“It is very touching that the children of Rome thought of the IRAP (Audio Phonetic Rehabilitation Institute). This sum is precious, above all because it is a gesture that comes from the hearts of children.

During this past term at IRAP, we have tried to be “sparks of life” in the midst of the death that surrounds us. For us, this gift is itself a spark of life: it makes us feel that we are not alone and that, behind this gesture, there are concrete efforts, the faces of joyful children, hands joined together… All this is a seed of life and fraternity that touches us deeply. Thank you.

We are certainly living through difficult times but we continue to hold fast to hope and to choose life every day. This means going against the current of what is happening in Lebanon today. It calls for constant efforts, which we must make again and again, because nothing can ever be taken for granted.

Today in Lebanon, the word “peace”, seems to be losing its meaning. Many people don’t believe in it anymore and sometimes neither do we. At one point, even the Time Out, the daily moment of prayer for peace shared around the world, seemed pointless to me. How could I expect others to believe it, if I myself no longer did?

It became necessary to go deeper in order to rediscover the true meaning of peace: first of all inner peace, which is a challenge in a context of war, violence and hostility. Not allowing yourself to slip into hatred of the enemy, overcoming anger in the face of injustice, ripping out from your soul everything that can corrupt it… it’s a continuous struggle.

At Easter, Jesus’ greeting to the apostles, “Peace be with you”, resounded in a new way in my soul and I rediscovered that he is our true peace.

Active commitment to others is a way out: it frees us from isolation and makes us stronger. ”

IRAP (Institut de Rééducation Audio-Phonétique)

compiled by Maria Grazia Berretta

Immagini della festa di raccolta fondi organizzata dai Ragazzi per l’Unità di Roma (©Joaquín Masera)