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The spirituality of the Movement (§.7-12)
7. Like Marcellin Champagnat
Like Marcellin Champagnat's own lifelong spirituality, the Movement's spirituality is rooted in God's love for all men and women.
And it grows and gains its strength from the members' gift of themselves to others.
It is also Marial as well as apostolic, just as Father Champagnat summed it up in his motto: "All to Jesus through Mary".
Among the special elements of Champagnat's spirituality, the following are the ideal qualities the Movement seeks to promote in its members:
. compassion and zeal,. simplicity,. love for Mary as mother and model,. family spirit,. practical response to the needs of those in want,
. enthusiasm for one's work.Blessed Champagnat's spirituality can be a source of grace and guidance for lay persons whose mission is to help build the Kingdom of God among the people with whom they happen to live and work.
8. Journeying in faith
Guided by the Holy Spirit, members of the Movement thus learn to follow Jesus more closely in His love for the Father, and for all men and women.
Following Marcellin's way, members recognise Mary as the perfect disciple of Christ, the woman of faith who is always alert to the word of God and ready to carry out his designs.
Not only is she the model for each member, she is also the Good Mother who accompanies each member and his or her Group in their life journey of faith.
9. In simplicity of heart...
From Mary also, members of the Movement learn simplicity of heart in their relations with God, their families, their fellow-members, and everyone around them throughout their daily lives.
Together with that simplicity, Father Champagnat associated humility and modesty as the three characteristic ways for his followers to be like Mary.
With that in mind, members of the Groups strive to do good quietly, and always rely on the constant help of her whom Blessed Champagnat called "our Ordinary Resource. "
The prayer of Jesus for his disciples:
as we are one,
that you sent me " (John 17,21),
of Blessed Marcellin Champagnat to his Brothers:
Love one another as Jesus Christ has loved you.
May it be said of the Little Brothers of Mary
as of the first Christians: See how they love one another, "
These words call those who belong to the Champagnat Movement to live a real bond of union and love, and to be open and welcoming to those who seek to join.
It also leads them to work at promoting a spirit of community in their respective families, workplaces, and society in general,
11. United in prayer, the Word, and the Eucharist
Prayer is an essential element of membership in the Movement and within each Group.
It unites all members with God their Father and with one another,
Furthermore, it links them to the Groups in the Movement, and indeed to the whole communion of saints, living and dead.
It is important, for the ongoing vitality of the spiritual life and mission of the Group, that members be nourished by regularly sharing the Word of God together.
In that way, the Gospels become a real Word of Life and Love, sustaining and guiding them at all times and in every situation.
The celebration of the Eucharist together will be the source of special empowering and grace for all.
And, of course, devotion to Mary, following Blessed Champagnat's lifelong example, naturally finds a special place in the prayer of each Group.
12. Commitment to the Church's mission.
As Christians participating in the Church's mission, and with the enthusiasm, faith and simplicity typical of Blessed Champagnat's practical zeal, members of the Movement try to bring the love of Jesus and Mary to the people among whom they live and work.
Each member carries out that mission, in the first place, by his or her own personal example of Gospel living, and by whatever action and word may be possible under the prevailing circumstances.
Sometimes, a few members, or even a whole Group, may unite for a particular mission.