“Thank you for everything you have done for the Movement”, were the words with which Pasquale Foresi- co-founder of the Focolare Movement- greeted Carlos Clariá the day before he passed away.
Carlos was born in Argentina, the second of 17 children. Since he was young he was taught how to share the responsibility of this large family and was considered a “brother-father” by its younger members.
He was a very talented young man and had a very promising future. His encounter in 1963 with the Ideal of Unity radically changed his life. He recounted, “I was touched in the depths of my soul! The ideals I’d had until then crumbled one by one: my study, family, politics… The only one of my previous ideals that remained was the love I felt for my fiancé…” He and Marta had been together for eight years and wanted to form a Christian family. In 1965, just after his graduation from law school- where his top marks got him a golden medal- he left for Loppiano, the then nascent Focolare “little town”, to further discover the Gospel based lifestyle that fascinated him. His fiancé made the same choice.
It soon became clear however that God had a different plan for them. As the experience in Loppiano progressed both decided to consecrate themselves personally to God. They became “apostles of unity” to reconstruct the unity of the human family. Carlos wrote to Chiara: “I have consecrated myself to Jesus Forsaken. You told me not to turn back and that this choice has to be the first building block that edifies my sanctification. With the help of God and of Mary I hope not to stop at the first”.
In 1968 a new adventure started for Carlos: he became co-director of the Focolare Movement in Spain, along with Margherita Bavosi (also called “Luminosa”) an Argentinean focolarina who is now Servant of God. Fruitful years of growth for the local Focolare Community followed.
From 1978 until 1996 he was the international director of theGen Movement, accompanying many young people in their human and spiritual formation. One of his companions at the time recalls, “Carlos had a truly great love for all the Gen. He managed to establish relationships with them immediately. He knew how to value them; he perceived their qualities and talents and always recognised their best side. He helped them incarnate the Ideal of Unity in its various aspects, in their personal lives and in their social commitments”
One of Carlos’ characterising features was his capacity to establish deep relationships not only with young people but with everyone. He had the same relationship with the news paper vendor as with the important personalities he came in contact with- be they politicians, cardinals or kings; he had learnt that Jesus was in each of them.
From 1996 until 2000 he and Claretta dal Rì took ahead Focolare’s dialogue with friends of non-religious conviction and from 2000 until 2008 he followed the communications field within the Focolare Movement. With these friends of non-religious conviction he really felt at ease. One of them, on hearing of Carlos’ passing, wrote to him directly, “Dear friend, on hearing of your death I couldn’t hold back signs of deep emotion. I still recall you telling us with poetic words that we were walking on a path that doesn’t exist yet, that we are marking out the path with our lives. Soon after we truly trusted each other and this reciprocal trust gave birth to an amazing friendship. Be sure that we will go ahead without ever betraying our pact of loyalty, trust and love.”
Chiara had suggested a phrase of the Gospel for Opus to particularly focus on: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work,” (Jn 4, 34). And from this he received the name “Opus” (Work) by which many knew him.
At the beginning of 2009 when the pain worsened he started an extraordinary upward climb. He often said, “The Holy Spirit continuously suggests that I don’t waste even a second!” On the 9th May 2009, a few hours before “leaving” he said, almost in a whisper, “Thank you to all those who did me good during my life. I only feel Paradise. I will only sing thank you, like a child of the Gospel. That is true Life but it starts here. Sweet Mary, my Mother, help me slide into Jesus Forsaken; help me when I encounter Jesus and I will enter- because of His infinite mercy- the Bosom of the Father. Only Thank You. I will present myself to you as Thank You; that will be my name: We are Thank You, We are Thank You, We are Thank You”.
