Celebrating Chiara Lubich’s 8th Anniversary

Chiara Lubich lived on this earth from January 22, 1920 until March 14, 2008. On the day she died thousands of people filled the streets of Rocca di Papa where the International Headquarters of the Focolare Movement is located as well as Chiara’s house. They were there to pay their final respects, and even larger crowds attended her funeral at the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls.

In the years that followed, her anniversary became an occasion to reflect on different aspects of the life, witness and thought of Chiara Lubich: ecumenical dialogue (Trent, 2012); the charism of unity and young people (2012); charism, history, culture (2013); interreligious dialogue (2014); politics for unity (2015). On January 27th of the same year there was the official opening of the Cause of Canonisation.

In 2016 the focus will be on peace. Chiara Lubich was a peacemaker. She opened paths of dialogue at many levels and was internationally recognised, like when she was awarded the UNESCO Prize For Peace Education in 1996. Her spirituality, which also translates into the daily practice of universal brotherhood, has inspired hundreds of projects around the world that are aimed at enriching the world with humanity and solidarity through caring for Creation. These projects are all gathered in the United World Project (UWP).

While responding to Pope Francis’s appeal, on behalf of the Movement, Focolare president Maria Voce called for new commitment and effort in favour of peace. “We have to do more,” she said, to move the top politicians, the weapons trade networks and the chief strategists who – as we are beginning to see – can start off from the bottom with the mobilisation of civil society.” Maria Voce also called on the members of the Movement “to join in more with others” with others who are moving in this direction, to promote actions that unmask the causes of war and of the tragedies that afflict so many parts of the earth, with the goal of remedying them, “putting our own forces into play, our willingness and resources.”

One event titled Culture of Dialogue, A Way To Build Peace, with a special appearance by the Gen Verde international band, will be held at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on March 12th. These events will mark the 20th anniversary of the conferment of the UNESCO Prize For Peace Education to Chiara Lubich. The invitation is addressed to ambassadors to the Holy See, civil and Church leaders. Focolare president Maria Voce will give an address, which will be followed by several testimonies regarding dialogue as a way to build peace.

On March 14th a Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal João Braz De Aviz at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Divine Love, while other events to remember Chiara are being held throughout the world.