11 Bernard Hylla, CR The Marians: Where Are You Coming from and where Are You Going? Ways of Interpreting the Founding Charism On February 18, 2008, addressing the members of the Council for Relations between the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and the Men’s and Women’s International Unions of the Superiors General gathered in the Consistory Hall, Pope Benedict XVI said: “Rediscovering the spirit of the origins, deepening the knowledge of the Founder or Foundress, has helped to impress upon the Institutes a promising new ascetic, apostolic and missionary impetus. There are long-established works and activities that have thus been revived with new nourishment; there are new initiatives of an authentic actualization of the Founders’ charism. It is necessary to continue on this path, praying to the Lord that he will bring to fruition the work he has begun.”1 Rediscovering and interpreting afresh the founding charism, which must be realized today in a new manner, is the “homework” that all institutes must do to preserve their vitality and the timeliness of their beginnings. Classification of Charisms During the Second Vatican Council, a spark was re-enkindled in the Church: the realization that various charisms existed. The term “charism,” which is now having quite “a career” [or becoming very popular] in the lay parlance, had survived primarily thanks to the ascetic and hagiographic literature. For this reason, I will begin with a brief historical sketch on this term and specify its usage and meanings. 1 Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Members of the Council for Relations between the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and the Men’s and Women’s International Unions of Superiors General, Rome, February 18, 2008 (www.vatican.va).
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