The Christian Life Community is an international association of Christians: men and women, adults and young people, of all social conditions, who want to follow Jesus Christ more closely and work with Him for the building of the Kingdom. Members make up small groups, which are part of larger communities organized regionally and nationally, all forming ONE World Community. The CLC is present in all five continents, in almost sixty countries.
The charism and spirituality of CLC are Ignatian. Thus, the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius are both the specific source of our charism and the characteristic instrument of CLC spirituality. The CLC way of life is shaped by the features of Ignatian Christology: austere and simple, in solidarity with the poor and the outcasts of society, integrating contemplation and action, in all things living lives of love and service within the Church, always in a spirit of discernment.
In order to understand our identity more deeply, it is important to know about our development. Throughout the past four centuries, many generations have prepared the way for us in the Sodalities of Our Lady. Christian Life Community was not just a new name, given in 1967, but represented the rebirth, almost a new beginning. This new identity of CLC was expressed in the General Principles, approved in 1971 and revised in 1990. Besides the General Principles, CLC has prepared other documents concerning its charisms and mission.
The World Christian Life Community is governed by the General Assembly, which determines norms and policies, and by the Executive Council, which is responsible for their ordinary implementation.
Evolve-ability-each individual personally and the whole community corporately must recognize change as a fact of life, and will then be open to understand that adaptability and flexibility are essential characteristics of a Christian Life Community…to reject this ideal is to become static and useless and will lead to an early demise.
Individuality-the Christian Life Community maintains a harmonious balance between the individual and the community. It holds in the highest esteem each one's unique personal vocation and at the same time maintains a principle of adaptability enabling it to serve the many unique persons who compose it. This harmony is essential to its peace.
Disponibility-The Christian Life Community reads the signs of the times; discerns in them a new call of the Spirit and responds decisively and lovingly. "This law of love enables us to be open to God and to men, always at the disposal of God in true internal freedom" (GP 2).
Responsibility-The Christian Life Community labors unceasingly for solutions to the problems of the times; and "it impels us to work generously with all people of good will for peace and progress, charity and justice, liberty and dignity for all men." (GP 2).
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