4.      A true family

Even in the variety of forms of belonging, the laity who feel called to share the charism, seek a spiritual family in which to live their Christian vocation. They need a place of reference and belonging, in order to journey together, animated by the same charismatic values.

Since theirs is a genuine vocation that comes from the Spirit they have a right to experience a community in which reciprocal love is lived and there is a breath of affection and esteem among the components of the community itself and toward the lay people. They expect to find persons capable of listening and understanding their problems, and of reading their life journey wisely. We ourselves also recognize we can no longer journey alone. We also need to see new reflections and incarnations of our charism, need to be helped by the laity’s faith, by their constancy in trial, the concreteness of their daily living… The key word is “reciprocity”; the style is that of “family”. A generic familiarity is not enough in this regard, or occasional prayer meetings, meals together, exchange of views and things to do together. Nor is it enough anymore to speak only of animation and spiritual help on our part. Spiritual mutuality sends us to a shared study of the charism, its interpretation and implementation, starting off from a different vocational sensitivity, to a sharing in prayer and experiences of the evangelical life and the apostolic witness and expansion.

This will oblige us also to change language, to adapt our rhythms of life with theirs, and think of mission with their views and sensitivity in mind.