What is the Charism/Spirituality of St. Daniel Comboni?

What is the Charism/Spirituality of St. Daniel Comboni?

In the life of Comboni one is struck by the decisiveness with which he consecrated himself to the cause of missionary awareness of the Church (particularly in Africa, which he saw as the poorest and most abandoned of his time) and the constancy with which he remained faithful to this ideal until his death ~ notwithstanding all the difficulties.

The secret of such apostolic force is found in the certainty of his own missionary vocation. God called him and therefore no human force could hinder or deviate his steps from the unique and supreme purpose which in the light of the faith guided his life.

First phase: Comboni in his consecration to the missions, draws close to Christ and His heart in which he finds the model of love and total dedication to the most needy.

Second phase: This is tied to his African experience and lasts until 1864. Comboni discovers the reality of Africa and its extreme poverty, at all levels, and he becomes conscious that he can not help unless he is prepared to risk his life. Mission, death and martyrdom begin to be united and will never be disassociated in his life.

Third Phase: This is a charismatic moment, that became central in the experience of September 14th, 1864. At the tomb of St. Peter, Comboni is overwhelmed by the love that God has for humanity. Becoming totally absorbed in this love, Comboni has the inspiration for his Pan which, in obedience to the Church, will lead him to the foundation of his Institutes (one for men the other for women).
At the same time Comboni realizes that it is possible to “immerse oneself” in Africa only by sharing fully in the mystery of Christ on the cross.

Fourth Phase: This begins in 1873, when Comboni arrives in Africa as provicar apostolic and in his first discourse identifies himself with the people entrusted to his pastoral care. Comboni understood the necessity of sharing fully the situation of the Africans; it is the moment of the valorization of the people to be evangelized, of inculturation and of incarnation. “ I come”, says Comboni, “to make common cause with you and the happiest day of my existence will be that in which I can lay down my life for you”.

The Last Phase: In 1878, the hardships, the privations, the diseases, the struggles and the contradictions suffered for many years, the death of so many of his missionaries, the abandonment of some of his closest collaborators… lead Comboni to experience how much it costs to incarnate the figure of the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his flock.
But the cross and death are only the way to arrive at the fullness of life. The last words of Comboni are already the living experience of the paschal mystery: “I am happy with the cross, that borne willingly for love of God generates triumph and eternal life”.