The Gift of the Spirit

When it comes to the charism — the gift of the Spirit — that animates our RNDM lives, I am struck by a simple truth: it does not belong to us! Rather, it beats at the centre of all things as a vital force, found even in the first flaring forth of the universe itself (cosmogenesis). It is a force uniquely expressed by and in all beings and all things.

Contemplating, Communion-ing, Missioning

In particular we can experience this charismatic ‘elan vital’ as distilled in a receptive human heart, like that of our founder, Euphrasie Barbier. She experienced this charism as a fundamental intuition about God’s own heart: God is always contemplating (seeing anew), always communion-ing (connecting all as one), and always missioning (sending forth). I think Euphrasie intuited that God was always more of a verb than a noun. Her ‘code word’ for this shape/nature/activity of God is “the Divine Missions.”

So while it could be said that we RNDMs are a unique expression of this charismatic energy, we are certainly not the sole expression. We recognize and resonate with the charism alive in other hearts as well — friends, collaborators, partners-in-mission, even strangers. Together we hear the call to oneness in creating a new world order. We are all called not to the task of ‘converting others,’ but to a profound collaboration and communion with all beings and every thing.

Three Cosmic Laws: Interiority, Communion, Differentiation

Secondly, I am struck by the convergence of cosmology, theology and the charism that energizes our RNDM call. Science tells us that there are three cosmic principles or laws at play at the heart of the universe from the very beginning: interiority, communion and differentiation. It could be argued that the charism that animates us echoes the same dynamic vibrancy that is found in these three cosmic laws.

Interiority

As a cosmic law, interiority points to the interior dimension of things and the power that each thing has to participate in creating the universe.¹ In our charism, interiority is expressed as contemplation — the inner life and the continuous act of surrender to God. This transformation into Christ, for the healing of the whole, from person to planet, calls us to a constant and persistent ‘seeing and participating anew’ to create a just world.

Communion

As a cosmic law, communion refers to relationships, for relationship is the essence of existence.² In our charism, communion is expressed in the tiny but significant word “and” in the phrase “contemplation, communion, and mission”. “And” holds all three in a dynamic relationship.

Differentiation / Diversity

As a cosmic law, differentiation/diversity refers to the fact that in the universe, to be, is to be different.³ In our charism, this is paralleled by our deepening understanding of mission — the ongoing realization that the deeper into Christ a group goes (i.e, the fruit of contemplation) the more diversity it can live (i.e. communion), and live well! We are “sent” to proclaim that all is One, all is Love.⁴ This is not love as easy sentiment, but as a demanding and freeing force for life.

Our Charism

“Our” charism and these universal laws reveal something of the amazing mystery of God hidden in the depths of the created world, and always operative throughout it. So we cannot own the charism, we can only ‘allow’ it; we cannot possess it, but rather it possesses us, if we let it.

Adapted from the original 2020 version. Read the concluding half here: A Musing on Charism Part II