What is a charism?

The New Testament confirms the presence, in various Christian communities, of charisms and ministries inspired by the Holy Spirit. Referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is possible to understand what charisms are:

“charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world.” (n. 799).

Based on the catechism, we can understand that the plurality of charisms arises in communion:

“ Within the communion of the Church, the Holy Spirit ‘distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank’ for the building up of the Church.”

Now, “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Cor 12:7).” (n. 951).

Charisms are one of the greatest graces that Our Lord gives us:

“Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world.” (n. 799).

“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.” (n. 800)

“Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church. There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning ‘favor,’ ‘gratuitous gift,’ ‘benefit.’ Whatever their character -- sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues – charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.” (n. 2003)

How to discern a charism?

St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, establishes the fundamental criterion for discerning a charism, a criterion that could be defined as “Christological”: a charism is not authentic if it does not impel one to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord (cf. 1 Cor 12:1-3).

What is the charism of the Heralds of the Gospel?

The charism to which the Heralds of the Gospel are called is: to act with perfection in pursuit of beauty in all acts of daily life. Always remembering that Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us: “ Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect ” (Mt 5:48).

The charism of the Heralds of the Gospel teaches us, by grace, that this call to perfection is not restricted to interior acts, but must be externalized in all activities, so that they better reflect the face of God in us and in the world.

Each Herald, for the greater glory of God, must imbue his daily actions with sacredness, whether in the intimacy of his private life, in public, in evangelizing work, in relationships with his brothers, in participation in the Liturgy, in musical and theatrical performances, or in any other circumstance.

This commitment to Christian perfection means embracing the truth, practicing virtue, and doing so with neatness and beauty as elements of sanctification.

In this sense, St. John Paul II reminds us, in his letter to artists on April 4, 1999, of the timely teaching of the Second Vatican Council:

“The world in which we live needs beauty in order not to fall into despair. Indeed, beauty, like truth, brings joy to the hearts of men. It is this precious fruit that withstands the passage of time, unites generations, and makes them commune in admiration.”