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22 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
“On 19th August, the Way of the Cross was held in a central place in the city, at which magnificent traditional images were utilized, from the procession of Holy Week (known as “los pasos”), which were brought over from several Spanish regions. It was unbelievable, to see, hundreds of thousands of youths, who, in spite of the heat and the accumulated tiredness, arrived from everywhere, and know that on the morrow, they would continue the cathechisis in different parts of the city. A very familial moment: the lunch at the nunciature of Pope Ratzinger with 12 youths from various continents. They are happy and moved, but not withstanding this, everything happens with extreme normality. All repeat that the Pope has listened more than spoken; he wanted to know the attitude with which the youths lived the WYD, and what were their interests, and those of their age group. Well, he wanted to know from them the reality of youths from all parts of the world. Only at the end, they asked the Holy Father what did he expect from them: “ That you are witnesses to the faith each of you in in their own environment-he answered-rooted in Christ”, being always springs of enthusiasm and joy. And this is what we experienced in the evening during the get together – a moment of prayer and adoration – organised in a large church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is impossible to describe the joy, and at the same time, the solemnity that reigned. Against all forecast, the Church was full, half an hour early; and therefore they had to prepare also the large crypt, linked by video. The program took place in Spanish, English, and Italian. 
The songs alternated between the Spanish band of Youths for a United World and the international group, Gen Rosso, both now well tuned together, thanks to the work done together in the last evenings. The event was introduced by Rafael of Porto Alegre and Natalia from China, who related their experiences on their commitment to live the Gospel. Then, Chiara Lubich – through a video with youths assembled at La Coruna for the WYD of 1989 – took us on another level. It was as though she was in the midst of us, speaking to us about the immense project that God has in the life of each one of us! With this very high atmosphere, it was natural to adore Jesus, present in the Eucharist, exposed by Mons. Andres Carrascosa, Nunzio of Panama. Together with songs and musical exerpts, we witnessed this marvellous intimate one to one with God. We left with the appointment to meet the following day at “Cuatro Vientos” (a military airport on the outskirts of Madrid) for the much awaited Holy Mass. It took place, as many could see, in between rain and storm, without affecting in any way, the ardour and enthusiasm of the youths, all concentrated on prayer. So much so that the Pope exclaimed: “Thank you for your joy and your resistance. Your strength has been stronger than the rain.” The TV’s of all the world transmitted the extraordinary images of that sea of youths, under the sun (around 2 million according to the organisers), attentive to the words of Benedict XVI: “Reply to Him with generosity and audacity, as is proper of a young heart like yours. Tell Him: Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, that you gave up your life for me…you know me and love me. I trust you and put my entire life in your hands…You be the strength that sustains me, the joy that will never abandon me…communicate to others the joy of your faith.” And his invitation for the next edition of WYD in 2013 at Rio De Janeiro, in Brasil, was received with great enthusiasm. From our our correspondent Dolores Garcia
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21 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Brussels 2012. A symbolic site, the seat of important institutions of the European Union, an important date – a European Year of Solidarity Among Generations. Brussels 2012 is also the next step in the free assembly of movements and communities who, while maintaining their own autonomy, occasionaly act together for common goals, offering the contribution of their own charisms and spiritualities. This journey began on 31 October 1999 and was entitled “Together for Europe”. Today it has become a network involving more than 250 movements and Christian communities: Catholics, Evangelicals, Anglicans, Orthodox, members of free churches and Pentecostal communities. They work together for the common good of the continent, as an accompaniment to the path of reconciliation that has been set forth. (10 years for Europe http://vimeo.com/25805381) Many events are planned for 2012 in many European cities, both in preparation for the events in Brussels and simultaneous to the events. For more information go to www.together4europe.org where you will also find many documents and the history of “Together for Europe”. Especially worthy of mention are the two major events in Stuttgart in 2004 and 2007 with their keynote addresses, known to history as the 7 SI’.
Stuttgart 2004 - Chiara Lubich with Evmenios Tamiolakis
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21 Aug 2011 | Non categorizzato
Marilen Holzhauser, one of the first focolarine explained: “For us every object we have has to have a reason or purpose”. From the start Chiara Lubich and the first followers in her adventure have had their own style in living, dressing and home furnishing which was simple and moderate. They understood that beauty revealed in the mystery of a flower that consumes only what it needs and in this way its real beauty. Beauty becomes the splendour of the Truth. The harmony reflected in simplicity makes us discover ‘the beauty which will save the world’ and that world will save beauty. In the Letter to Diogneto, referring to the first Christians we read: ‘Living in the Greek and Barbarian cities, as we each have, and adapting ourselves in each place to the customs of dressing, eating and so on, we give witness to an admirable and undoubtedly paradoxical way of living.’
Dina Figueiredo, "Eucharist" - St Clare Hospital, Trent, 2004
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19 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Included in the World Youth Day’s rich cultural program was this event deemed “essential” in today’s means of communication: a musical entitled “Life, Love, Light” which depicted the life of blessed Chiara Luce Badano. 50 young people of the Focolare Movement had a very ambitious goal: to present this musical at WYD which so far had been only been performed once at Paul VI Hall in the Vatican on the occasion of the beatification of Chiara Luce, in response to the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “I invite all young people to get to know her: her life was short, but her message was great. Nineteen years full of life, of love, of faith. The last two years of her life were full of suffering, but lived with love and light, a light that she irradiated around her, a light born from within her: from her heart filled with God!” It involved months of preparation and commitment, together with a strong, deep experience of God. What seemed to be a challenge achieved only through “a miracle”, yesterday evening, at the Auditorium Pilar García Peña (Madrid), it became a splendid reality. Up until a few months ago, they were only novice artists, but on the stage yesterday they were true professionals. Before the show, a Gen from the choreography group expressed herself in these terms: “What we want to communicate is that all of us can follow Chiara Luce’s way. She was one of us.” The auditorium, which has a capacity of 5,000 persons, was completely full and many people followed the musical seated on the floor or standing. Through songs, writings and choreographies, the musical Life, love, light” depicts the milestones in Chiara Badano’s life: her childhood with her parents, her relationships with friends and with the founder of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich, her hopes, achievements, failures, up to the crucial moment of her sickness. “Why, Jesus?” she asked herself when faced with this immense suffering and her own response, “If You want it, I want it too”. A special, profound and emotional moment was the live testimonies given by Maria Teresa and Ruggero Badano, Chiara Luce’s parents as well as by Chicca Coriasco, her best friend. Other young people present were also given the opportunity to share their experiences and their commitment in living the Gospel daily, like Chiara Luce. The audience was strongly moved when extracts of her letters to Chiara Lubich were read out: “I discovered that Jesus Forsaken is the key to unity with God. I chose Him as my first Spouse, and I want to prepare myself for when He arrives. I want to prefer Him.” Many people in the audience praised the beauty of the musical, the spectacular stage lighting effects, the use of modern language. Some young people who were present, while professing to be unbelievers, affirmed that they accepted the message of “love and unity” which was transmitted through the show. “I can no longer run,” Chiara Luce said shortly before she passed way, “but I would like to hand the torch over to you, as in the Olympics… because we have only one life to live, and it is worth to spend it well.” They are strong words which also reflect the atmosphere experienced during yesterday evening’s concert. Now it is up to each one of us to carry this torch. Video Clip on YouTube [nggallery id=61]
