ECONOMY AT THE SERVICE OF THE CHARISM AND MISSION. Boni dispensatores multiformis gratiae Dei - Guidelines.

The term Charism in the New Testament is often used to refer to the gifts that come from God. Every single charism – as it is remembered in Iuvenescit Ecclesiae (the Church rejuvenates) in reference to the relationship between Hierachical and Charismatic Gifts in the Life and Mission of the Church - is not a gift that is given to all, but a gift that the Spirit distributes «as he wishes» (1 Cor 12,11). The Christian is called to become an economer, administrator of the grace that is expressed through the various charisms, and is called to place them in common for the benefit of all. The actual historical situation calls the consecrated life to measure itself with the economic crisis and the widespread decrease in vocations. The crisis thus becomes an occasion for discernment and planning. In this context, the Institutes of Consecrated life and the Societies of Apostolic life, are called to be good administrators of the charisms received from the Spirit, also through the management and administration of the goods. The present volume was born in the footsteps of the Magisterium of Pope Francis, with a sound foundation: to follow a journey of ecclesial reflection on the goods and their management, to remind and explain certain aspects of the canonical regulations on temporal goods with particular reference to the praxis of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, suggesting some tools of planning and programming inherent in the management of works, to urge the Institutes of Consecrated life and the Societies of Apostolic Life at all levels, from Superiors to members, to rethink Economy as being faithful to the Charism of their being – as per the thought of Pope Bergoglio - «Still, today may you be for the Church and for the world, the outposts of care for all of the poor and for all material, moral and spiritual poverty, and examples in overcoming every form of egoism through the logic of the Gospel which teaches us to trust in the Providence of God.».