Charism

What is “charism”? Is it the same as “charisma”? Occasionally, we come across people who have charisma. I have met a few teachers who were charismatic. Students were drawn to them like iron filings to a magnet. Most of us have to work hard to achieve success, however, charismatic people seem to exert little effort to gain greater results. Their “megastar” status can be quite unnerving.

The word charisma is defined as a “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.” It is the plural form of charism which has come into the English language from a Greek word meaning “grace”. A charism is a gift that is given freely. Usually, it is inferred that the gift is divinely given. The word charisma means “giftedness,” that is, possessing many gifts or talents, hence the “megastar” status of charismatic people.

St Paul is credited with having been the first writer to use the word “charism” in a religious and christian context. For instance, in his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, a Greek city, he wrote:

There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do. (1 Cor. 12, 4-6)

When St Paul used the word “charism” he usually meant two things. First, he used it to refer to the gift of Christian life given in Baptism. Second, he meant a specific gift given by God to individuals or groups so that they could serve the community and build up the Kingdom of God. It is this latter meaning that is of interest to us now.

In the Catholic Church there are many religious orders, congregations and institutes. Each of these religious families has received from the Spirit through its founder a particular charism to achieve a specific mission in the Church. It's worth the time and effort it takes to explore some of the statements made by a few of these families in order to understand the concept of "charism" so that it can then be applied to St Maximilian Kolbe and then the school that has his name. One site worth visiting is that of the Sisters of St Francis. On their homepage, they have the following statement about their charism:

We, the Sisters of St. Francis of Savannah, Missouri, believe that the Holy Spirit has gifted us and continually blesses us with a charism in the service of the Church. We identify this charism as A JOYFUL SIMPLE SPIRIT, FOUNDED ON A PRAYERFUL DEPENDENCE ON GOD, WHICH FREES US TO WITNESS GOD'S LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE IN GENEROUS, HOSPITABLE RESPONSE TO THEIR NEEDS.

We share this value as a community. It has been handed down to us from Father Sebastian Schwarz and Mother Franziska Wimmer. It was especially manifested through Mother Pia Feichtenschlager, whose guidance established our community in the United States and whose living example served to call forth and to form the expression of our charism in the American Province.

If we analyse their statement, we arrive at a set of core values:

• joyful, simple spirit
• prayerful dependence on God
• giving witness to God's love
• generously providing hospitality to those in need
• living in community

The Sisters believe that these values are needed so that God's Kingdom can be established and maintained on earth. Moreover, they believe that these values are consistent with the mission of the Church as it was given by Jesus.

If these values identify the charism of their community, what makes it different from other religious communities in the Church? What is the charism of St Maximilian Kolbe? To what extent do we share in his charism?

Charisms are recognised in the actions of those to whom charisms are given. The Sisters of St Francis would be recognised by the qualities listed above. What are the qualities that identify us as members of a College named after St Maximilian Kolbe?

The College crest displays the motto: Courage, Faith, Excellence. These words suggest the qualities we hope to develop in ourselves and also instil in our students. Are they the charisms of our school?