16 July 1949

The beginning of a period of major illuminations (of Chiara Lubich) can be said to have begun on July 16, 1949. Igino Giordani had arrived on that day in Tonadico, Italy. He was staying at the Orsinger Hotel and was to hold a conference in the meeting hall of the Capuchins. “Enamoured with Saint Catherine of Siena,” Giordani had always dreamed of finding a consecrated virgin like her whom he could follow. Certain that he had found that person in Chiara, he proposed making a vow of obedience to her, thinking that in this way he would be obeying God. He went on to say that then, the two of them would be able to become saints as a duo like Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal.

Chiara didn’t understand. The Movement didn’t exist and they didn’t talk about their vows. She felt that she had been born for Jesus’s prayer to the Father “May they all may be one”. She was tempted to let go of his idea, but she had the feeling that his words were rooted in a grace that shouldn’t be lost. So, she said to him: “I am nothing. In fact, I want to live like Jesus Forsaken who made himself nothing. You’re also nothing because you live the same way. Well, then, tomorrow we’ll go to church and I’ll say to Jesus Eucharist who will come into my heart as into an empty chalice: ‘Upon my nothingness, you establish unity with Jesus Eucharist in the heart of Foco. And do it in such a way, Jesus, that what comes out is the bond that you have in mind between us.’ And you, Foco, do the same.”

That is what they did. Giordani headed for the hall where he had to give his conference, as Chiara felt driven to return to the church. In front of the tabernacle, she was about to pray to Jesus, but, in that very moment, she felt like she couldn’t. She felt that she was totally identified with the Son. She heard herself pronounce the words: “Abba-Father.” She realized that her religious life would have to be different from the way she had lived it up until that moment: no longer turned towards Jesus, but beside Him, her Brother, turned towards the Father.

Armando Torno, “PortarTi il mondo fra le braccia. Vita di Chiara Lubich”, Città Nuova, Rome, 2011.