OUR IDENTITY
It is not at all easy to summarise the special charism of the Pope John XXIII Community and the content of our founding documents in a few short lines. For more detailed information therefore, please read our Foundation Charter, Statutes and Directory.
On 25 march 2004, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Pontifical Council for the Laity granted final recognition of the Pope John XXIII Community Association as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right, with legal status. Final approval was also granted for the Statutes and Foundation Charter of which it forms an integral part. (Pontifical Decree)
The Community’s vocation consists of modelling our life on that of the suffering Jesus, poor man and servant, who takes away the sins of the world, as the inner nature of our vocation, and of sharing, for Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus the life of the least, the visible nature of our vocation.
The association is a single spiritual family, made up of people of different ages and status in life who are committed to respond to the universal call to sanctity, to contribute to bringing about the Kingdom of God and to participate in the Church’s mission of salvation.
The spiritual life in which the Pope John XXIII Community intends to model itself on the suffering Christ, poor man and servant is governed by five guidelines.
- Sharing the life of the least. Members of the Community commit to sharing the life of those considered the least in society, living alongside them and bearing the burden of their situation by shouldering their cross, accepting that, through them, the Lord will liberate them.
- Leading the life of the poor. Those who have chosen this path to sanctification adapt themselves in practical terms to live life as poor people in the footsteps of Christ. The poor people that the Lord arranges for them to meet transform their life, shatter their sense of security and may also ask for a place in their family. Community members do not consider themselves owners or masters but faithful administrators of the gifts and the grace received from the Lord and any cash that may come into their possession. They also seek out the virtues associated with the life of the poor, such as frugality, simplicity, the courage to tell the truth and recognise the essential nature of things, humility and sacrifice accompanied by discomfort.
- Making room for prayer and contemplation. For Community members, prayer and contemplation are the preferred instruments for experiencing and entering more deeply into their relationship of children of the Father. They seek to make union with God an essential dimension of their life.
- Being guided by obedience. So as not run around blindly and in vain, Community members recognise the value of the guidance provided by the President.
- Living in fraternity. Fraternity is our love for God addressed to our brothers and sisters. Our love of God is shown by our love for them (1Jn. 4,20). The sign that the least of those in society are loved is the love which exists among the members of the Community.