Corporate Memory

The corporate memory can only be retained when the memories in various forms are repeated by the group on a regular basis. Religious communities are able to create strong corporate memories and retain these for each new context encountered. An example of the break-up of the corporate memory can be found in relation to the practice of the sacrament of Baptism. For corporate memory to be retained, significance as well as repetition is required. Significance implies that the memory can be applied to the life situations of the members of the group. For the corporate memory to be sustained, the past memory of the group must be able to be applied to the present context. There are many parallels between the racial memory and the Christian corporate memory. The corporate memory creates a sense of identity and calls forth from its members the duty of repetition and application.