Spirituality

Be intent on prayer and whatever may happen will turn to our good. Cast all your cares into the arms of Divine Providence.
(Edmund Rice, Circular Letter January 1829)

The Spirituality of the Edmund Rice Camps

Those of us who are involved in the Edmund Rice Camps are attempting to follow the lead of Blessed Edmund Rice who "was moved by the Holy Spirit to open his whole heart to Christ present and appealing to him in the poor. He was given the grace to respond by identifying through Christ with the poor in order to evoke in them a deep awareness of God's loving presence." (1984 Christian Brothers' General Chapter)

Not easily defined, and not rooted in intellectual or philosophical considerations, this is sometimes referred to as a “heart-centered spirituality.” It is a spirituality which sees God active in the world and Christ present in others. It is a spirituality motivated by love and compassion. It is a spirituality described best by Christ who, in the 25th chapter of Mark’s Gospel has the king at the final judgment saying “I assure you that whenever you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.”
In the 18th century, Edmund Rice had a positive effect on poor boys of his time because he recognized that Christ was present in them. The Edmund Rice Camps are attempting to do the same thing in the 21st century; and for the same reason!