Our Charism

MDM's Charism:

FAITH, SO THAT GOD CAN ACT

First, let us explain what “charism” means.  In this instance, “charism” refers to a special spiritual gift that God gives an individual or group in order to carry out the mission to which He is calling them.  St. Paul likens the variety of charisms or spiritual gifts to the different members of a body, each with their own essential function (1 Cor 12).

The particular charism to which God has led our Community is “Faith, so that God can act.”

But what does that mean?  A little explanation should help.

God Acting

Our Community began with a small group of people who were seeking God’s will, wanting to let Him act.  “Thy Will be done.”  That desire was foundational.  We were painfully aware that the problems of evil and suffering in our world were so great that only He could solve them.  Only He could save us.

Gradually, and we do mean gradually, the charism to which the Lord was calling us became clearer.  We began to understand that the focus must be on His action, more than ours.

Faith

But that doesn’t mean that we have no role.  In fact, we have a critical role.  God wants our cooperation.

And what is that cooperation?  First of all, it is faith.  Simple to say but challenging to live.

We see many examples in Scripture of how the response of faith permits God to act.  Abraham is often referred to as “our father in faith.”  He left behind everything familiar and headed out into the unknown because God called him.  Mary, our Blessed Mother, provides the ultimate example of faith at the Annunciation, believing and opening herself to the Gift of God and the action of the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, our world suffers from a lack of faith and trust, and this lack creates obstacles to God’s graces.  In Divine Mercy In My Soul, the Diary of St. Faustina,  Jesus repeatedly states that He wants to pour out His Mercy on our world today, but He needs our trust, our faith.

By faith, we freely open the door to Him.  Through humble, obedient faith, we abandon ourselves to His will and become His “co-workers” (2 Cor 6:1).

Divine Mercy Image at the Teocalli
Our Lady of Guadalupe

Prophecy

One particular aspect of faith that is central to MDM’s charism is the role of prophecy.

Faith is not just believing in God.  It is also believing God,  who has spoken and continues to speak to His children down through the ages.  He speaks in many ways.  One way He speaks today, which is important yet often misunderstood—or even rejected—is through prophecy.

Prophecy is not always about the future.  Fundamentally, the gift of prophecy is to transmit and live the Words that flow from the Heart of the Father, Who is concerned for His children, and seeks any means to help them.

While this role is most commonly identified with the great prophets of Scripture, the history of the Church provides many examples of saints and humble souls in whom the charism of prophecy continues.  Consider St. Juan Diego, who received the words of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or closer to our time, St. Faustina, who received the great messages of Divine Mercy.

As part of MDM’s charism, we believe that God is asking our Community to be prudently open to His prophetic gifts today.  Great discernment is, of course, needed.  But welcoming these graces, with prudence and discernment, greatly benefits the Church.  St. Paul expresses well this healthy, balanced attitude: “Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good…” (1 Thess 5:19-21).

St. John Paul II in Prayer
St. Faustina Picture

Faith, So That God Can Act

Finally, we would like to include this passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as well.  They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms (CCC #800).

We of the Mission of Divine Mercy strive daily, even if not always successfully, to live the charism to which God has led us.  This is the mission that we try, with our struggles and stumbles, to respond to.

Divine Mercy Image with Candle Flame

Jesus, we trust in You.

Faith & Prophecy

FR. JOHN MARY TALKS ABOUT MDM’S HISTORY, CHARISM AND PROPHECY

I AM SENDING YOU PROPHETS

An additional resource for understanding MDM’s charism and openness to the Lord’s prophetic graces is the book I Am Sending You Prophets  by Fr. Edward O’Connor, C.S.C.  This book examines the role of prophecy in the Church from biblical to contemporary times and is available through Queenship Publishing Company (www.queenship.org).