Our charism & spirituality

...we answer God's call - to discover and make known - the love of the Heart of Jesus...

By our charism, we are consecrated
to GLORIFYING THE HEART OF JESUS:
we answer His call
to discover and reveal His love
letting ourselves be transformed by His Spirit so as to live united and conformed to Him,
and through our love and service
to radiate the very love of His Heart.
(Constitutions, para 4)

The source of our spirituality is in the Open Heart of Jesus: open because it has been pierced, but also in welcome and acceptance… open too, in order to pour out a love which is infinite, tender and merciful.

RSCJ are called to union and conformity with the Heart of Jesus, by which, through prayer and reflection, we are invited to enter into the feelings and attitudes of Jesus’ Heart; to learn from him and to discover his Heart, wholly given to God and to all people, and to make his attitudes and desires our own. Our starting point is always the Gospels, but we also learn to contemplate his Heart in people, situations and events. Christ is ever-present, often hidden in the heart of the world, with all its pain and woundedness, and is at work in efforts to build a world of justice and love.

Inherent in our call and spirituality is a call to contemplate the Heart of Jesus through the pierced heart of humanity. “The pierced Heart of Jesus opens our being to the depths of God and to the anguish of humankind.” (Constitutions, para 8) Thus we learn to discover the love of Jesus: our mission is to make this love known, in all the circumstances of our lives, and especially in places and situations where love, tenderness and reconciliation are most needed.

Through the Eucharist we enter into the mystery of the open side of Jesus.
In our daily life, the Eucharist celebrates His death and resurrection,
the reality which lies at the heart of the sufferings
and hopes of the human family.
Through the Eucharist we are drawn into the gift of Jesus
to His Father
for the life of the world,
and in His Body we are gathered into one.
(Constitutions, para 5)

Sophie Barat’s older brother and mentor were Jesuits. This means that from the very beginning we have been part of the Ignatian family, drawing from a spirituality which is also incarnational, sees God present and active in the world and in our lives, and aims to do all things for God’s greater glory.

Here are some of the Society texts which inspire us in living our call, charism and spirituality

Read more about our spirituality as expressed by some RSCJ in their blogs here

Our Charism & Spirituality