What is a charism?

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A simple definition of a charism: it is "a gift from God for the Church and the world, given as different ways to live out the Gospel."

When speaking of the charism of a particular religious community, it is described as the spirit, the purpose, and the identity of a religious community. It is a particular gift of the Spirit that inspired their founder - a man or woman of great faith and vision - to build up or renew the Church in response to the needs of the times.

This charism then drives the actions of the members of the community and the way they carry out their ministries. It does not define what they do, rather it defines why and how they do it. It is also a permanent part of the traditions of the community, which includes the rule, history, mission, and customs that the community lives out.

What is the charism of the Sisters of Mary, Queen of Mercy?

Our Sisters live the charism of the Evangelical Spiritual Childhood, laid out and lived by our Founder, Father Bernard Maria Bùi Khải Hoàn, CRM.

What does this mean? How is it lived?
Our charism consists of becoming a little child of the Heavenly Father, through the Blessed Virgin Mary, following the model of the infant Jesus. This way of life is inspired by the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux, who began living the path of Spiritual Childhood, and St. Louis de Montfort, whom the Holy Spirit inspired to pave the little way following the model of the Incarnate Word, as He had become little towards His Mother, through consecrating oneself completely to Her.
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Living this charism entails:
  • Becoming a child of the Heavenly Father by Holy Baptism
    • Through Baptism, the baptized dies to sin, receives Sanctifying Grace, and is consecrated to God.
    • They are privileged to call God “Abba – Father”, and the Heavenly Father tells them, “You are my beloved child” (x. Mt 3:17) - they are God’s children forever.
 
  • Becoming the Heavenly Father’s Little Child by Religious Profession
    • Religious profession “is deeply rooted in baptismal consecration and is a fuller expression of it.” (Redemptionis Donum)
    • By professing chastity, poverty, and obedience, the religious is freed from obstacles that might prevent them from loving and adoring God perfectly, and they dedicate themselves to serving God more intimately.
    • The day the sisters profess religious vows in the community is considered the day they were baptized the second time (Father Bernard Maria)
 
  • Becoming Infant Jesus, Son of the Heavenly Father through the Virgin Mary
    • Jesus, though He is God, had completely depended on Mary to live
    • Following His example, we completely depend on Mary - by consecrating ourselves to her according to the Consecration of St. Louis de Montfort - for it is through Her that
    • We place ourselves in the "mold" of Mary, into her loving arms and in her womb, so that the Holy Spirit may transform us into the infant Jesus, Son of the Heavenly Father
      • It is Her womb that is the path, the divine elevator that leads each of us to our Heavenly Father
      • "Depending on Mary is the secret of holiness. We need our Blessed Mother in holiness, so we must depend on her like a fetus in her womb." - Father Bernard Maria, CRM

Qualities of a Little Child

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Our Sisters strive to become a little child in a spiritual sense, because a little child loves the Father the most and is loved most by the Father.

So what are the qualities of a little child?
According to St. Therese of Lisieux, a little child recognizes that she is weak and poor, therefore she trusts in the Father. To respond to the love of the Father, the little child has the only task to love the Father and have complete confidence in the Father's love. Because she loves the Father, the little child is zealous for others to know and love the Father. Overall, the soul and life of the little child is simple.
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CONGREGATION OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, QUEEN OF MERCY
Dòng Nữ Tu Thừa Sai Đức Mẹ Trinh Vương Thương Xót

address
9141 South 78th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68516

phone
402.421.1704

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