Living the Marianist Spirit: How Are You Being Called to Bring Christ into the World as Mary Did?

Living the

Marianist Spirit

Living the

Marianist Spirit

How are you being called to bring Christ into the world as Mary did?

How are you being called to bring Christ into the world as Mary did?

The Five Pillars of

Marianist Charism What does “charism” mean?

A “charism” is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to a community for the enrichment of the Church and the world. Various communities of vowed religious and lay people—Franciscans, Benedictines, Jesuits, Regnum Christi, Dominicans, just to name a few—have a particular personality and set of gifts. Just as there are hundreds of flavors of ice cream, so are there hundreds of charisms in the Church that each offer its own “flavor” of Christianity.

This short booklet explains the essential elements, or “pillars,” of the Marianist charism. These pillars are not exclusive to the Marianists—each is an aspect of Catholicism­—but in combination, they comprise the main ingredients of the Marianist “flavor.”

“What is a faithful soul to do in the chaos of events which seem to swallow it up? Sustain itself calmly by that faith which... assures us that all things work together unto good for those who love God.” —Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

The First Pillar:

faith

A life of faith, which Pope Francis describes as being born of an encounter with the living God, is foundational for the life of all Christians. Father Chaminade, the Founder of the Marianists, taught that faith is not primarily an intellectual endeavor; rather, it is something that must take root in our hearts. This “faith of the heart� is cultivated through prayer, for it is our prayer that establishes and maintains our relationship with God. In this relationship, we discover our true value as a son or daughter of God. The fundamental goal of this faith of the heart, and of the entire Marianist spirit, is to become more like Jesus himself, the ultimate model of faith.

But how does one become more like Jesus, formed in his image?

Let’s look to the next pillar:

The Second Pillar:

mary

Central to the Marianist charism is our relationship with Mary, the mother of Jesus. As we try to become more like Jesus, who better to turn to for help in this endeavor than Jesus’ own mother, who knew him better than anyone?

As Mary gave shape to Jesus’ body and spirit, both in her womb and as a child, so we turn to Mary for help in being shaped into his image. This special relationship means that Marianists frequently invite Mary into their prayer and pray for her intercession; they reflect on stories of her in Scripture and they imitate the virtues she gave to her Son: humility, courage, hospitality, attentiveness, perseverance, and faith.

“Grant that we may be formed by Mary into the image of her Son, and help us participate in the love of Christ for his Mother.”

—Marianist Prayer of Consecration

The Third Pillar:

Inclusive community We are called to the most faithful imitation of Jesus not only as individuals, but also as community. Forming communities of faith has been a key element of Marianist life since the year 1800, when Father Chaminade began gathering lay people from all walks of life into groups called sodalities to rebuild the Church after the French Revolution.

These communities provided mutual support and encouragement as they prayed, served, and worshiped together. Their communal witness attracted a multitude of others to faithful and just living, and the sodalities grew exponentially. These sodalities made Christ visible to others by helping people see what Christianity looked like when lived faithfully.

To this day, living, working, praying, and sharing faith in community is essential for both vowed and lay Marianists, for it is in sharing the struggles and joys of faith together that we are shaped into the image of Christ. The spirit of the Marianist Family bears witness to how people of different vocations, cultures, races, and families of origin can share life together.

“How fortunate we are when a [community], guided by certain and invariable principles, attracts and reassures us... by giving us example, advice, the support of the good, and all sorts of things which isolated individuals cannot possibly give.� —Blessed Chaminade

“We are but one family; let us have but one heart and one soul, and belong to God alone.”

—Blessed Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon

The Fourth Pillar:

family spirit To become like Jesus means to take on his identity as Son of God and Son of Mary; thus, we become children of God and children of Mary. Marianists often call themselves the “Family of Mary” or the “Marianist Family” for this reason.

Even at the beginning of the Marianist Family, both Father Chaminade and Mother Adele, the Foundress of the Marianist Sisters, thought of the Marianist brothers, sisters, and laity as being one Family of Mary. In the United States, all three groups, or “branches,” of the Marianist Family are represented: the Society of Mary (Marianist Brothers and Priests), the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianist Sisters), and the Marianist Laity. Members from each branch collaborate in ministry, support each other in prayer, and relate to each other as family.

Each of the branches brings complementary gifts to the table that are equally valued. Taken together, these gifts enrich the Church and the world.

The Fifth Pillar:

Mission

Mary’s mission on Earth is the same mission that Marianists embrace: bringing Christ into the world. This is why Father Chaminade said that Marianists are “missionaries of Mary.” But being a missionary does not just mean going to a different country; it also means bringing Christ to your roommate, your professor, members of your family, even to people you interact with online.

Marianists particularly embrace Mary’s call at the Wedding at Cana in John’s Gospel to “Do whatever He [ Jesus] tells you.” This involves paying attention to the signs of the times and the needs of a place to discern how we are called to act. Since we are all missionaries of Mary, each branch of the Marianist Family works together in various ministries: outreach to the poor, parish and retreat ministry, social justice activism, lay community formation, and education in faith through Catholic schools and universities. Currently, members of the Marianist Family live on every continent except Antarctica, fulfilling Chaminade’s insistence that Mary’s mission is truly universal.

“Ours is a grand work, a magnificent work! If it is universal, it is because we are missionaries of Mary who says to us: ‘Do whatever He tells you!” Yes, we are all missionaries.”

—Blessed Chaminade

The Marianist System of

virtues

Now that we’ve explored the five pillars of the Marianist charism, it is important to mention one of the greatest spiritual legacies of Father Chaminade: the System of Virtues. Chaminade believed that living a life of mission and faith together is only possible if Marianists practice certain virtues, which he organized into three categories: preparation virtues, purification virtues, and consummation virtues.

The Preparation Virtues are habits that help us confront the challenges of daily life. They begin with what Chaminade called “The Silences.” The silences are not necessarily about “silencing” certain faculties but rather disciplining them. The five silences are: Silence of Words (Does my speech build others up?), Silence of Signs (Do my gestures convey kindness?), Silence of the Mind (Are

my thoughts loving?), Silence of Passions (Do I get carried away by my anger in the heat of the moment?), and Silence of Imagination (Do I use my creative gifts for good or for evil?).

The other preparation virtues are recollection (being aware of God’s presence in each moment), preparatory obedience (anticipating the needs and wishes of others), and forbearance (approaching hardships with grace and positivity).

The Purification Virtues are habits that root out tendencies that deny our best selves. They especially involve how we respond to things that are out of our control. They are: having confidence in God, seeking counsel from others, recognizing our own limitations, being patient, practicing perseverance, and resisting temptations.

Finally, the Consummation Virtues are habits that lead to wholeness.

These are the virtues that define Jesus, and by extension, his mother. They are: humility, modesty, detachment from the goods of the world, and what’s called “self-abnegation,” meaning emptying ourselves of all ego and selfishness.

Embodying these virtues helps others encounter Jesus in ourselves as individuals and as a community.

Want to learn more about the Marianists?

Check out these resources: Marianist.com www.nacms.org books for purchase and free online articles Amuhighered.org Association of Marianist Universities