questions and led to good decisions.
First the questions: Are we allowed to accept the decline of the authentic spirit without doing something about its restoration? Was the MC not a child of the Society of Jesus? Is it not part of our vocation, especially since the MC became a work of the universal Church, to inspire the movement with the specific charism of the “man of the Church” Ignatius of Loyola?
Now the good decisions: The first was to say YES to restoration. Fr. Ledochowski, then Superior General of the Society, concretized this Yes into a meeting of the Jesuits working in the MC. That meeting led to another good decision: to start in Rome a central secretariat tasked to revive the most neglected work of the Society – the MC. 26 years later,a very good decision was taken by a very MC-friendly Pope. Pius XII promulgated the Apostolic Constitution “Bis Saeculari.”
Bis Saeculari was a clear authoritative statement on the authentic identity of the MC. It stated that “the Sodalities of Our Lady… are religious associations established and constituted by the Church.” It also stressed that Sodality members be given a formation that will make them capable of being examples of Christian living and apostolic zeal.
Bis Saeculari also clearly defined what the Sodalities are for. “ Among their primary ends, Sodalities include every form of the apostolate, particularly the social apostolate, since the apostolic work of spreading the Kingdom of Christ and defending the rights of the Church has been mandated to Sodalities by the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy itself.”
The document inspired more good decisions. In 1950, Fr. Janssens convened an international Jesuit meeting. But discussions focused more on the external forms of the MC. After the meeting, two questions came to the fore: What was to be done concretely? What about the laity?
The answer came a few months later. Fr. Janssens appointed Fr. Louis Paulussen, head of the secretariat in Rome and gave him this holy order: PLEASE TRAVEL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE; THE TIME TO SIT AT HOME IS OVER!
What fired up Fr. Paulussen was the thrust of preparing a world federation. He declared that: “Essential is that we bring people – lay and priests - together. Essential is that they can work, deliberate and pray together, that they can cooperate with others and serve the Church on world level.”
People – lay and priests – were indeed brought together in October 1951 in Rome. The MC wanted to participate at the First World Congress for the lay apostolate held in Rome at the same time. But it was not invited because it did not exist on world level. Fortunately, out of the kindness and understanding of the organizers, an international delegation of ten MC members was allowed to participate. The congress provided a good occasion to organize a meeting of all the participating MC members. There were 15 of them from different national delegations. Thus, before a group of 25 - 19 lay people, 2 diocesan priests and four Jesuits – Fr. Paulussen explained the urgency of cooperation on permanent international basis.
A year later, in Barcelona, everyone not only agreed to form a world federation. The delegates also asked the Rome secretariat to prepare some Statutes, as soon as possible.
A draft of the Statutes was promptly written and sent to all national federations. From the Federations came many responses of agreement and very few amendments. From the Pope himself came an immediate response of extreme pleasure in January 1953. A few months later, the Statutes received Papal Approval through a letter dated July 2, 1953.
With this letter, the World Federation was officially founded. In the following year, Pius XII named Arch. Joseph Gawlina Ecclesiastical Assistant of the World Federation.
With the world federation established, more questions were asked by Fr. Paulussen. Now, what is the next step? Is it to bring people together? How? Several national federations sent suggestions which converged on one main idea: Organize a “world-congress” on the occasion of the Marian Year in 1954.
Thus, Rome 1954 came to be. The delegates planned the meeting and organized the elections of the Executive Council. Thus, Rome ’54 became a starting point of a world-wide renewal that, significantly, took place at the Gregorian University, which is the direct continuation of the Roman College.
The road of world wide renewal led to Newark 1959. At that meeting the World Federation gave the Rome secretariat a mandate which reflected the wishes at the base: draft new common rules.
The mandate gave rise to world wide written dialogue from 1959 till 1964. Through the exchange between the national federations and the Rome secretariat, the main features of our General Principles appeared, little by little.
After five years of work, the new rules were ready. They could have been proposed in Bombay 1964. But the World Federation proved faster than Vatican II. The bishops and priests huddled at the Vatican were not yet finished with their work. So the Federation, wanting to make sure that the General Principles would be aligned with Vatican II, decided to wait…
When Vatican II ended and when it was announced that the third world congress for the lay apostolate was going to be in October 1967 in Rome, the Executive Council decided to have the Assembly also in Rome, immediately after the Congress.
At the Rome Assembly, the delegates approved an extensive program of aggiornamento for the 400-year old organization. Newness founded on the rich heritage of the past was the order of the Assembly. Approved were: the new General Principles, new statutes, a new international name: Christian Life Communities,
Approved were: the new General Principles, new statutes, a new international name: Christian Life Communities,
a new juridical structure and a new apostolate. The resolution about the new apostolate read as follows: Be it resolved that the federation of the world as a voluntary common apostolate undertake concrete local action aimed at ending world poverty and injustice in the spirit of ‘Populorum Progressio.’ This resolution received unanimous approval.
In the same year, Fr.Pedro Arrupe, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, hander over the leadership of the new community to its lay leaders. In a letter addressed to the Jesuits he requested them to drop as much as possible their directive role and to act more as a source of inspiration and animators of t he Community, without giving up the specific task of representing the Hierarchy of the Church.
The new community moved towards its fifth General Council meeting in Sto. Domingo. This gathering was meant to be a communal deliberation. Two major areas were on the agenda: the achievements and failings of the WF since the General Principles went into effect and the role of CLC in the Church and in the challenge of development.
But the unexpected happened. At the Assembly, the delegates were supposed to study and discuss the post-Vatican II crisis in the Church. Instead the delegates lived the crisis. The unforeseen events consisted of the overturning of the planned program and the withdrawal from the world federation of four countries. There were efforts to formulate a new schedule but there was not enough time to work out new lines of thought, formulate resolutions and arrive at consensus. Instead, the Executive Council asked national delegations to prepare reports with suggestions for future activity of the World Federation.
The reports indicated the need: to rethink the nature of CLC to set up suitable structures to set up communication systems for strengthening the federation to clarify the particular role of CLC regarding development, and how to best serve in the fight for justice and peace
The three years after Sto. Domingo were marked by hard work intended to forge stronger union. It became clear that the division in the assembly carried the promise of a stronger union… Santo Domingo came to signify an invitation, a provocation, a challenge of the first rank.”
This challenge met a response of the first rank in Augsburg ’73. The Assembly began on a note of warm welcome, joy, openness and vibrant hope. But crisis struck on the third day. Differences in understanding and disagreements regarding “community” and “liberation” threatened to split the assembly.
But respectful listening prevailed. Thus, Augsburg ’73 became an experience of unity amidst differences.
The delegates remained focused on the question: “The liberation of all men, being at the core a political problem, should the CLCs as such, and not only their members as individuals, make it their concern?” To this question, the Assembly’s response, though with different nuances, was predominantly affirmative.
To become a community at the service of liberation, the assembly identified four points of direction and action: Commitment to the transformation of political, economic, social, cultural and religious structures using discernment to determine priorities and methods of action Openness to the world by presence, by action and by collaboration with all men of goodwill, solidarity with the very poor and the oppressed, and ecumenical work
Recognition of the capital importance of a formation… rooted in the Spiritual Exercises and in the cultures of the different countries A community life… in which sharing and mutual help extend to all the Communities, to other nations and to the poor
Manila ’76 further defined the way for the world community. This assembly pointed to the call to be poor with Christ for better service. The delegates grappled with this call not just during the assembly itself
but also before it - during Formation Courses I and II - and then after the assembly during Formation Course III.
Manila ’76 singled out three major points of emphasis to be pursued in the next three years: The first was concerning service which makes a clear option in favor of the poor and uses discernment in determining priorities.
The second was formation which included, among other things: A strong accent on being grounded in concrete situations and in insertion in the poorer sectors, and Emphasis on assistance so that the Spiritual Exercises are lived and implemented
And the third point was communication for fostering the growth of persons and communities through: exchange of persons between countries Twinning More extensive use of publications International gatherings for sharing information about situations and action methodology
Three years later, all roads led back to Rome. There the delegates sought the response embedded in the theme: Towards a world community at the service of one world.
The question for discernment was: Should we now actively strive to become a world community? The answer of the assembly expressed through voting was: yes - 23, no - 7, abstentions – 6.
In the documentation about the assembly, it is written: There was something of a stunned silence after the voting. The General Assembly was saying yes . It was a clear yes, but it was a humble yes, uttered not without reservation and fear. The momentary silence acknowledged that. Then came the applause. Then came the song. It was a moment of World Community. A moment of joy. And reflection.
In 1982, the CLC delegates deliberated and prayed on “The Call to World Community.” This theme provoked a question about repetition. “Aren’t we just repeating an issue that had already been settled in Rome ’79?”
The answer was given in the context of Ignatian repetition. It was explained that: Providence ‘82 is the re-living of the grace of Rome ’79 as enriched by the experiences of the intervening years. Providence ’82 sought “the confirmation or not of the decision taken at Rome.”
And so the assembly searched for God’s will regarding the question: “Do you feel called, now , to become a world community? The answer that emerged was: Yes – 37 No – 0 Abstentions – 2 The confirmation was clear and strong. And the applause and the song were resounding.
Another decision was made in Providence: to hold the General Assembly every four years – which meant: four years TO LIVE the grace indicated by the Scripture verse that guided the assembly: This is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
Four years of living the grace of Providence’82 culminated in the hometown of Ignatius. The assembly asked for the grace to be like Mary and to do whatever Christ tells them.
After days of intense deliberation and prayer, the assembly obtained the grace of Loyola ’86: Confirmation of our identity as rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: sent in Mission in union with Christ poor and humble and in imitation of Mary The assembly also recognized “ that we are not able to be faithful to our mission without situating it in the context of our community, feeling that it is the entire community which is sent, united in mind and heart.”
Time passed swiftly. It was time for Guadalajara ’90. The theme of this assembly signaled a call to further maturation in the world community.
CLC was to be seen at the service not only of the world but of THE KINGDOM. CLC was to be understood as chosen and commissioned to go and bear fruit. Not just any fruit but fruit that will last.
At the end of the assembly, the world community received the grace stated as follows: “ We have experienced a grace of knowing ourselves as moved by the desire to serve with Christ in the work of the Kingdom, and we have been confirmed in this call… at the same time, we have come to know ourselves as still in need of greater unity and spiritual freedom as a community of disciples.”
In Guadalajara, the World Assembly also approved the revised General Principles and the General Norms. These were submitted to the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Three months later, on December 3, 1990, the Council granted the canonical approval.
Hong Kong ’94 was a moment of assessing how the world community lived out the revised General Principles in the past three years. For ten days, delegates and observers
talked and prayed about the invitation to be a Community in Mission, called to be with the Lord who came to bring fire and wants to see that fire blaze without further delay!
The grace of the assembly indicated how the fire was to blaze. Hong Kong ’94 called for a deep ongoing conversion with regard our Mission. This conversion asked for the magis in the integration of social realities into our life and action The awareness of our being a community called to be with Christ and sent by Him The reading of the signs of the times and translating our spiritual experience as a service for building justice and peace.
Four years later, in Brazil, the CLC World Community took a step further in the direction of deepening its identity as an apostolic Body.
This deepening called for the clarification of our Common Mission. As a letter from Christ, written by the Spirit and sent to today’s world, what really was our common mission?
The grace of Itaici took the form of a defined common mission to be carried out in three areas, now quite familiar to us: To bring the freeing power of Christ to our social reality To find Christ in our varied cultures and to let His grace illuminate all that needs transformation To live Christ so as to bring him to every aspect of our daily life in the world.
To make CLC a more reader-friendly letter, Itaici ’98 pointed to the Spiritual Exercises as the spiritual source which nourishes and empowers us for mission. Hence Formation must be for mission.
Five years have passed. We have come to Nairobi. Here we are invited to take another step forward – to embrace the magis in our becoming more truly sent by Christ as members of ONE body. How do we become one body with many members? The way proposed to us is: by becoming more truly an apostolic community that shares responsibility in Mission by discerning together, sending, supporting and evaluating. At this moment we have not yet consolidated our response. We began our discernment proper last Thursday, July 31, the feast of St. Ignatius, the Pilgrim who had walked before us and left a trail to follow.
At this point in our history, the WAY for us to follow is pretty clear. It is the particular steps forward that we are to asked to discern. There is a step being proposed to us now. What is our response?
What response connects with the fire that burned in Ignatius more than four centuries ago? What response fuels the fire to which the CLC traces its ultimate origin? That fire was passed on to Jean Leunis, to Fr. Paulussen and to all the other Jesuits and MC and CLC members before us. This fire is no longer a secret to us. We know that it is the infinite love of God: a fire, gently burning, discreet, prudent, but irresistibly conquering… This fire brought us here to Nairobi.
And so perhaps, at this moment, we are being asked to take off our sandals, to come closer to the fire, and to listen more intently to what it will further tell us. This fire holds the promise of still another grace – that grace that will make CLC, you and me and all our companions back home,
truly the Apostolic Community that we are meant to be: CVX CLC - Sent by Christ, Members of one Body. Amen!