Seventy-five years have passed since the day Chiara Lubich wrote “I have only one spouse on earth”, which we have reproduced here. It’s a writing destined from the very beginning to become a true programmatic manifesto for Chiara and for those who would follow her by adopting the spirituality of unity as their own.
The handwritten manuscript, preserved in the Chiara Lubich Archive (in GAFM) and written on the front and back of a single sheet, records the date of its composition: 20-9-49. Published, in Italian, for the first time in 1957, in an incomplete version and with some modifications, in the magazine “Città Nuova”, it was then reprinted in other publications of Chiara Lubich’s writings, until it was finally included, in its entirety, and according to the original manuscript, in The Cry (New City, London 2001). This is a book that Chiara Lubich wanted to write personally “as a love song” dedicated precisely to Jesus Forsaken.
It began as a sort of diary page, written on the spur of the moment. Considering the unique lyrical tone that permeates it, it could be defined as a “sacred hymn”. This definition seems appropriate if one considers that the term “hymn” originates from the Greek hymnos. The word, although of uncertain etymology, has nevertheless a close relationship with the ancient Hymēn, the Greek god of marriage in whose honour it was sung. Moreover, the spousal aspect in this work is more than ever present, even if – and precisely because – we are within a strongly mystical context. It really is a “song” of love to Jesus Forsaken.
The context of the writing takes us back to the summer of 1949, when Chiara, with her first companions, and the first two men focolarini, was in the mountains – in the Primiero valley, in Trentino-Alto Adige – on holiday. Also, Igino Giordani (Foco) joined the group, for a few days. He had already met Chiara in Parliament a short time before, in September 1948, and he had been fascinated by her Charism.
It was a summer that Chiara herself described as “full of light”. Since then – going back over its stages – she did not hesitate to affirm that it was precisely in that period that she had a better understanding of “many truths of the faith, particularly who Jesus Forsaken was for humanity and for creation – he who recapitulated all things in Himself. Our experience was so powerful,” she noted, “it made us think life would always be like that: light and Heaven.” (The Cry, pages 60-61). But the time had come – urged precisely by Foco – to “come down from the mountains” to meet humanity that is suffering, and to embrace Jesus Forsaken in every expression of pain, in every “abandonment”. Like Him. Only out of love.
So, she wrote: “I have only one spouse on earth: Jesus Forsaken”.
Maria Caterina Atzori
20-9-49
I have only one Spouse on earth: Jesus forsaken. I have no God but him. In him is the whole of paradise with the Trinity and the whole of the earth with humanity.
Therefore, what is his is mine, and nothing else.
And his is universal suffering, and therefore mine.
I will go through the world seeking it in every instant of my life.
What hurts me is mine.
Mine the suffering that grazes me in the present. Mine the suffering of the souls beside me (that is my Jesus). Mine all that is not peace, not joy, not beautiful, not lovable, not serene, in a word, what is not paradise. Because I too have my paradise, but it is that in my Spouse’s heart. I know no other. So it will be for the years I have left: athirst for suffering, anguish, despair, sorrow, exile, forsakenness, torment— for all that is him, and he is sin, hell.
In this way I will dry up the waters of tribulation in many hearts nearby and, through communion with my almighty Spouse, in many faraway.
I shall pass as a fire that consumes all that must fall and leaves standing only the truth.
But it is necessary to be like him: to be him in the present moment of life.
Chiara Lubich The Cry (New City, London 2001, pages 61-62)
They arrived two by two by motorbike, the most common form of transport for getting to the town of Manono in Katanga province in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ninety-two priests from 8 dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Lubumbashi met together in this town for one of the Focolare Movement’s periodical retreats. The Bishop of Manono, Mgr Vincent de Paul Kwanga Njubu invited the Focolare to hold the meeting there, as he had been struck by the testimony of his priests who had participated in a similar retreat in Lubumbashi in the past.
Mgr Oscar Ngoy wa Mpanga, the Bishop of Kongolo, a diocese which is 300 km from Manono, who had also been struck by young priests who had participated in similar retreats organised for seminarians, also asked all the priests in his diocese to join this retreat. Forty-three arrived. The local press described the retreat as ‘unforgettable’. At its conclusion, the bishop offered everyone a lunch which the participants subsequently shared with the city hospital bringing great joy to the patients.
Members of the Focolare community of Lubumbashi took care of the organisational part (even transporting all the pots and pans for cooking), and the programme was entrusted to members of the Focolare Movement’s International Centre.
The city of Manono which is about 800 km from Lubumbashi is the third largest city in Congo and represents a mining resource of global importance due to the presence of lithium and other minerals. Unfortunately, however, the population does not benefit from these resources. Entire families spend their days searching for minerals, and children leave school to devote themselves to this work. There is huge exploitation, and very low prices are paid for the minerals. There is even a village where houses are collapsing because minerals are being mined underneath them. The region is in a critical situation, having been devastated in the past by a conflict that destroyed the civil and religious infrastructure and left health facilities and schools in ruins. The school attendance rate is less than 30%. Malnutrition and food insecurity are severely affecting the children, with 15% of them suffering from malnutrition. The Bishop of Manono really wanted the retreat to be held here, and it was the first time that priests came from other dioceses, which was why the presence of such a large number of prelates was greeted with such an atmosphere of celebration. During Sunday Mass, the cathedral’s priest asked all the parishioners to bring water, a rare and precious commodity here, for all those participating in the retreat as a sign of love and welcome. Then the actual meeting days began. There were spiritual themes, meditations on the evangelical counsels and in-depth discussions on synodality. With the participants divided into small groups, there were many moments of communion of life, exchange of testimonies, knowledge, sharing and fraternity.
The spirituality of communion, the discovery of God Love, a new style of ‘synodal’ pastoral work that ‘liberates us from pre-packaged schemes and opens us up to mutual love’ as one person said, were some of the points that struck everyone the most.
Back in Lubumbashi, some members of the Focolare were able to greet a number of Bishops from various dioceses who were there for a meeting of the Bishops’ Conference. The Bishops warmly thanked them for the contribution that the retreats were making to the life of their dioceses. In particular, the Bishop of Manono expressed his gratitude for “the contribution made to the spiritual life of priests and laity, and to a communion among priests that is overflowing onto the lives of the laity, giving them the opportunity to live mutual love and put the word of God into practice“. The Archbishop of Lubumbashi, Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, who has just been appointed President of the Bishops’ Conference, also expressed his heartfelt thanks for the retreats that have been held for several years, expressing the hope that this formation which is bearing so much fruit, will continue.
After the retreat, some of the members of the Focolare’s International Centre went to Goma in the north-east, where the focolarini organised two schools of formation attended by 12 young seminarians and 12 priests. The Bishop of Goma, Mgr Willy Ngumbi Ngengele was also present for a liturgical celebration. Several of the guests were unable to attend due to an intensification of clashes near the city. There are 7 million refugees in Congo, including 1.7 million in the North Kivu province where Goma is located. The meeting went into depth on the spirituality of unity and synodality. The programme included a visit to a parish surrounded by thousands of refugees where the parish priest gave a very strong testimony of how the Gospel is being lived. The visit to the “Père Quintard Centre”, run by the Movement and located in the middle of 2 large refugee camps, which offers a service of promotion, education and social development, was also a strong testimony for everyone present. Several saw it as a beacon of hope and asked for similar activities to be initiated in their parishes.
Pope Francis’ latest trip to Asia and Oceania has so far been the farthest, longest and probably the most physically demanding the Pope has ever undertaken. What does this visit mean for the local communities? We asked Paul Segarra, focolarino of the Indonesian community.
Paul, what was the significance of the Pope’s visit to your country?
“This heroic gesture of the Pope is for me an image of God’s love that knows no limits and reaches out to his most distant children, who are certainly not the least-valued in his eyes. The Holy Father took the time to look at them with love, marvel at their giftedness, share their sufferings and longings for justice and peace, then encouraged them to face their challenges together and transcend their limits. But he did not only utter words that inspired and encouraged. He also demonstrated, by example, the strength in faith, the openness to fraternity and the nearness in compassion that he invites his listeners to acquire. He did this through his planned choices and spontaneous gestures, he acted and lived from the heart”.
“As news of his arrival spread quickly – Paul Segarra recounts -, there were also many comments on various social platforms about his chosen means of transport: a sober white sedan, in which he preferred to sit beside his driver, instead of taking the usual presidential back-seat, I imagined because he wanted to converse with his driver face-to-face. Seeing this gesture of his, I realised with regret that I could have done the same with the driver who brought me to my accommodations in Jakarta that same evening. But thereafter, my rides became undeniably more enjoyable, as I took to the habit of getting to know my hired drivers through friendly conversation”.
Paul, how did the local Focolare community experience this event?
“Some members of our Focolare communities in Jakarta and Yogyakarta had the privelege of participating in some of the events that were graced by the pope’s presence. At the Jakarta Cathedral (dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption) the Holy Father acknowledged the work of catechists, describing them as “bridges of the heart that unites all the islands”. We were moved as he drew our attention to a statue of the Virgin Mary, and gave her as a model of faith that welcomes everyone, even as she keeps watch over and protects the people of God as the Mother of Compassion”.
Pope Francis and Imam Umar signed the Joint Declaration. What future do you see for Christians and Muslims together after this signing?
“Tomy, one of our photographers who covered the pope’s visit to the Istiqal Mosque and endured long hours of waiting under the city-heat, was visibly touched as the Holy Father finally arrived and greeted them from his car. Assuming a discreet position just outside the entrance to the underground, pedestrian tunnel that physically connects the Great Mosque to the Cathedral across the street, he managed to capture the moment Pope Francis and High Imam Umar signed the Declaration of Fraternity in front of a small crowd of bishops, imams and other religious figures, and said he had high hopes that this visit would create true harmony between all people of faith. And what is faith, if not seeing, acting and living from the heart?
