Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Eccles., a special spiritual gift or power divinely conferred, as on the early Christians.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Eccl.) A miraculously given power, as of healing, speaking foreign languages without instruction, etc., attributed to some of the early Christians.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A power or authority, generally of a spiritual nature, believed to be a freely given gift by the grace of God.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Ancient Greek χάρις (kharis, "grace")

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Examples

  • The word charism means a gift freely and graciously given.

    Archive 2008-04-20 papabear 2008

  • Live even more radically the mystery of your original vocation and charism, which is regarded as foolishness to the world but which is fully in accordance with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit: the exclusive love of the Lord and your fellow human beings in Him.

    “Ne craignez pas, petit troupeau”. 2009

  • A charism is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit to communicate the incarnation in particular circumstances.

    What is the core of the Christian experience? Fred 2008

  • Reverend and dear Father, I am convinced that the Society senses the historic importance of this General Congregation and, guided by the Holy Spirit, wants once again -- as the beloved John Paul II said in January 1995 -- to reaffirm "unequivocally and without any hesitation its specific way to God, which St. Ignatius sketched in the 'Formula Instituti': loving fidelity to your charism will be the certain source of renewed effectiveness" Insegnamenti, vol.

    Archive 2008-01-20 papabear 2008

  • The word translated "gift" is charisma in Greek, although I am wondering if this truly is equivalent to the idea of charism being discussed here.

    Three quotes on charisms in the Church Fred 2007

  • Fist of all, there is no such thing in moral theology as a 'charism of political discernment'; a charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit bestowed for the building up of the Body of Christ, and wisdom is undoubtedly a gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Just War Revisited 2003

  • We disregarded the "charism" of being a good husband or wife, mother or father, or even just a good person and promoted the extra-ordinary.

    A Word on Fr. Maciel elena maria vidal 2009

  • Lennon says he is exposing the dangerous and secretive group that is built around the "charism" of 87-year old Rev.

    Archive 2007-09-01 Howard M. Friedman 2007

  • The gift which defines this point is also called charism, because normally it can be the vehicle of an “accent” in perceiving God, in perceiving Christ, in feeling Christ, in faithfulness to Christ, in sensing Christ’s greatness, in tenaciousness.

    Archive 2007-05-01 Fred 2007

  • The gift which defines this point is also called charism, because normally it can be the vehicle of an “accent” in perceiving God, in perceiving Christ, in feeling Christ, in faithfulness to Christ, in sensing Christ’s greatness, in tenaciousness.

    Election: the mystery of God's choice Fred 2007

Comments

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  • Theology: a divinely conferred gift or power

    July 24, 2007