OFFICIAL NAME
Comunità Magnificat
ESTABLISHED
1978
HISTORY
The Magnificat Community, which originated within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, was founded on 8 December 1978, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, in the parish of San Donato all’Elce, in the Archdiocese of Perugia-Città della Pieve (Italy).
In the early 1970s, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal began to spread from the United States to Italy. A group of young and older people, gathered around the families of Tarcisio Mezzetti and his sister Agnese, experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit (or outpouring of the Holy Spirit). As a result of this experience, their life of faith was radically transformed: a community life began to develop among them, characterized by prayer, love for the Sacred Scriptures, an evangelical zeal, and an increasingly intense life of sharing.
The words “With Jesus, on Jesus, build!,” fundamental to the history of the Community, were more and more clearly expressed in a strong community “eucharistic spirituality.” Through meetings of catechesis on the Word of God, prayer of praise, eucharistic adoration, seminars on new life in the Spirit, spiritual retreats, summer camps open to all, and evangelization missions, the Community spread, first in many dioceses across Italy and then also beyond: in Romania and even outside Europe.
In February 1979, the Community received its first approval from the Archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve, and later, on 15 October 1995, it was recognized as an association of the faithful under diocesan law. On 8 December 2023, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life issued the decree recognizing the Comunità Magnificat as an international association of the faithful and approved its statutes.
IDENTITY
The Community, a fruit of the current of grace that is the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, is the answer to a specific call from God to live the new life in the Spirit through a stable commitment.
Placing the eucharist at the centre of personal and community life, the members of the Community commit through the “Covenant” to build one body, following the model of the first Christian community (cf. Acts 2:42-47), according to a style outlined by four promises annually renewed by members: poverty, permanent forgiveness, love building, and service.
Each member of the Community chooses a spiritual companion among the other members. In this way, by experiencing the living reality of the Body of Christ, community allies embrace evangelization, the promotion of community and Eucharistic life as their main charisms.
STRUCTURE
A person becomes a member of the Magnificat Community after experiencing a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit and signing their Covenant Commitment, prepared for this by a period of discipleship following Christ, and a formation path for community life.
The allies live their experience of faith, communion, and service in local Fraternities, under the guidance of local Leaders.
Among the members, there are some — called Agnus Dei Allies — who, through a private vow, follow the evangelical counsel of chastity for the Kingdom; they can live in common life in the Agnus Dei Houses.
The Community is governed by five General Leaders, coordinated by a General Moderator. The General Assembly is the highest authority that deliberates on the general guidelines of the Community. The Assembly is made up of the Moderators of the single Fraternities, their delegates, and a representation of those recognized as "Elders" of the Community.
WORKS
The Magnificat Community constantly carries out works of evangelization and promotion of community life.
The Magnificat E.T.S. Foundation expresses the evangelizing mission of the Community also through charitable works in many countries around the world, through the “Operazione Fratellino” projects, to bear witness that God's love forgets no one.
PUBLICATIONS
The Magnificat Community has a publishing house, Magnificat Editions Ltd., through which it distributes texts on community and charismatic spirituality.
Since 1982, the Community has been responsible for editing the magazine “Venite e Vedrete”.
A monthly information Bulletin for internal use, titled With Jesus, on Jesus, build!, edited by the General Leaders, shares the main news about the life of the Community in digital format in five languages: Italian, Romanian, Turkish, Spanish, and English.
Musical pieces and songs of praise and worship are regularly published.
WEBSITES
https://comunitamagnificat.org/en/
https://fondazionemagnificat.org/
https://www.operazionefratellino.org/
https://edizioni.comunitamagnificat.org/
HEADQUARTERS
c/o Complesso San Manno
Via Fra Giovanni da Pian di Carpine, 63
06127 Perugia
Italy
Tel. +39 075 5094797
segreteria@comunitamagnificat.org
