Incarnational Spirituality

“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

These words from the Gospel of John are those which form the foundation of our spirituality, and are what we contemplate, as Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

The Word is the “logos” – the Word of God. “Logos” implies more than a spoken Word; rather, it is the thought and the idea and the vision and the plan of God. For the Word-the “Logos”-to become flesh means that all that God is became what we are:

“The Word of God was made human in order that we might be made divine.” (Athanasius, 4th century).

He dwells among us, and reveals to us who God is. He alone, as the only Son of God, can show us the Source of Life, and he leads us into a new communion with God, to become one with God. Jesus shows us a simple way to union with God:

“ ... a way of compassion, love, service and humility that is for all people: not just for the strong, the clever, the capable and the virtuous … but also for the weak and the humble. This is the journey that we followers of Jesus are called to make…to continue his mission and his works. ...to give life, eternal life, and to reveal the face and heart of God to people.”

(Excerpts from Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John,  by Jean Vanier. Copyright © 2004 by Novalis, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada. Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ. Reprinted by permission of Paulist Press, Inc