COURSE OF ONGOING FORMATION

(Bucchianico 1998)

the Charism and Spirituality  of camillian mission

By Calisto Vendrame

The Charism in the Constitution

The pathway by which to live the charism and the spirituality of Camillus is to be found in our Constitution which was approved by the Holy See and recognised by it as being a ‘text rich in doctrine and spirituality’.

As a foreword, the beginning of the first Constitution, which was promulgated by the second General chapter of 1599, which was itself chaired by our founder saint, forms a part of our present Constitution. This foreword deserves special study for it brings out elements that always apply:

– Foundation of the Word of God.

– Divine inspiration and motivation.

‑ Free choice.

– Being free of everything and everybody, from oneself as well.

– Religious at the service of the sick.

‑ A capital of grace of the Holy Spirit.

– Allowing oneself to be guided by love: what we do to the sick we do to Christ.

– Our ministry is a very good way of gaining the precious pearl of charity.

– Charity ‘transforms us in God’ and frees us from sin.

– Giving one’s life for Christ is a great gain.

Our Charism and Spirituality

We have said that our charism and spirituality are like two sides of the same mountain. On the one hand, there is gift (the proposal) and, on the other, there is acceptance (the reply).

In our Constitution the arrangement of the chapters is also important. In the first drafts, the charism and ministry were together and made up the same chapter; the decision was taken to place the chapter on community before ministry: vows and ministry should be lived in a community.

In the chapter on our charism we have a presentation (a visiting card) and a theological-historical discourse on love whose source is the Father, is manifested in the Son, and is communicated through the Holy Spirit

– Witnesses (and prophets) to the loving mercy of Christ for the sick (C 1 and 10).

–  Love that has its source in God (2).

–  Is manifested in the son, in particular for the sick (3-5), and

–  Is communicated through the Holy Spirit (6).

– The apostles received the mandate to continue Jesus’ care for the sick in the Church (4).

–  The Church does this (7).

– Camillus, called by God, began a new family dedicated to service to the sick (8).

–  The Church recognises this ‘new school of charity’ (9).

–  Response to the gift of God: consecration, communion, spirit (11‑13).

–  Recognition of personal gifts in the great charism (14).

Our spirituality has its source in the presence of Christ and in those who serve them in his name (13), but it informs the whole of our lives as Camillian religious and is thus present in the whole of the Constitution. The whole of our religious lives and all of our activity receive a characteristic impress that comes from the charism, as is described in the first chapter. Thus the charism creates an approach all of its own, both in organising common life and in living our vows, in formation and above all in pastoral care. The specific chapter on spiritual life (art. 61-69) brings together reflections and rules that help us to always keep our spirituality alive in order to always serve the sick with joy and enthusiasm, ‘with all dignity and charity, with the affection a loving mother has for her only child who is ill as the Holy Spirit teaches us’ (C 44).

The first chapter deserves a deeper analysis: see my contribution to the commentary on the Constitution in A.V. La Costituzione dell’Ordine dei MI, edited by Angelo Brusco, Ed. Camilliane, Turin, 1995.

READ HERE THE COMMENTARY ON THE CONSTITUTION BY FR. CALLISTO