Quadro di Gabriele Marsili: Cielo e terra

Chiara Lubich’s spirituality soon came to be known as a collective or communitarian spirituality, which focused on Jesus’s prayer to the Father that all might be one (see Jn 17:21). This spirituality has 12 main points that are interconnected:

  1. God-Love
  2. God’s Will
  3. The Word
  4. The Neighbour
  5. Mutual Love
  6. Eucharist
  7. The Gift of Unity
  8. Jesus Forsaken
  9. Mary
  10. The Church-Communion
  11. The Holy Spirit
  12. Jesus in the Midst

 

These points were not the result of theological reflection or planning and. Like most things in Chiara Lubich’s spirituality they invite a response, a decision that brings life. Throughout the history of the Church there have been saints, holy people and entire communities that have a primarily individualistic spirituality on their journey to God. In the spirituality of unity the individual’s experience of God certainly remains unique and unrepeatable, but the charism of unity which the Holy Spirit bestowed on Chiara Lubich has brought forth a spirituality that has given an equally indispensable communitarian dimension to the Christian life. It is not totally without precedent: the Gospel itself is eminently communitarian. Also, there have also been communitarian elements in past experiences and spiritualities that placed love at the basis of the spiritual life.

But Chiara Lubich brings a spirituality that is unique among communitarian approaches to God. Her charism invites us to be one in Christ according to Jesus’s words in John’s Gospel: “as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they may be one in us” (Jn 17:21). In Chiara Lubich these words of Jesus become a lifestyle.

A communitarian spirituality had already been foretold by contemporary theologians and was mentioned by the Second Vatican Council. Karl Rhaner talked about the spirituality of the future Church as being a fraternal communion in which the same basic experience of the Spriit is had by all. The Second Vatican Council described the Church as the Body of Christ, and the People of God assembled in the bond of love in the Holy Trinity.

Teresa of Avila, saint and doctor of the Church, describes an “interior castle.” The spirituality of unity helps to build up what Chiara Lubich describes as an “exterior castle” in which Christ dwells in the midst and illuminates its every part.

8 Comments

  • Fuimos creados y formados como seres relacionales….desde el hagámoslo, desde Eva….es nuestra escencia olvidada y opacada por el individualismo del mundo actual…..hoy vivimos bajo el régimen de la autoestima que infla el ego….los cristianos no tenemos autoestima, debemos tener Cristoestima

  • I am very enthusiastic about joining this group. I have published a book ” Divine Discoveries in History and the Arts, as I was guided by God and the Holy Spirit, as to where to go, to discover lifechanging events, people, artists, musicians, dancers and history.. I am Italian origin, and my Grandparents came to the US.from Rome, Italy, and were very religious. I have studied Art History in Florence, I have met several profoundly Religious people, priests, and sisters that have aided me on my journey to doing the will of God.
    I need a community , I prayed to the Lord to do His Will and I watched on EWTN the magnificent Life of Chiara Lubich, which has so inspired me.

  • Great information. There is a LIGHT in this world. Amending soul more remarkable than any dimness we might experience. We in some cases neglect to focus on this power when there is enduring and an excessive amount of agony. Then, at that point, unexpectedly, the soul will arise through the existences of customary individuals who hear a call and reply in phenomenal ways.

  • Quel livre de Chiara Lubich traduit en français (longueur et niveau indifférents) conseilleriez-vous pour introduire le mieux dans la spiritualité des focolari ? Merci par avance.

  • Bonjour
    Comment fait-on pour accéder aux pages correspondant aux différents points de la spiritualité ?
    Sur le site précédent, les liens étaient actifs.
    Merci de votre réponse
    Avec toute mon unité

    • Bonjour,
      les pages fixes du site précédent sont toujours disponibles, rassemblés dans les e-books. Les points de la spiritualité sont dans l’e-book “Spiritualité de l’unité”. Malheureusement pour l’instant, les e-books ne sont qu’en italien, il sera bientôt possible de les télécharger dans d’autres langues aussi.

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