What Is Charism?

Religious life is, of itself, a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and contains the charism of prophetic witness and service.  

Each religious congregation is also blessed with a unique gift of the Holy Spirit called “charism.”  Although this word is used in the singular, “charism” refers to a set of spiritual gifts.  The charism of a congregation gives it a certain flavor.  To explain the concept further,  since families have their own charism, If you think about the families you know, this concept becomes clearer.  One family may place great value on hospitality, bending over backward to make sure that guests feel at home; another family might be rooted  in self-giving and prioritize volunteerism; yet another, gifted with a strong sense of charity, always has  room for someone in need.  All are  fine people, yet one home may feel much more familiar to you.  When this happens, it is usually because your charisms match. In fact, one of the things we hear most often from  those who have joined our SSCM (Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary) family, whether as a Sister, a Servant Companion, an Affiliate, a Consecrated Lay Person, or a Prayer Partner, is “From the moment I first stepped on the grounds, I felt like I had come home.”

The charism of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary is described as faith, family spirit and self-giving.  I have witnessed this charism in the following ways:

* I see faith at work in the openness of the sisters to God’s Word.  They allow the gospels to lead, guide and form them so that they become the living face of Christ in our world.

* Their spirit of self-giving is evident in the way they seek the good of the other, setting aside their own wishes and desires. 

* Family love is demonstrated in their spirit of welcome and loving acceptance of one another and of others.

Have you thought about your own charism?  What are the particular gifts that the Spirit has bestowed on you?  When you look at your family of origin, can you see the common thread?  How may your personal or familial charism intersect with that of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary?