The Visitation Charism

A charism is a gift given by the Holy Spirit to founders of religious orders in the Catholic Church, not just for their own good but also for the growth and good of others. It is a holistic way to look at the life and message of Jesus and to accentuate some facets of His life in order to follow Jesus more closely in living out the baptismal call. An interesting point about a charism is that it exists only insofar as it is lived. It is not sufficient that it be given at one historical moment. Rather, it must be lived out at each moment or it will die. A second aspect of a charism is that it can be described, but it cannot be defined. It is not merely a formula. Since it involves living, developing human beings, it is a mystery.

This illustration depicts eight facets of the Visitation charism. Each is one way to understand and appreciate this special gift from the Visitation family — one which dates back to St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal in the early 1600s.