- Who are we?
- Where are we?
- Who is in the Christian Life Movement?
- What kind of apostolate does the CLM do?
- Who are the consecrated in the CLM?
- What is the history of the CLM?
- Donate
The Christian Life Movement (CLM) is a spirituality focused on promoting the vocation of the laity to the apostolate - that the laity are called to evangelize the world! We live in a world that is deeply in need of reconciliation, and the laity have a special role to play in sharing the Gospel.
The Christian Life Movement exist to form the laity for this beautiful vocation to share the Gospel, as mentioned in the council of Vatican II: "The apostolate can attain its maximum effectiveness only through a diversified and thorough formation (Apostolicam Actuositatem 28).
A Call to Apostolate
Members of the Christian Life Movement understand that they have a call to evangelize the world. As members of the laity, we have a vocation to the apostolate - to announce the Lord Jesus in our daily life. This call to apostolate resonance deeply with members of the Christian Life Movement.
The Christian Life Movement emphasizes five different areas in the apostolate that are considered fundamental: the evangelization of the youth, solidarity with the poor, the proclamation of the Gospel to our culture, the promotion and formation of the Family, and upholding the dignity and rights of the human person.
- Arizona:
- Phoenix - Siervas [consecrated women]
- Colorado:
- Denver - Holy Name Parish
- Denver - Christ in the City [Homeless Outreach]
- Denver - Creatio [Adventure in Nature, mission trips]
- Denver - Sodalits [consecrated men]
- Denver - Fraternas [consecrated women]
- Connecticut:
- Texas:
- San Antonio - Fratneras [consecrated women]
- Pennsylvania:
- Philadelphia - St. Agatha + St. James Parish
- Philadelphia - UPenn + Drexel Newman Center
- Philadelphia - Sodalits [consecrated men]
The Evangelization of the Youth
A special emphasis is placed on the evangelization of the youth. From generation to generation, the youth symbolize hope for the future. They represent the future of the Church and society. The youth bring a particular set of gifts that they are able to offer to the Church. For these reasons, the evangelization and formation of young people is a priority for the CLM.
The evangelization and formation of the youth is begun by allowing them to truly encounter the Lord Jesus. This encounter is in a life founded on the sacraments and prayer. It is continually strengthened by a life of community with other young people living their faith out in daily life. The experience of living their faith results in a joyful desire to share that same faith with others. In this way, the youth are called to be apostles for the youth.
Solidarity with the Poor
Members of the CLM understand that they have a commitment to know, love, and serve the poor. Jesus taught his disciples that any compassion shown to the poor is done to Him. This commitment to be in Solidarity with the poor is not restricted to them but also includes the needy, the sick, the marginalized, and the abandoned. In all these people, the face of Christ can be seen. Pope Francis serves as a beautiful example for us to go to the outskirts of society to serve these little ones.
This commitment is closely tied with the call to promote the human person. Both of these apostolic commitments can be understood more deeply in the encyclical Populorum Progressio written by Pope Paul VI. He challenges Christians to work for more human conditions. An integral approach that respects the human person both body and soul is needed in the commitment to be in solidarity with the poor. This approach will promote a just, fraternal, united, and reconciled society.
The Evangelization of Culture
Members of the CLM understand their calling to share the Gospel “to all of creation” include the culture. This dimension of the apostolate to the culture is fundamental to the CLM spirituality. We are called to form a culture with a desire to honor and protect all that is good, true, and beautiful. This vast area of apostolate can take on a variety of different appearances due to the uniqueness of each culture, but all approaches will uphold the dignity of the human person. An emphasis should be placed in this apostolate on the opportunity for creating spaces for dialogue within cultures. Art, music, education, media, and new types of communication are all different spaces that we are able to create this dialogue in culture. The Promotion and Formation of the Family
“The future of humanity passes by way of the family” [Familiaris Consortio 86]. The family is the sanctuary of life, the primary place of formation of children and the growth in virtue for parents. People called to married life by God have a vocation that invites them to holiness through living a life of communion that is modeled after the Trinity.
The promotion and formation of the family is one of the main areas of the apostolate in the CLM. The family is a school of love where people learn to live a life according to God’s place. The Holy Family is our example of love lived out in the family.
The Promotion of Life, Dignity and Rights of the Human Person
The CLM places an emphasis on defending life from conception to natural death. We see in modern cultures today the loss of an understanding of the great dignity of human life. Since the beginning of the CLM, upholding an understanding of the dignity along with the inalienable rights of the human person has been very important. An integral understanding of the human person which has been created in the “image and likeness” of God leads us to promote life strongly. The CLM desires to share with the world the Gospel of Life - a conviction that only in the Lord Jesus do we find full, eternal life.
Other Areas of Apostolate
In addition to the young, the poor, the evangelization of culture, the apostolate of the family, and the promotion and defense of life of the person, members of the CLM continually feel called to do apostolate in many other fields.
The Second Vatican Council placed a special emphasis on the liturgy of the Church. Members of the CLM desire to participate in the liturgy because they understand that the Eucharistic liturgy is “the source and summit of the Christian life” [CCC 1324]. Closely linked to the liturgical life is popular piety, which is an expression of our life of faith in a particular culture. The CLM spirituality places a special value in popular piety as it is a way of living our faith in the Lord Jesus and orienteering our lives according to the Church in obedience towards our priests and bishops.
Other areas of apostolate in the CLM deserve mentioning as important places to sharing the Gospel. The education of persons, with the variety of different expressions this can hold, is an important apostolate. Providing healthcare to the poor through clinics, hospitals, and medical missions has also been an area where there is a great need for service. The promotion of good, truth, and beauty through art and music is something our culture today desires to encounter. Lastly, the area of communications is a place deserving of special dedication by members of the CLM.
