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Chapter 11 The Vitality of the Institute
Experiencing God's Fidelity
163. In our individual lives and in the life of the Institute, we experience the love and fidelity of God1, as well as the motherly care of Mary2.
From this experience springs the vitality of the Institute, which manifests itself in our personal fidelity, in our apostolic fruitfulness, in the awakening of vocations.
Relevance of the Marist Charism Today
164. Our Institute, a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, is a grace forever relevant to the world1.
Our simple and fraternal communities are a call to live according to the spirit of the Beatitudes2. The witness of our dedicated lives and our apostolic commitment reveal to everyone the meaning of human existence3, and encourage those around us, particularly young people, to build a more just society.4
164.1 To promote a better knowledge of our origins and of our spirituality, the Brother Superior General and his Council promote and co-ordinate research into the life, work, and times of the Founder, and into the history of the Institute.
(PC 2, 1; cf 137.8)
164.2 In the different countries and cultures where we are active in the apostolate, we keep up to date our knowledge of the Founder, of the first Brothers, and of the history of the Institute, so that we can maintain, deepen, and develop our spiritual heritage. The Brothers Provincial and the Superiors of Districts have a special responsibility in this regard. (c 578)
164.3 Personally, or in community, we read the publications and documents of the Institute, especially the Circulars of the Superiors. Such reading helps us to know and love our religious family better.
164.4 The Marist Family is an extension of our Institute; it is a movement for people who find themselves attracted to the spirituality of Marcellin Champagnat. In this movement, affiliated members, young people, parents, helpers, former students, and friends deepen within themselves the spirit of our Founder so that they can live it and let it shine forth. The Institute animates and co-ordinates the activities of this movement by setting up suitable
structures. (c 677, 2)
Committed and Responsible
165. The present-day relevance of Marcellin Champagnat's charism is a challenge to our personal and community commitment to incarnate it in different situations and in different cultures. We all have responsibility for this task.
Together with our Superiors, we work to build communities which radiate the presence of Jesus.
In a religious family, an expression of Christ's love for His Church, the stronger members take care of those who are weaker1. That is why the vitality of each Province and District is a matter of concern for the whole Institute.
165.1 Writing reports about those who are making profession in the Institute is one way for us to exercise our responsibility. We fulfil this duty in a spirit of faith and charity, having the good of the Institute at heart. (cf 96.9; 113.5)
Conversion of Heart
166. Conscious of the gap that lies between the calls of God and our responses, we repeatedly feel the need to be converted anew1.
We entreat the Holy Spirit to free us from all that hampers our welcoming Him whole-heartedly2, and we co-operate in His work of liberation. Thus, little by little, Christ becomes the Lord of our lives, making it possible for us to bear fruit, fruit that will last3.
Poverty in Practice
167. Experience teaches us that the vitality of a religious family is closely linked to the way in which it practises gospel poverty.
Aware of our natural tendency towards comfort and wealth, we take care to safeguard simplicity in our personal and community life-style and in our apostolic work1. Our preference is directed towards the poor, with whom we share our lives and our work.
In this way, we comply with the Founder's recommendation: "Remain true to the spirit of poverty and detachment."2
Discerning the Calls
168. Fidelity to our mission requires us to be constantly alert to the signs of the times, to the calls of the Church, and to the needs of youth1. Such alertness makes it easier for us to adapt structures and to take courageous, even unprecedented decisions.
The choice of our apostolic options2 is made in community discernment and with the mediation of Superiors.
Living the Constitutions
169. As Marist Brothers, we look upon our Constitutions as the Gospel interpreted for us and as a sure guide1 in accomplishing God's will. They are a matter of obligation since, by our religious profession, we have pledged ourselves to live them2.
We read them frequently in a spirit of prayer, and we live by them with a deep inner freedom, docile to the Lord.
Approved by the Holy See, which is their authentic interpreter, the Constitutions cannot be changed without its authorisation, and only after a two-thirds majority vote of the General Chapter.
The Statutes may be changed by an absolute majority vote of the Chapter Assembly, with the exception of those which express the obligations of Canon Law3.
169.1 At least once a year we read the Constitutions in their entirety. If possible, this is done in community, in the manner which the community decides.
The Vow of Stability
170. When we arrive at an age when we see more clearly the harmony between our personal vocation and our belonging to the religious family that has nourished us with its life, we may ask, when the Holy Spirit so moves us, to make the vow of stability.
This step expresses our longing to reproduce in our own lives the fidelity that God shows towards us, and to express our gratitude to the Virgin Mary and to the Institute. We also wish to re-affirm, in the presence of our Brothers, our desire to live the Marist ideal with generosity.
By this vow, we commit ourselves to mark our fidelity to the Lord by an even closer attachment to Him, and to do all that we can to make our communities more fraternal, more fervent, more favourable to the spiritual growth of our Brothers and to the awakening of vocations. We also commit ourselves to do all that we can to lead the Institute to follow the direction of the Founder's charism. In addition, we undertake to persevere, even in circumstances of greatest difficulty for ourselves and our religious family1.
170.1 We may take the vow of stability after ten years of perpetual profession. We ask permission of the Brother Provincial, who informs the Brother Superior General so that he may confirm it.
(cf 150.1.1)
170.2 The Superiors encourage the Brothers to ask permission to make the vow of stability. At times they may invite them to do so.
170.3 The vow of stability is made during a Eucharist attended by all the community. Before receiving Holy Communion, the Brother pronounces the following formula, or one like it:
"Lord Jesus, I adore you here present in the Eucharist. I wish to mark my perseverance by an ever-deepening attachment to the Father; to work to create communities that encourage the spiritual growth of my Brothers and serve to awaken vocations; to make your Mother known and loved; to uphold the aim and spirit of my religious family, according to its Constitutions. In this spirit,
I MAKE THE VOW OF STABILITY IN THE INSTITUTE OF THE LITTLE BROTHERS OF MARY (or THE MARIST BROTHERS OF THE SCHOOLS).
Lord Jesus, by your Body and Blood, which I am about to receive, be pleased to accept the vow I have just made."
Workers for the Kingdom
171. The vitality of the Institute is measured by the quality of our response to God.
In making present today the charism of Marcellin Champagnat, we keep alive the dynamism of our vocation. Our life becomes, for all those to whom we are sent, and especially for the young, an invitation to live the Gospel in the manner of Mary.
Our Founder can then recognise, in each of his sons, one who works for the Kingdom, one who is chosen by the Father and inspired by the Spirit to "make Jesus Christ known and loved."1
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