The education charism of blessed Edmund Rice

Authentic Edumund Rice education is based on the spirit or charism of its founder. On the basis of primary sources—Bible annotations, private letters, Rules for the Brothers and historical transcripts—, we are presented with an account of Edmund Rice's own spiritual experiences and insights. The first is a radical faith in the divine presence in his own life, the second, a profound sense of the dignity of every human person, and, the third, a heightened sensitivity to the poor and marginal. These experiences are at once sacramental—especially nourished through the Eucharist—and mission-focused—flowing over into his relationships and informing his educational philosophy. In Edmund Rice educational terms, we can speak of a charism which highlights the primacy of God (presence), cultivates a communal ethic of care (compassion), and is committed to humanized action based on justice (liberation).