31 Jul 2018 | Non categorizzato
According to tradition, on the night of July 1216, St. Francis asked God for forgiveness of the sins of the penitent pilgrims visiting the “Portiuncula.” On 2 August Pope Honorius III established the “Pardon of Assisi” in the Franciscan churches, an indulgence extended today to all the parish churches worldwide. On 1 August there will be the celebration of the “Opening of the Days of Indulgences” (from 12 noon of 1 August up to midnight of 2 August). It will be followed by the traditional Evening Prayer with a procession with torches. The youths of the 38th Franciscan March coming from all the regions of Italy and some foreign countries, shall cross the threshold of the “Portiuncula” after a journey on foot of more than a week, guided by the theme, “With a new name.” Lastly, the Basilica Square will be the location of five events/shows (Gloriosus Francisuc with Michele Placido, Concert of the Russian Symphonic Orchestra, On a journey with Mary, Pardon Concert of the Vatican Gendarmerie Band, and the ballet, The Two Paths).
31 Jul 2018 | Non categorizzato
“We live in a world which has become a real village: complex and new, but a village. Humanity today lives as if it were a small group. And if it is so, it could really live, in brotherhood. But how can we make it bloom?” Chiara Lubich See the new website: www.unitedworldproject.org With new contents: Watch, Workshop, Network «UWP, promoted by New Humanity, wishes to contribute to the creation of the united world by mapping, promoting and setting on the network the personal and collective good practices, processes, big or small actions, daily or extraordinary ones that contribute to make the world a place o peace, more fraternal and united” as listed in its objectives. Enter into the United World Project network!
30 Jul 2018 | Focolare Worldwide
“What shall I do in life?” one of the seven workshops held following the Genfest, focused on the theme of the choices in life, that is, one’s own “Life direction.” As the organizers recounted, “the construction of this workshop by adults and a group of young people from various parts of the world began last February, with meetings via Skype: a really edifying experience assumed by all with commitment, responsibility and creativity.” “Upon arriving in Tagaytay and getting to know each other personally, we realised the great expectations of everyone. Also the numbers expected at the workshop were high: out of the 1,000 enrollees in the seven workshops, 250 had chosen Life Direction, and came from various countries, speaking 16 languages.” The program, guided in a light and gradual manner towards ever deeper issues in which concrete experiences were the main factor, was prepared by the youths of the Asian town themselves, and the thread focused on a “daily motto: a thought to put into practice during the day. 
“The first day opened with “Open your heart”: an invitation to open one’s heart to true happiness, trying to remove what could be an impediment in living the present moment intensely. Four experiences were presented in various situations and methods on the theme of happiness discovered thanks to concrete love, or discovered after starting again after a fall, or in painful and difficult situations. The exchange sessions in small groups verified what lay in the depths and how many questions and expectations each one had inside.” “On the second day – they continued – the motto was ’What is the call’ which required our most active participation in presenting the sense of the ’calling’ with a comprehensible language to be able to be accepted, and associated to three key words: understand, listen, choose.” Then followed the story with God in five biblical personages: Samuel, the rich young man, the prodigal son, Mary, and Peter. A married couple, a religious, a woman committed in the professional world, and a focolarina were interviewed on the three key words. “In smaller groups we managed to deepen the sense of each of these callings, interacting with questions and answers.” “The third day’s motto was: ’Aim high.’ We left the word of Chiara Lubich who in 2002 recounted her calling to the youths in Barcelona. The questions, which were written, slowly filled the question box, and were the afternoon’s programme, with other interviews of our guests: each underlined the beauty of their own vocation in the perspective of the sole calling to love. The hour and a half passed swiftly!” “In these four days – the adults wrote – we saw youths who were thirsting for a relationship with God, in a profound quest, simplicity and serenity. We felt that something new had come about: an experience of light that had opened a new path of dialogue with the youths on the calling to a radical vocation.” Some of those present said: “It was exactly what I needed at this point of my life. Living the present moment, opening my doors, and taking radical steps beyond ourselves, are what I am bringing home with me.” “The youths who spoke about their choice to follow God in a total way gave me courage to make choices only out of love.” “For me it was important to understand how to answer the call: understand (that God loves me), listen (to the voice within) and decide (to follow Jesus). I am so happy about this experience. Thanks!”
28 Jul 2018 | Non categorizzato, Word of
The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to the people of Israel, who were experiencing the pain of exile in Babylon. They had lost everything that represented their identity and chosenness: their land, the temple and the law… However, the prophet’s words pierce through this sense of pain and loss. It is true that Israel had been unfaithful to the covenant of love with God and this had led to destruction. But then came the proclamation of a new promise of freedom, salvation, and a renewed covenant. God was preparing this out of his eternal and unfailing love for his people. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” “The eternal and unfailing nature of God’s faithfulness is a quality of His love. He is the Father of every human being, a Father who is the first to love; and his commitment is forever. His faithfulness touches each one of us and allows us to entrust to Him every worry that might block us. This eternal and patient love also helps us grow and improve our relationship with Him and with others. We are well aware that our commitment to love God and our neighbours is not yet constant, although it is sincere. But His faithfulness to us is freely given, anticipating our needs, regardless of the ‘service’ we give. With this joyful assurance, we can go beyond our limited view of things and start out on the journey again each day, becoming witnesses to this “motherly” love. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” God’s loving way of looking at humanity also reveals a wonderful plan to make all people become one family, which reaches its fulfilment in Jesus. In fact, he bore witness to his trust in God’s love through his word, and above all, with the example of his life. He made it possible for us to imitate the Father’s love for all (Mt 5:43 ff.). He showed us that the vocation of every man and woman is to contribute personally to building relationships of acceptance and dialogue. How can we live the Word of life for this month? Chiara Lubich invites us to have a mother’s heart: « […] A mother always welcomes, always helps, always hopes, and covers everything. […] In fact, the love of a mother is very similar to the love of Christ which St Paul spoke of. If we have a mother’s heart, or, more precisely, if we decide to have Mary’s heart, the heart of the Mother par excellence, we will always be ready to love others in all circumstances and to keep the Risen Lord alive in us. […] If we have the heart of this Mother, we will love everyone and not only the members of our own church, but also other people’s churches. Not only Christians, but also Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and so on. We will love all people of good will and every person who lives on this earth […] » . “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” A young wife, who started living the Gospel in her family said: “I experienced a joy I never had before and wanted to share this love outside the four walls of our house. For example, I remember running to the hospital to visit the wife of a colleague who had attempted suicide. For quite a time, I had known of their difficulties, but being absorbed in my own problems, I had not bothered to help her. But then I felt her suffering was my own and I could not rest until the situation that had driven her to that point was resolved. This experience marked the beginning of a change in my mentality. I understood that, if I love, I can be a reflection of God’s love for everyone I meet, even if only a very small one “. What if we too, sustained by God’s faithful love, freely have this inner attitude in the presence of everyone we meet during the day? Letizia Magri
