CLC HISTORY

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CLC HISTORY A Journey Of Grace Upon Grace
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At the origins of the CLC is a grace named
IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
His secret had always been the infinite love of
God a fire, gently burning, discreet and
prudent, but irresistibly conquering
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Thus, he became the heart of a small communityhe
tried to form really free men. Free, not only to
love and to serve, but free to love and to serve
always. Free, because totally poor and
pureThus, he became the founder of the
Society of Jesus
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Thus, he became the man who inspired
the lay-groups
around his first companions.
These groups cooperated with the fathers in the
apostolate. They had different names but the
same spirit.
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1540 - Peter Faber led a famous group in Parma,
also called the Society of Jesus. This group
produced the first Jesuit martyr.
Sometime before 1545 Francis Xavier wrote about
how a chosen group of young men, on fire with
love and zeal, helped him in his difficult
mission.
1545 Paschase Broet wrote about a flourishing
group in Faenza.
1547 Ignatius himself started the Society of
the Twelve Apostles in Rome .
1548 Nadal began a group in Calabria.
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These groups were the pre-cursors of the
Marian Congregation or the Congregatio Mariana.
The MC is the direct ancestor of the Christian
Life Community.
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May 3, 1556
A young man of 24, dressed as a worker, presented
himself in the Jesuit house near the little
church of Madonna della Strada in Rome. He
wanted to enter the Society of Jesus. He came
from Liege, Belgium.
JEAN LEUNIS
Founder of the MC
He walked all the way.
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In the Roman College Jean Leunis gathered a group
of students and prepared them
to do apostolic work
in the city of Rome.
This group became the
Marian Congregation of the
Roman College.
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Perugia Paris Avignon Lyons Turin
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Nov. 19, 1584 death of Jean Leunis

Dec. 5, 1584 canonical establishment of the
Congretation of the Roman College with the
pontifical bull Omnipotentis Dei issued by Pope
Gregory XIII.
PRIMARIA (primary group)
With right to affiliate other groups of the same
nature
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All aspects of human existence together in one
Christian way of lifeThis was clear stated in
the oldest known rules of 1574.
THE AIM
UNITY
OF LIFE
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COMMUNITY LIFE
Ubi duo vel tres congregati sunt
CONGREGATIO Mariana
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Every day, these brothers
went together for Mass
had their meditation together
sang together a part of the Office of Our Lady
examined their conscience together
prepared the meditation for the next day
At the weekly meetings the officers had to see to
it that all members participated in sharing their
opinions.
All are members of one family and brothers in
Christ.
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Since it is a custom that such Congregations
recommend themselves to a patron in heaven for
protection and guidance, from whom they take the
name, and since we have a particular devotion to
the most Holy Virgin of the Annunciation, Mother
of God, we, in all humility dedicate ourselves to
her, praying that she may help us in all our
actions
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Marian Congregation
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The Common Rules of 1587, prepared by Superior
General Fr. Claudio Aquaviva,SJ.
The formation of laymen, conscious of their
personal vocation in the Church of their time.
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1540 1773 About 2500 groups were affiliated
233 years - 2500
1773 1948 About 80,000 groups
175 years 77, 500
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Strange Decisions
July 21, 1773 Clement XIV signed a document
suppressing the Society of Jesus, all its works,
ministries and activities.

• More than 20,000 Jesuits were sent home.
• The General was imprisoned.

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Society of Jesus and CM disappeared.
November 14, 1773 The MC everywhere could
continue without the Jesuits and all Bishops the
world over could establish the CM.
MC MC MC
MC MC MC
MC MC
MC MC MC MC
And many did.
MC MC MC MC MC
MC MC MC MC
MC MC MC MC
MC MC MC MC MC MC
MC MC MC MC
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Good Jesuit Questions
GOOD DECISIONS
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Are we allowed to accept the decline of the
authentic spirit without doing something about
its restoration?
Was the MC not a child of the Society of Jesus?
Is it not part of our vocation, especially since
the MC became a work of the universal Church, to
inspire the movement with the specific charism of
the man of the Church Ignatius of Loyola?
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G O O D D E C I S I O N S
1922 Fr. Ledochowski convened a meeting of
Jesuits working in the MC. (Forty Fathers from
nineteen countries)

• to start in Rome a central secretariat, one
  function of which was to revive the most
  neglected work of the Society

the MC!
1948 Pius XII promulgated the Apostolic
Constitution Bis Saeculari on the Sodalities of
Our Lady
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The Sodalities of Our Lady duly affiliated to the
Prima Primariaare religious associations
established and constituted by the Church.
Formation of Members Sodalities of Our Lady
must, therefore, give their members that will
make them capable of being examples of Christian
living and apostolic zeal.
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Apostolic End, CooperationAmong their primary
ends, Sodalities include every form of the
apostolate, particularly the social apostolate,
since the apostolic work of spreading the Kingdom
of Christ and defending the rights of the Church
has been mandated to Sodalities by the
Ecclesiastical Hierarchy itself.
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1950 Fr. Janssens convened an international
Jesuit meeting
- held
April 15-22 at the Jesuit Curia in Rome
- attended by 71 fathers from 40 countries.

• Focus was more on the external forms of the MC

• Questions after the 1950 meeting
• What was to be done concretely?

• What about the laity?

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Fr. Janssens appointed Fr. Louis Paulussen, SJ
head of the central secretariat in Rome.
Fr. Paulussens orders from the General
Please travel as much as possible the time to
sit at home is over!
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Preparing a World Federation
To bring people lay and priests in a world
federation, world union, world community
Essential is that we bring people together.
Essential is that they can work, deliberate and
pray together, that they can cooperate with
others and serve the Church on world level.
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1951 in October in Rome FIRST WORLD CONGRESS
for the lay apostolate
MC Meeting within the Congress
a group of 25 -
19 lay people, 2 diocesan
priests, 4 Jesuits
The URGENCY of COOPERATION on PERMANENT
INTERNATIONAL BASIS
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1952 in Barcelona MC meeting on the occasion of
the Eucharistic Congress

• To form a world federation
• To ask the Rome secretariat to prepare some
  Statutes as soon as possible

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1952 DRAFT of the Statutes written and sent
to all national federations

• Responses of the Federations
• Many expressions of agreement
• Very few amendments

1953 January Statutes were presented to Pope
Pius XII

• Responses of the Pope
• Immediate response extreme pleasure and a
  promise to send a letter of approval
• Subsequent response the Letter of Approval dated
  July 2, 1953

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With this letter,the World Federation was
officially founded.
April 13, 1954 - Pius XII named Arch. Joseph
Gawlina Ecclesiastical Assistant of the World
Federation.
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More questions from a Jesuit
Now, what is the next step?
To bring people together? How?

• SUGGESTIONS from several countries to the Rome
  secretariat
• Organize a world-wide congress on the occasion
  of the Marian Year 1954.

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ROME 1954
Gregorian University
direct continuation of
the Roman College
The delegates planned the meeting and organized
the elections of the Executive Council.
A starting point of a world-wide renewal
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NEWARK 1959
COMMON DESIRE serious and rapid renewal
Mandate of WF to the Rome Secretariat
Draft new Common Rules
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1959 till 1964 a time of www dialogue
National Federations
Secretariat
The main features of the GENERAL PRINCIPLES
appeared
little by little
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BOMBAY 1964
Aligning GP with Vatican II
Wait
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ROME 1967
October 19 21, 1967
Domus Pacis Rome
140 delegates from 38 countries
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The participating delegates, moved by the
Spirit of the Lord, and influenced by Vatican II
and the rediscovery of Ignatian sources approved
an extensive program of aggiornamento for this
400 year old organization.
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• New rules the General Principles

• New statutes for the World Federation

• New international name Christian Life Communities

• New juridical structure

• New apostolate

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Be it resolved That the federation of the world
as a voluntary common apostolate undertake
concrete local action aimed at ending world
poverty and injustice in the spirit of Populorum
Progressio.
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• Fr. Pedro Arrupe, then Superior General, handed
  over the leadership of the new community to its
  lay leaders.

• Drop directive role
• Act more as a source of inspiration and animators
  without giving up the specific task of
  representing the Hierarchy of the Church

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STO. DOMINGO 1970
August 11-15, 1970 Manresa-Loyola Retreat
House Haina, Sto. Domingo
General Principles achievements and failings
COMMUNAL DELIBERATION
Role of CLC in the crisis of the Church and in
the challenge of development
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the delegates were supposed to study and
discuss the crisis in the Church today instead
they lived the crisis. (Progressio, Autumn 1970)
The overturning of the planned program The
withdrawal of four federations from the world
federation
Reports from the national delegations with
suggestions for future activity of the World
Federation
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Areas needing action for the next three years
Nature of CLC Structure of CLC Communications Volu
ntary Common Apostolate
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All division carries in itself the promise of a
stronger union Santo Domingo thus signifies for
us invitation and provocation. (Fr. Paulussen)
A challenge of the first rank
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AUGSBURG 1973
August 5 9, 1973
Augsburg, Germany 170 delegates from 40
countries
CLC A Community at the Service of the Liberation
of All Men
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Respectful listening
UNITY AMIDST DIFFERENCES
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The liberation of all men, being at the
core a political problem, should the CLCs as
such, and not only
their members as individuals,
make it their concern?
An affirmative response with different nuances
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Four concrete points of direction and action
Commitment to the transformation of political,
economic, social, cultural and religious
structures usingdiscernment to determine
priorities and methods of action
Openness to the world by presence, by action and
by collaboration with all men of good will,
solidarity with the very poor and the oppressed,
and ecumenical work
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Recognition of the capital importance of a
formation rooted in the Spiritual Exercises and
in the cultures of the different countries.
A community life in which sharing and mutual
help extend to all the Communities, to other
nations and to the poor.
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MANILA 76
180 delegates from 39 countries from five
continents
Poor With Christ For Better Service
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Formation Courses in Manila
BEFORE the Assembly FORMATION COURSE
I FORMATION COURSE II
AFTER the Assembly FORMATION COURSE III (August
21-30)
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Major Points of Emphasis

• Concerning SERVICE
• - a clear option in favor of the poor in our
  life and our apostolate
• - discernment to determine priorities

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Concerning FORMATION -- strong accent on being
grounded in concrete situations and in insertion
in the poorer sectors --emphasis on the help to
be given so that the Spiritual Exercises is lived
and implemented
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Concerning COMMUNICATION Fostering of the growth
of persons and communities through --exchange of
persons between countries --twinning --more
extensive use of publications PROGRESSIO and
Projects exchange of national periodicals --inter
national gatherings for sharing information about
specific situations and action methodology
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ROMA '79
September 8 18, 1979 Villa Cavalletti, Rome
42 countries represented
TOWARDS A WORLD COMMUNITY AT THE SERVICE OF ONE
WORLD
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Should we now actively strive to become a world
community?
YES - 23 NO - 7 ABSTENTIONS - 6
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There was something of a stunned silence after
the voting. The GA was saying
YES!
It was a clear yes, but it was a humble yes,
uttered not without reservation and fear. The
momentary silence acknowledged that. Then came
the applause. Then came the song. It was the
moment of World Community. A moment of joy.
And reflection.
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PROVIDENCE '82
August 25 September 7 Providence, Rhode Island,
U.S.A.
Delegates from 44 countries
THE CALL TO WORLD COMMUNITY
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IGNATIAN REPETITION Providence 82 is the
re-living of the grace of Rome 79 as enriched by
the experiences of the intervening years.
Providence 82 sought the confirmation or not
of the decision taken at Rome.
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DO YOU FEEL CALLED, NOW, TO BECOME A WORLD
COMMUNITY?
YES 37 NO 0 ABSTENTIONS - 2
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Decision To hold the General Assembly
every four years.
Four years TO LIVE the grace of Providence 82 in
the spirit of the assembly scriptural theme
this is what the Lord asks of you only this,
to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk
humbly with your God. (Micah 68)
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LOYOLA '86
August 21 30, 1986 Center of
Spirituality Loyola, Spain
134 delegates from 50 countries
MARY MODEL OF OUR MISSION Do
Whatever He Tells You.
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Grace of Loyola 86
Confirmation of our identity as rooted in the
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius sent in
Mission in union with Christ poor and humble and
in imitation of Mary
We have also recognized that we are not able to
be faithful to our mission without situating it
in the context of our community, feeling that it
is the entire community which is sent, united in
mind and heart.
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GUADALAHARA '90
147 delegates and observers
from 51 countries
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GUADALAJARA '90
August 30 September 7, 1990 Guadalajara, Mexico
CLC AT THE SERVICE OF THE KINGDOM I choose
you,
and I commission you to go out
and bear fruit, fruit that
will last. (Jn 1516)

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Grace of Guadalajara 90 We have experienced a
grace of knowing ourselves as moved by the desire
to serve with Christ in the work of the Kingdom,
and we have been confirmed in this call at the
same time, we have come to know ourselves as
still in need of greater unity and spiritual
freedom as a community of disciples.
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Approval of the revised the General Principles
and the General Norms by the World Assembly
Canonical Approval by the Pontifical Council for
the Laity on Dec. 3, 1990, feast of St. Francis
Xavier.
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HONG KONG '94
160 delegates and observers from 59 countries
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HONG KONG '94
July 20 30, 1994
Hong Kong University, Hong Kong
CLC COMMUNITY IN MISSION I have come to
bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were
blazing already.
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Grace of Hong Kong 94
The call to a deep ongoing conversion with regard
our MISSION This conversion asked for magis in
-- the integration of social realities into our
life and action -- the awareness of our being a
community called to be with Christ and sent by
HIM -- the reading of the signs of the times and
translating our spiritual experience as a service
for building justice and peace
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ITAICI '98
Delegates and Observers from 54 Countries
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ITAICI '98
July 22 31, 1998 Villa Kostka, Itaici, Brazil
Deepening Our Identity as an Apostolic Body
Clarifying our Common Mission CLC, a letter from
Christ, written by the
Spirit, sent to todays world. (Cf 2Cor. 33)
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Grace of Itaici 98
We discovered three areas of mission First, we
want to bring the freeing power of Christ to our
social reality. Secondly, we want to find Christ
in all our varied cultures and to let His grace
illuminate all that needs transformation. Thirdly,
we want to live Christ so as to bring him to
every aspect of our daily life in the world.
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Necessary means for this mission The Spiritual
Exercises as spiritual source which nourishes
and empowers us for mission
Formation for mission, so that our community may
ever become a more effective instrument of
service.
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NAIROBI '03
An Apostolic Community that shares responsibility
for mission Discerning Sending Supporting
Evaluating
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(No Transcript)
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At the origins of the CLC is a grace God called
by the name IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
His secret is no longer a secret to us
it is the infinite love of God a fire, gently
burning, discreet and prudent, but irresistibly
conquering
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(No Transcript)
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SENT BY CHRIST
MEMBERS OF ONE BODY
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The WORDS woven together in this
presentation were lifted from the following
sources
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Louis Paulussen, SJ, God Works Like That,
Progressio, June 1979 Emile Villaret, SJ,
Abridged History of the Sodalities of Our Lady,
Missouri, 1957 Progressio, Winter
1968 Progressio, Autumn 1969 Progressio, Summer
1970 Progressio, Autumn 1970 Progressio, May
1971 Progressio, September 1973 Progressio,
September-November 1976
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Progressio, September-November 1979 Roma 79
(Acts of the Assembly), December
1979 Progressio, January-March 1983 Progressio,
July 1986 Progressio, September-November
1986 Projects, no. 86, 27th September
1990 Progressio, Nos. 2 3 4 1994 Progressio,
Nos. 1 2 3 4 1998 Notes of Frau Ingeborg von
Grafenstein The Report of the Vice
Assistant to the Nairobi Assembly
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The PICTURES were extracted from the archives
of CLC Germany and CLC Philippines and from the
World Wide Web.
AMDG