OFFICIAL NAME
Christian Life Community (CLC)
Comunidad de Vida Cristiana (CVX)
Communauté de Vie Chrétienne (CVX)
ACRONYM
CVX-CLC
ESTABLISHED
1967
HISTORY
The origins of CLC go back to the Marian Congregations created in 1563 by the Jesuit priest Jean Leunis and a group of students from the Roman College, who wished to follow in the footsteps of the lay groups that had developed since 1540 in different parts of the world thanks to the work of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and his companions. In 1584, Gregory XIII approved the first congregation in his Bull Omnipotentis Dei, and in 1587 Sixtus V issued his Bull Superna Dispositione authorizing the institution of other congregations affiliated with the original one and open to all. The serious crisis suffered by the Society of Jesus in the 18th century, which led in 1773 to its suppression by Clement XIV, weakened the congregations, which became a mass movement very different from what the Founder had originally intended. It was not until 1948, after the publication of the Apostolic Constitution Bis Saeculari in which Pope Pius XII established the guidelines for the lay apostolate, that the need was felt to renew the Marian Congregations – or Confraternities as they are called in some countries – and to group them into an international Federation. In 1952 the World Federation of Marian Congregations was created, which after changing its name to the World Federation of Christian Life Communities – at the General Assembly in 1967 – was recognized by the Holy See in 1971. Its present name of Christian Life Community was adopted in 1982, when the desire to be one World Community was confirmed. On December 3rd 1990, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed Christian Life Community as an international association of the faithful. CLC is admitted as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
IDENTITY
CLC is made up of Christian men and women of all ages and social conditions who wish to follow Jesus Christ more closely and work with Him in building the Kingdom. Members seek to be committed Christians, bearing witness in the Church and society to the human and evangelical values essential to the dignity of the human person, the well-being of the family and the integrity of creation.
Being a member of CLC presupposes a personal vocation that is lived in community as a privileged means of formation and continuous growth in the personal, spiritual, human and apostolic spheres. The spirituality of the Community is centred on Christ and the participation in the Paschal Mystery. It springs from the Sacred Scriptures, from the liturgy, from the development of the Magisterium of the Church, and from the revelation of God’s will through the signs of the times. Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are considered as the specific source and characteristic instrument of CLC’s spirituality.
Union with Christ leads to union with the Church with which members always want to foster creative and concrete collaboration. A special recognition and love is given to Mary, Mother of God, in the life of the Community; members trust in her intercession for the fulfillment of their vocation.
ORGANISATION
Christian Life Community is governed by the General Assembly – the supreme governing body. It is composed of the World Executive Council and the delegations of each National Community. The World Executive Council is responsible for the ordinary government of the World Community. The Council is composed of the President, the Vice-President and five other councilors, as well as the World Ecclesiastical Assistant, the World Ecclesiastical Vice-Assistant and the Executive Secretary. They are responsible for ensuring the implementation of the policies and guidelines determined by the Assembly.
Each National Community is governed by a National Assembly and a National Executive Council.
WORKS
The field of mission of CLC has no limits. It extends to the Church and to the world. Each of its members is called to make Christ and his saving action present in their environment. At the same time, members carry out an organised apostolate in a variety of ways: running schools, youth centers, spirituality centers.
PUBLICATIONS
Progressio magazine, six-monthly in English, Spanish and French.
Progressio Supplement.
WEBSITE
HEADQUARTERS
Christian Life Community
World Secretariat
Borgo Santo Spirito, 4
00193 ROME, ITALY
Tel: + 39 06 686 98 44
E-mail: exsec@cvx-clc.net
