C L CChristian Life Community

General Principles and General Normsof the Christian Life Community

Supplement # 75

Publication of the World Christian Life CommunityBorgo Santo Spirito, 4 - 00193 Rome - ItaLY web site: www.cvx-clc.net - e-mail: exsec@cvx-clc.net

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Editor: Manuel Martínez Arteaga

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GENERAL PRINCIPLESAND GENERAL NORMS

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SUMMARY

Foreword ...................................................................... 5

Decree .......................................................................... 7

General Principles of the Christian Life Community

Preamble....................................................................... 11Part I: Our Charism...................................................... 15Part II: Life and Organization of the Community ....... 21Part III: acceptance of General Principles .................. 27

General Norms of theChristian Life Community

I. Membership .............................................................. 29II. Way of Life.............................................................. 32III. Life and Government of the Community .............. 33

a. General assembly................................................ 33B. Executive Council................................................ 35C. Establishing New Communities .......................... 38D. National Communities......................................... 41E. Local Communities .............................................. 42F. Ecclesiastical assistant ......................................... 44G. Modification of the General Principles and

General Norms ..................................................... 45

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FOREWORD

Following the 17th General assembly, held inBuenos aires in 2018, it is our pleasure as theWorld Secretariat to publish the full text of the Gen-eral Principles and General Norms of the ChristianLife Community with the lastest ammendments asProgressio Supplement #75.

although the General Principles have not under-gone change since confirmation on 3 December1990, some aspects of the General Norms havebeen amended in the previous General assemblies.

We know that God continues to work in our livesand that He is guiding us so that we can better ex-press the way in which we respond to the call ofChrist in today's world. the General Principlesshould help us live our identity in depth, and to im-plement our deepest desires for service. We are aninternational association of lay Christians recog-nized by the Catholic Church that has received con-firmation and canonical approval of its GeneralPrinciples. this is the way in which we express oursense of communion with the whole Church, a factthat encourages us to continue working, creativelyand collaboratively, in Christ's mission.

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December 2020 will mark 30 years since the confir-mation of the current General Principles, and theneed for a review process of the same is emerging.Having the latest version available is an invitationfor all of us to review the text and to criticallyanalyse the same in light of the path we havewalked in the last thirty years, and the current real-ity of the Christian Life Community. Let us pray onand with this text and share the movements withinus with the community, being free and open to thefruits that the Lord wants to give us.

May Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, con-tinue to intercede for us so that we may be faithfulto our vocation and may the Holy Spirit continue toaccompany and guide us on our way towardsgreater deepening and integration of our charism intoday's world, offering ourselves to the Church andto the world as an apostolic community of Ignatianlaypersons.

Rome, January 2020

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PONTIFICIUM CONSILIUM PRO LAICIS

1620/90/aIC-50

DECREE

Having considered and carefully studied thetext of the “General Principles of the Christian LifeCommunity”, approved by the World assembly ofthat association of faithful in Guadalajara (Mexico)on 7th September 1990, and subsequently submit-ted to the Pontifical Council for the Laity for canon-ical approval,

also bearing in mind the “General Norms of theChristian Life Community”, approved in the sameassembly,

Recognising in the Christian Life Communitythe joint continuation of the Marian Congregationsinitiated by Jean Leunis, S.J. which still trace theirorigins to “those groups of lay people that developedafter 1540 in different parts of the world through theinitiative of Saint Ignatius Loyola and his compan-ions” (General Principles, preamble 3),

In appreciation of a venerable association erect-ed by the Bull Omnipotentis Dei of His Holiness

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Gregory XIII (5 December 1584), sustained and en-couraged subsequently by numerous pontifical doc-uments, particularly by the apostolic ConstitutionBis Saeculari of His Holiness Pius XII (27 Novem-ber 1948) enriched by examples of holiness andapostolic fruits,

taking into account the actual commitment of“men women, adults and youth, of all social condi-tions who to follow Jesus Christ more closely andwork with him the building of the Kingdom, whohave recognised Christian Life Community as theirparticular vocation within the Church” in accor-dance with their own charism and spirituality (cfrGeneral Principles, part 1),

Recalling that the former World Federation ofChristian Life Communities was recognised as anInternational Catholic Organisation and that itsStatutes were approved by the Holy See on 31 May1971 after a period of three years ad experimentum,

also considering the actual norm of the Code ofCanon Law relative to associations of the faithfulwithin the Church,

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THE PONTIFICAL COUNCILFOR THE LAITY

CONFIRMS the Christian Life Community as apublic international association of faithful, of pon-tifical right, in accordance with canons 312 and fol-lowing, of the present Code of Canon Law,

aND aPPROVES its “General Principles” pre-sented in their original form and deposited in thearchives of this Dicastery.

It is highly significant that this pontifical ap-proval of the “General Principles of the ChristianLife Community” occurs precisely in the Jubileeyear, which celebrates the 500th anniversary of thebirth of St. Ignatius Loyola and the 450th anniver-sary of the founding of the Society of Jesus. there-fore all the members of the Christian Life Commu-nity should take to heart what has been written inthe letter of Rev. Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach whenhe points out that “the Ignatian year has no otherpurpose than the renovation, in the Spirit, of theapostolic life, both personal and at community lev-el”, associating with this celebration in a specialway “all those men and women who collaborate

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most intimately with the Society or who take theirinspiration from Ignatian spirituality” while em-bracing “the Spiritual Exercises in all their rigourand authenticity”. this we ask of the Lord throughthe intercession of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, towhom the Christian Life community regards itselfas profoundly and traditionally united from its verybeginnings and in whom it has always wished to in-spire its fidelity to the Lord and its apostolic andmissionary zeal “for the greater glory of God”.

Given at the Vatican, on 3 December 1990, thefeast of St. Francis Xavier.

Paul J. Cordes Eduardo F. Card. PironioVice-President President

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THECHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY

Approved by the General Assembly on September 7th, 1990Confirmed by the Holy See on December 3rd, 1990

PREAMBLE

1. the three Divine Persons, contemplating thewhole of humanity in so many sinful divisions, de-cide to give themselves completely to all men andwomen and liberate them from all their chains. Outof love, the Word was incarnated and born fromMary, the poor Virgin of Nazareth.

Inserted among the poor and sharing with themtheir condition, Jesus invites all of us to give our-selves continuously to God and to bring about unitywithin our human family. this gift of God to us, andour response, continues to this day through the in-fluence of the Holy Spirit in all our particular cir-cumstances.

therefore we, members of the Christian Life Com-munity, have composed these General Principles toaid us in making our own the options of JesusChrist and taking part through Him, with Him and

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in Him in this loving initiative which expressesGod's promise of faithfulness forever.

2. Because our Community is a way of Christianlife, these principles are to be interpreted not somuch by the letter of this text but rather by the spiritof the Gospel and the interior law of love. this law,which the Spirit inscribes in our hearts, expresses it-self anew in each situation of daily life. It respectsthe uniqueness of each personal vocation and en-ables us to be open and free, always at the disposalof God. It challenges us to see our serious responsi-bilities and to seek constantly the answers to theneeds of our times and to work together with the en-tire People of God and all those of good will forprogress and peace, justice and charity, liberty andthe dignity of all people.

3. the Christian Life Community is a public worldassociation whose executive centre is presently inRome. It is the continuation of the Marian Congre-gations, started by Jean Leunis S.J. and first offi-cially approved by Pope Gregory XIII's bull, Om-nipotentis Dei, of December 5, 1584. Going backbeyond the Marian Congregations we see our originin those groups of lay people that developed after1540 in different parts of the world through the ini-tiative of Saint Ignatius Loyola and his compan-ions. We live this way of Christian life in joyful

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communion with all those who have preceded us,grateful for their efforts and apostolic accomplish-ments. In love and prayer we relate to those manymen and women of our spiritual tradition who havebeen proposed to us by the Church as friends andvalid intercessors who help us to fulfil our mission.

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PART ONEOUR CHARISM

4. Our Community is made up of Christians: menand women, adults and youth, of all social condi-tions who want to follow Jesus Christ more closelyand work with him for the building of the Kingdom,who have recognized Christian Life Community astheir particular vocation within the Church.

We aim to become committed Christians in bearingwitness to those human and Gospel values withinthe Church and society, which affect the dignity ofthe person, the welfare of the family and the integri-ty of creation.

We are particularly aware of the pressing need towork for justice through a preferential option forthe poor and a simple life style, which expresses ourfreedom and solidarity with them.

to prepare our members more effectively for apos-tolic witness and service, especially in our daily en-vironment, we assemble people in community whofeel a more urgent need to unite their human life inall its dimensions with the fullness of their Chris-tian faith according to our charism.

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We seek to achieve this unity of life in response tothe call of Christ from within the world in which welive.

5. the spirituality of our Community is centered onChrist and on participation in the Paschal Mystery.It draws from the Sacred Scriptures, the liturgy, thedoctrinal development of the Church, and the reve-lation of God's will through the events of our times.

Within the context of these universal sources, wehold the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as thespecific source and the characteristic instrument ofour spirituality.

Our vocation calls us to live this spirituality, whichopens and disposes us to whatever God wishes ineach concrete situation of our daily life.

We recognise particularly the necessity of prayerand discernment, personal and communal, of thedaily examination of consciousness and of spiritualguidance as important means for seeking and find-ing God in all things.

6. Union with Christ leads to union with the Churchwhere Christ here and now continues his mission ofsalvation. By making ourselves sensitive to thesigns of the times and the movements of the Spirit,

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we will be better able to encounter Christ in all per-sons and in all situations. Sharing the riches ofmembership of the Church, we participate in theliturgy, meditate upon the Scriptures, and learn,teach and promote Christian doctrine.

We work together with the hierarchy and other ec-clesial leaders, motivated by a common concern forthe problems and progress of all people and open tothe situations in which the Church finds itself today.

this sense of the Church impels us to creative andconcrete collaboration for the work of advancingthe reign of God on earth, and includes a readinessto go and serve where the needs of the Church sodemand.

7. Our gift of self finds its expression in a personalcommitment to the World Community, through afreely chosen local community. Such a local com-munity, centered in the Eucharist, is a concrete ex-perience of unity in love and action. In fact each ofour communities is a gathering of people in Christ,a cell of his mystical Body. We are bound togetherby our common commitment, our common way oflife, and our recognition and love of Mary as ourmother. Our responsibility to develop the bonds ofcommunity does not stop with our local communitybut extends to the National and World Christian

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Life Community, to the ecclesial communities ofwhich we are part (parish, diocese), to the wholeChurch and to all people of good will.

8. as members of the pilgrim People of God, wehave received from Christ the mission of being hiswitnesses before all people by our attitudes, wordsand actions, becoming identified with his missionof bringing the good news to the poor, proclaimingliberty to captives and to the blind new sight, settingthe downtrodden free and proclaiming the Lord'syear of favour.

Our life is essentially apostolic. the field of CLCmission knows no limits: it extends both to theChurch and the world, in order to bring the gospelof salvation to all people and to serve individualpersons and society by opening hearts to conversionand struggling to change oppressive structures.

a) Each of us receives from God a call to makeChrist and his saving action present to our sur-roundings. this personal apostolate is indispen-sable for extending the Gospel in a lasting andpenetrating way among the great diversity ofpersons, places and situations.

b) at the same time, we exercise a corporate orgroup apostolate in a great variety of forms,

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whether through group action initiated or sus-tained by the Community through suitablestructures, or through involvement of membersin existing secular and religious organizationsand efforts.

c) the Community helps us to live this apostoliccommitment in its different dimensions, and to bealways open to what is more urgent and universal,particularly through the "Review of life" andthrough personal and communal discernment.We try to give an apostolic sense to even themost humble realities of daily life.

d) the Community urges us to proclaim the Wordof God and to work for the reform of structuresof society, participating in efforts to liberate thevictims from all sort of discrimination and espe-cially to abolish differences between rich andpoor. We wish to contribute to the evangelisa-tion of cultures from within. We desire to do allthis in an ecumenical spirit, ready to collaboratewith those initiatives that bring about unityamong Christians.Our life finds its permanent inspiration in theGospel of the poor and humble Christ.

9. Since the spirituality of our Community is cen-tered on Christ, we see the role of Mary in relation

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to Christ: she is the model of our own collaborationin Christ’s mission. Mary’s co-operation with Godbegins with her “yes” in the mystery of the annun-ciation-Incarnation. Her effective service as shownin her visit to Elizabeth and her solidarity with thepoor as reflected in the Magnificat, make her an in-spiration for our action for justice in the world to-day. Mary’s co-operation in her Son’s mission, con-tinued all through her life, inspires us to give our-selves totally to God in union with Mary, who byaccepting the designs of God became our motherand the mother of all. thus we confirm our ownmission of service to the world received in baptismand confirmation. We honour Mary, the Mother ofGod, in a special way, and we rely on her interces-sion in fulfilling our vocation.

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PART TWOLIFE AND ORGANIZATION

OF THE COMMUNITY

10. Members

Becoming a member of Christian Life Communitypresupposes a personal vocation. During a period oftime determined in the General Norms, the candi-date is introduced into the way of life proper toCLC. this time is allotted for the candidate and thewider Community to discern the candidate's voca-tion. Once the decision has been taken, and ap-proved by the wider Community, the member as-sumes a temporary commitment and, with the helpof the Community, tests his/her aptitude for livingaccording to the end and spirit of CLC. after a suit-able period of time, determined by the GeneralNorms, permanent commitment follows.

11. Community Bonding

as a primary means of formation and continuinggrowth, members come together on a regular basisin a stable local community, to assure a deep shar-ing by members of their faith and human life, a true

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community atmosphere and a strong commitmentto mission and service.

12. Way of Life

a) the way of life of Christian Life Communitycommits its members, with the help of the com-munity, to strive for a continuing personal andsocial growth which is spiritual, human andapostolic. In practice this involves participationin the Eucharist whenever possible; an activesacramental life; daily practice of personalprayer, especially that based on Sacred Scrip-ture; discernment by means of a daily review ofone's life and, if possible, regular spiritual di-rection; an annual interior renewal in accor-dance with the sources of our spirituality; and alove for the Mother of God.

b) Since the Christian Life Community aims towork with Christ for the advancement of God'sreign, all individual members are called to an ac-tive participation in the vast field of apostolicservice. apostolic discernment, both individualand communal, is the ordinary way of discover-ing how best to bring Christ's presence, con-cretely, to our world. Our broad and demandingmission requires of each member a willingness

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to participate in social and political life and todevelop human qualities and professional skillsin order to become more competent workers andconvincing witnesses. Furthermore, it demandsalso simplicity in all aspects of life, in order tofollow more closely Christ in His poverty and topreserve inner apostolic freedom.

c) Finally, each one assumes responsibility forparticipating in the meetings and other activitiesof the Community, and to help and encourageother members to pursue their personal voca-tion, always ready to give and to receive adviceand aid as friends in the Lord.

13. Government

a) the World Christian Life Community is gov-erned by the General assembly, which deter-mines norms and policies, and by the ExecutiveCouncil, which is responsible for their ordinaryimplementation. the composition and functionsof these bodies are specified in the GeneralNorms.

b) the National Community, constituted accord-ing to the General Norms, comprises all thosemembers who are striving to live out the CLC

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way of life and mission within a given country.the National Community is governed by a Na-tional assembly and an Executive Council.their aims are to ensure the structures and for-mation programs necessary for responding ef-fectively to what is needed for the harmoniousdevelopment of the whole Community, and foran effective participation of Christian LifeCommunity in the mission of the Church.

c) National Communities may, if they find it help-ful, establish or approve regional or diocesancommunities or centers, comprising the localcommunities of a given region, diocese, city orinstitution. they are constituted according tothe General Norms and the National Statutes.

14. Ecclesiastical Assistant

Christian Life Community on each level has an ec-clesiastical assistant, designated in accordance withChurch law and the General Norms. the assistanttakes part in the life of the community in its variouslevels according to the General norms. Working incollaboration with other leaders of the community,he is principally responsible for the Christian devel-opment of the whole community, and helps itsmembers grow in the ways of God, especially

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through the Spiritual Exercises. In virtue of the mis-sion given him by the hierarchy, whose authority herepresents, he also has special responsibility fordoctrinal and pastoral concerns and for the harmonyproper to a Christian community.

15. Property

Christian Life Community on each level can, if it isuseful, own and administer property as a public ec-clesial person, in accordance with Church law andthe civil laws of the country in question. Ownershipand administration of such property belongs to thespecific community.

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PART IIIACCEPTANCE OF

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

16. Modification of the General Principles

the General Principles, which express the funda-mental identity and charism of the Christian LifeCommunity and therefore its covenant with theChurch, have been approved by the General assem-bly and confirmed by the Holy See as the funda-mental Statutes of this World Community. amend-ments to these General Principles require a two-thirds majority vote by the General assembly andconfirmation by the Holy See.

17. Suspension and exclusion

acceptance of the General Principles of the Chris-tian Life Community is a prerequisite for member-ship in CLC on any level. Significant failure of amember or a local community to observe them iscause for suspension and eventual exclusion by theNational Community. Significant failure of a Na-tional Community to act when one of its local com-

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munities is not observing them is cause for its sus-pension and eventual exclusion from the WorldCommunity. there always remain a right of appealfrom a local or regional decision to the nationalcommunity, from a national decision to the WorldCommunity.

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GENERAL NORMS OFTHE CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY

Approved by the General Assembly in Guadalajara, 1990Amended by the General Assembly in Itaici, 1998Amended by the General Assembly in Nairobi, 2003Amended by the General Assembly in Fatima, 2008Amended by the General Assembly in Lebanon, 2013Amended by the General Assembly in Buenos Aires, 2018

I. Membership

1. a person can become a member of the World Chris-tian Life Community in one of the following ways:

a) By initiating along with others a local, pre-CLCcommunity, which is accepted by a regional ornational community. the accepting communitymust provide the formation resources for thedevelopment of this new community.

b) By being a member of an existing group ofChristians, which has chosen the CLC way oflife. this group accordingly has been re-ceived as a local community by the regionalor national community, which is its acceptingcommunity.

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c) By joining an existing local community, whichis the accepting community, and which providesthe means of formation.

2. In whichever way admission takes place, the newmembers must be helped by the Community to as-similate the CLC way of life, and to decide whethera call, an ability and a willingness to live it are pres-ent, and to become identified with the wider Chris-tian Life Community. after a period of time ordi-narily no longer than four years and no less thanone, they assume a temporary commitment to thisway of life. an experience of the Sp. Ex. is stronglyrecommended as a means of arriving at this person-al decision.

3. the temporary commitment continues as suchuntil, after a process of discernment, the memberexpresses his or her permanent commitment toCLC, unless he or she freely withdraws from theCommunity or is excluded by it. the length of timebetween temporary and permanent commitmentshould be ordinarily no more than eight years andno less than two.

4. an experience of the complete Spiritual Exercisesin one of their several forms (in daily life, a closedmonth, retreats over several years), precedes perma-nent commitment to Christian Life Community.

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5. the forms of these personal commitments are leftto the National Communities. It is suggested that aprinted model of these personal commitments bedrawn up by each National Community and thatthey include an explicit reference to the acceptanceof the General Principles of CLC.

6. all that is said above must be understood andpractised according to age, culture and other specif-ic characteristics. For this purpose the NationalCommunities must develop formation programmes,diversified if necessary for various groupings ofmembers and the various exceptional circum-stances, which may arise for individual members.

7. the Christian Life Community is a particularway of following Jesus Christ and working withHim to bring about the reign of God. It allows formany different individual responses and does notvalue one more than another. Within the richness ofthe Gospel and the tradition of the Church and as aresult of their growing in Christ, some CLC mem-bers may desire to emphasise one or more of themany evangelical counsels by taking private vows.Likewise, persons or groups of persons who havetaken such vows outside CLC can be accepted intothe community on the same basis as all the others.

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II. Way of life

8. National and regional communities must findways for making accessible to all members the ac-tual experience of the Spiritual Exercises of SaintIgnatius, of spiritual guidance, and of other meansof growth in the Spirit.

9. as a primary means to continue our growth as per-sons and as Christian Life Community, our ordinaryway of decision-making at all levels is a discerningapproach, and even a formal community discernmentfor the more important shared decisions.

10. In the spirit of its best tradition, and for the sakeof greater apostolic efficacy, the Christian LifeCommunity at all levels promotes the participationof its members in joint projects to respond to vari-ous and changing needs. National or internationalnetworks, specialised apostolic teams, or other suchinitiatives may be set up by the Community whereappropriate.

11. Likewise, in the same tradition and in view ofthe formation of its members and of other people,the Christian Life Community at all levels promotesworkshops, seminars, courses, publications andother such initiatives.

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12. For the sake of mutual help and apostolic col-laboration, the Christian Life Community at any ap-propriate level can affiliate other associations ofpeople who wish to share in our way of life but notto become full members. Similarly, the ChristianLife Community at any appropriate level can findways of expressing meaningful links with personsor institutions that are somehow related to the sametradition.

13. Special attention must be given at the world andnational levels to ensure that all local communitiesbe helped to live a genuine CLC process with a wellformed guide and an efficient coordinator.

14. all that is said above, both with regard to apos-tolic and formative challenges, supposes a goodcollaboration with the Society of Jesus and withother persons, communities and institutions thatshare in the ignatian tradition.

III. Life and Government of the Community

A. General Assembly

15. the General assembly is the supreme govern-ing body of CLC. It is made up of the ExecutiveCouncil and the delegation of each National Com-

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munity. Each delegation will consist normally ofthree delegates, one of whom should be the Eccle-siastical assistant or his representative. Difficulties,which may arise in making up the delegations, areto be settled by the Executive Council

16. the General assembly:

a) approves the activity reports and accounts ofthe period since the previous assembly.

b) Sets the policies and orientations for the periodup to the next General assembly.

c) Decides the financial policies to be followed.

d) Decides on proposed amendments to the Gener-al Principles and General Norms.

e) Confirms the establishment of new nationalcommunities.

f) Elects the Executive Council for the period un-til the next assembly.

17. the General assembly meets normally every 5years and is convened by the World ExCo at least12 months in advance.

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18. the President is empowered to convene theGeneral assembly at other times following consul-tation with the national communities and the writ-ten agreement of one third of them.

19. In the General assembly each National Commu-nity has one vote and decisions are taken in a spiritof discernment by a majority vote providing a quo-rum is present. a quorum consists of 50% of the na-tional communities. In the assembly, the ExecutiveCouncil has one vote in the person of the President

B. Executive Council

20. the Executive Council is responsible for the or-dinary government of the Community. It is made upof 7 elected members and 3 appointed members anda maximum of two co-opted members.

21.

a) the elected members of the Executive Councilare: the president, the vice-president, and fiveconsultors, all elected by the General assemblyfor a period of five years. they may be re-elect-ed only for three terms maximum and two termsmaximum in one office.

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b) the appointed members of the ExecutiveCouncil are the ecclesiastical assistant, thevice-ecclesiastical assistant and the executivesecretary.

c) the World Executive Council may, if it wishes,co-opt one or two additional consultors.

22. the Executive Council is responsible for:

a) Promoting the implementation of the GeneralPrinciples and General Norms.

b) the implementation of the policies and deci-sions taken at the General assemblies.

c) Fostering national communities, stimulatingtheir mutual assistance and collaboration, andpromoting their active participation in the worldmission of CLC.

d) assuring CLC representation in programs of in-ternational cooperation wherever it may be op-portune. Our representatives in these interna-tional institutions participate with observer sta-tus at the General assembly or are representedby the World ExCo.

e) Promoting the implementation of the teachingsof the Church, especially that of Vatican Coun-cil II and its further developments.

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f) Encouraging the fuller sharing, by national andother communities, between each other andwith the World Community, of their documen-tation, experiences, personnel and material re-sources.

g) Promoting and encouraging specific projects par-ticularly in accordance with norms 10 and 11.

h) Encouraging and creating initiatives necessaryto fulfil all these tasks.

23. the Executive Council meets at least once a year. Itinforms all national communities of its activities.

24. In the Executive Council, decisions are taken in aspirit of discernment by a majority vote providing aquorum is present. a quorum consists of 5 members.

25. the Executive Council maintains a Secretariat forcarrying out its policies and decisions.

26. the Executive Secretary is appointed by the Exec-utive Council, which determines the rights and respon-sibilities of the office.

27. For all official communications the address ofthe World Secretariat is to be considered as the ad-dress of the Executive Council.

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28. Nominations for all elected officers are to beproposed to the World Executive Council in writingat least six months before the meeting of the Gener-al assembly at which the elections take place.Nominations are submitted by each national com-munity through its executive council.

29. a list of candidates for the presidency of theChristian Life Community is to be presented to theHoly See at least three months prior to the election.

C. Establishing New Communities

30. though the Christian Life Community is one, itmay nevertheless comprise groupings of NationalCommunities according to common specifics or re-lating to territory.

31. the World Community officially establishes asingle national community in a given country.When circumstances make formation of a single na-tional community impossible, the World Communi-ty may establish more than one community in acountry or one community to include more than onecountry. Establishment of a new national communi-ty is first, approved by the World Executive Coun-cil. Such approval makes the newly establishedcommunity eligible henceforth for all the rights and

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obligations of membership. However, the decisionis to be confirmed by the General assembly.

32. the Church authority which grants official ap-proval to a national, regional or local community isthe World Christian Life Community, canonicallyapproved by the Holy See, with the consent of thebishop or bishops concerned; for communities es-tablished in places belonging to the Society of Jesusor in those whose charge has been confided to it, theconsent required is, according to the pontifical doc-uments, that of the General or Vicar General of theSociety of Jesus, who may delegate this authority tothe provincial or to the ecclesiastical assistant.

33. Every established national community mustaccept:

a) the General Principles and General Norms.

b) the resolutions approved by the General assembly.

c) the financial contribution fixed by the Execu-tive Council.

34.

a) the Executive Council of the World Communityrespecting the legitimate rights and obligations

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of the National Communities will take actionregarding a national community only in theevent of non-compliance with General Norm33. the General assembly reserves to itself theright of expulsion.

b) Reasons for excluding a member from theWorld CLC:

(1) a community which does not accept theGeneral Principles, the General Norms andthe Standing Orders;

(2) a community, which does not implementthe GP and GN according to the guide-lines of the World Community expressedin basic documents;

(3) a community not paying dues, without giv-ing an explanation.

It is the right and the obligation of the Generalassembly to exclude a national community if theabove reasons are given. Such a decision is to beprepared by the World ExCo. the World ExCowill contact the given community for explana-tions, and will report to the General assemblyfor a decision.

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D. National Communities

35. Each national community as a branch of theWorld Community establishes its own statutes inconformity with the General Principles and GeneralNorms and the stage of development of the nationalcommunity. the statutes of national communitieshave to be translated by these communities into oneof the official languages of the World CLC, andhave to be confirmed by the Executive council ofthe World Community. Such statutes would ordi-narily deal with:

a) Membership in and admission to the nationalcommunity.

b) Goals and means of the national community.

c) Relationship with the hierarchy

d) Structures for choosing leaders and for makingdecisions.

e) Procedure for selecting delegates to the WorldGeneral assembly.

f) any other matters essential to ordering the life,unity, growth and mission of the national com-munity.

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36. Each National Community may establish re-gional, diocesan, parochial or other suitable units asmay facilitate its development.

37. Secretariats may be established by nationalcommunities, which desire them for the purposes ofco-ordination, counsel and promotion.

38. National Communities are free to enter into re-lationship with each other for apostolic projects orany other just concerns. any new structure resultingfrom such initiatives, if it intends to act in the nameof those national communities, must have a clearand specific mandate approved by the ExecutiveCouncil.

E. Local Communities

39.

a) Members participate in the life of the communityat several concentric levels. the local commu-nity level (also called "small CLC community"or simply "group") is the most appropriate for acommunal continuation of the dynamics of lifegenerated by the Spiritual Exercises. thesesmall communities practice the type of prayerand relationships, which foster a process of in-tegration of faith and life by offering to all

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members a permanent communal verification oftheir spiritual and apostolic growth.

b) Experience shows that for this end it is of greathelp that these communities be composed of nomore than twelve members of like qualities, suchas age, occupation, or state of life, and that theymeet weekly or every fifteen days so that theprocess carries over from one meeting to the next.

40. Each local community, within the framework ofa wider community (a centre or church, a diocesanor national community, or whichever unit is appro-priate to the different realities) adopts its processfor accepting new members, its own programs,service, and the content and format of its meetings.all members participate periodically in celebratingthe Eucharist and share responsibility for the life oftheir local community and of the wider communityin which this is inserted. thus, the entire communi-ty decides all its affairs except those it delegates toits leaders.

41.

a) the principal responsibility for co-ordinationin each local community is vested by themembers in its elected co-ordinator, whoworks in close collaboration with the guide

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and possesses such other powers as are dele-gated by the community.

b) the guide, well formed in the Ignatian processof growth, helps the community to discern themovements at work in the individuals and thecommunity, and helps them to maintain a clearidea of the CLC goal and process. the guide as-sists the community and its co-ordinator to findand to use the means needed for the communi-ty's formation and its mission. the guide's par-ticipation in the life of the community is condi-tioned by the objectivity needed to carry out ef-fectively the role of guide. the guide is chosenby the community with the approval of the na-tional or regional community.

F. Ecclesiastical Assistant

42. the World Ecclesiastical assistant to the Chris-tian Life Community is appointed by the Holy Seeafter receiving a list of names from the World Exec-utive Council.

43. the World Christian Life Community acceptsas its Vice-Ecclesiastical assistant the Jesuit who,after consultation with the World Executive Coun-cil, is appointed to this post by the Superior Generalof the Society of Jesus.

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44. National, regional, diocesan or other ecclesias-tical assistants are proposed by the CLC executivecouncils at the equivalent level, but their appoint-ment is reserved to the competent authority. Gener-ally at the national, regional and diocesan levels,the ecclesiastical assistant is a priest; in special cas-es the competent authority may assign the functionto any other qualified person, always taking ac-count of the role that the CLC expects from its as-sistants (GP14). Procedures and formalities forthese appointments must be clearly expressed in theNational Statutes.

45. at the level of the local community the link withthe ecclesiastical assistant will normally be main-tained through the local community guide.

46. the term of office for a national, regional ordiocesan ecclesiastical assistant is four years. thismay be renewed.

G.Modification of the General Principles andGeneral Norms

47. Changes in the General Principles and GeneralNorms are to be proposed in writing by nationalcommunities to the World Executive Council at

least six months prior to a meeting of the Generalassembly. Copies of formal amendments will becirculated to the national communities at least threemonths prior to the meeting. a two-thirds majorityvote of the assembly is required for approval ofsuch amendments.

48. the World Community of itself can both estab-lish and amend the General Norms by a two-thirdsmajority vote of the General assembly, with the ex-ception of norms 21b, 29, 42 and 48 which touch onour relations with the Holy See.

49. a national community may reword the GeneralPrinciples and General norms, if need be, for bettercomprehension, as long as the substance is retained,subject to approval by the World Executive Council.

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