A young girl in love with God who discovered she had bone cancer at the age of 17, yet, even in her illness, she never stopped being nourished by her love for God which was stronger than anything else. “For you Jesus. If you want it, I want it too!”

She was in the fourth year of school when she got to know the Focolare Movement. She then joined a group of Gen (New Generation) who are the young people of the Focolare. She did not talk about Jesus to others, she communicated him with her life. In fact, she said: “I don’t have to talk about Jesus, I have to give Him… first of all by being in an attitude of listening, but above all by my way of loving”.

“Chiara Luce is the name I thought up for you. Do you like it?” wrote Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, in response to one of Chiara Badano’s letters. “It is the light of the Ideal that overcomes the world…”

Chiara Luce left for Heaven on 7 October 1990 pronouncing these final words before she died: “Mamma, ciao. Be happy, because I am”, as the climax of suffering lived in the radiant light of faith. Her short life now serves as an example to follow for thousands of young people all over the world. The Chiara Badano Foundation set up to keep Blessed Chiara’s memory alive and eternal, and to preserve the places associated with her, continues to receive many requests and reports confirming that Blessed Chiara Luce is known and loved all over the world, especially among young people.

On her birthday which is her liturgical feast day (Chiara was born on 29 October 1971) there will be an intense day of celebrations in Sassello (Italy) where she was born, to which everyone is welcome. It will also be possible to follow some of the events via live-streaming on Chiara Badano’s official website: Fondazione Chiara Badano.

For full details of the programme, please see the poster (at UTC time+1).

For further information and enquiries, please contact: fondazione@chiarabadano.org

Lorenzo Russo