THE CHARISMS OF INSTITUTES OF CONSECRATED LIFE AND THE PERSONAL CHARISMS AND TALENTS OF THEIR MEMBERS: Divine Gifts, the Tensions and Paths to Harmony for the Common Mission

Abstract

The basic focus of this article is the relationship that should exist  between the talents and charisms possessed by individual religious and consecrated persons and the collective and permanent charism of the religious Institute to which they belong. God gives different charisms to different persons. While we acknowledge that, we also have to point to the difference between these personal charisms and the charisms on which the religious Institute is established and which gives it a peculiar character and identity.  This article intends to defend and promote the teaching of the church, especially in the Second Vatican Council, that consecrated persons should stick to their respective charisms. The question of personal talents is important to give attention too, because like personal charisms, talents may also be to the detriment of the Charism of the religious Institute, instead of enhancing it. We wish to state in this article that even though the collective charism of a religious institute should not suppress or destroy individual charisms and talents, personal talents and charisms on the other hand should not vitiate or destroy the charism of founders and of foundation of religious institutes.