2 Jul 2021 | Non categorizzato
Politician, writer and journalist, Spartaco Lucarini was one of the first married focolarini. On 3 July 2021, an escalator in the centre of his home town will be named after him and an event will take place in the theatre to recall his civic and political commitment. 
It has been said that Spartaco Lucarini’s soul was open to the whole of humanity but he was also closely linked to his own country and local area. He worked ceaselessly and with great courage and commitment to promote its social and cultural development. He was a journalist and writer, politician and man of culture. He was one of the first married focolarini and he was editor of the “Citta Nuova” magazine for several years, collaborating with the Movement’s international centre near Rome. He had moved there with his family from his home town of Cortona in Tuscany where he was born on 6 May 1924. In this town which is often considered to be a tresure chest of art, many people still remember him, especially for his social, political and civic commitment. Among other things, Spartaco founded the Tourist Board and made sure that Cortona was well known known not only in Italy but also abroad. He used a variety of ways including his literary skills for which he received many awards. From a young age, he had been concerned with the problems of the area, mainly unemployment and precarious working conditions. “In spite of his professional commitments, he always followed events in Cortona with great attention and affection,” Walter Checcarelli, president of the Cortona Christian Association, confirmed to the local newspaper “L’Etruria”. “At the beginning of the 1960s, he realised the great potential in the sale of antiques and founded the Antique Furniture Exhibition which, over time, became one of the most important nationwide. He made his contribution as a town councillor, becoming group leader of the Christian Democrat party with a style of openness and dialogue, unusual for those years of strong ideological opposition. Personally, I remember his holidays with his large family during the Easter period: his presence and prayer on Good Friday have remained indelibly impressed in my mind and heart.” As a sign of gratitude for his political commitment as a town councillor, but also in recognition of his contribution as a builder of the area’s social culture, on 2 March 2021 the Cortona town council unanimously decided to name the escalators leading from the Spirito Santo car park to Piazza Garibaldi after him. The dedication ceremony will be held on 3 July 2021 during the Festival of Sacred Music at 10.30 a.m. (Italian time). Following this, an event in a the Teatro Signorelli in Cortona will commemorate this multifaceted figure and his contribution to the political and cultural scene of the 20th century. The idea of paying homage to Spartaco had already been conceived last year and was to be included in the events marking the centenary of the birth of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement (1920-2020). Then the world health situation forced the postponement of the event dedicated to Lucarini. It was Chiara Lubich herself who asked Spartaco, his wife Iolanda Castellani (known as Lalla to everyone) and the couple’s five children to move from Cortona to Rome to work at the international headquarters of the Focolare. Lucarini also contributed to the development of the “New Families” and “New Humanity” Movements of the Focolare. He always remained attached to Tuscany, and in addition to having contributed to the birth of the local community of the Movement, he also made an important contribution to the development of the little town of Loppiano near Incisa and Figline in Valdarno, Italy. In particular, his involvement led to the beginning of the agricultural cooperative and the international school for families that are still based in the little town. In April 1974 he was diagnosed with a very serious illness that led to his death at the age of 51. Even in his final days, Spartaco, although ill, returned to Cortona. “He always appeared serene,” recalled his wife Lalla, “but he was no longer what he used to be.” [i] “I found myself completely changed,” wrote Spartaco, “I’m a very active person, I have a very dynamic temperament so I’ve always tried to give it my all; I’ve understood now that it’s not so important what you do, it’s also important to do nothing. I have discovered the value of ‘living inside’ rather than outside, because by ‘living within’ in a close relationship with God, you can reach the most distant people – everyone in fact. By living projected outside, you can only reach the closest, you only reach people around you. I think I have understood what is essential. In this century, Mary has created a Movement to help the Church, and she really wants to do so quickly, she wants to achieve unity not only among us Catholics, not only among the Churches, but among all people. This is a programme that is greater and goes beyond any human programme.”[ii]
Lorenzo Russo
[i] Alfredo Zirondoli “Coraggio!” pub. Citta Nuova’ p 102 [ii] Alfredo Zirondoli “Coraggio!” pub. Citta Nuova’ p 96 – 97
1 Jul 2021 | Non categorizzato
The Gen 4, the children of the Focolare Movement have many experiences about “taking care”. As well as putting themselves out there to help people, they appeal to adults to take care of all the children in the world who are in need. All over the world, the “Gen 4”, the children of the Focolare Movement, have many concrete experiences: it’s almost like a contest in every continent, to try to love their neighbours by taking care of those most in need. Here are some examples: let’s start in India, where some Gen 4 decided to take care of the poor who live on the streets, by preparing a hot meal for them. One of the Gen 4 told us: “My mum and I prepared cups of hot noodles, a typical pasta from some Asian countries; my brother and dad distributed them to the poor. There are many poor children living on the streets! We’ve started to do this every Friday.” In Greece, the children of the Focolare decided to get in touch with some Senior citizens who were isolated in their retirement home due to Covid-19. They involved their friends and collected drawings, with which they made a poster that everyone really liked. Let’s go to Korea now, where a Gen 4 decided to donate her hair to children who have cancer. A friend joined her and they both let their hair grow, so that they would be able to donate it. They were happy to help the sick children. From Burundi, we heard that many Gen 4 collected food and brought it to a orphanage. These Gen 4, who don’t have much themselves, were happy to bring gifts to other children! In Australia, some adults were distributing food to the homeless and to students in economic difficulty. The Gen 4 wanted to help. They prepared postcards to go with the packages that were distributed. For about two years, the Gen 4 of the Mariapolis Ginetta in Brazil, South America, have collected milk and juice cartons, collaborating with an NGO that runs a project called “No cracks in Brazil”. The cartons are used to cover the cracks in the walls of houses, insulating them and preventing insects getting in. They can also be used to make thermal blankets for the homeless. Another example, this time from Ireland: the gen 4 took part in an initiative launched by the National Post Office. They involved the local community and sent postcards, small packages and gifts for Senior citizens living alone. Finally we go to Portugal : After seeing a news programme showing images of war, 7 year old João wondered: “What can we Gen 4 do?”. He rang the coordinator of his Gen 4 group. They had the idea of raising awareness in the political world. João and his sister jointly wrote a statement from children to politicians, teachers and all civil and religious authorities. The statement says: “Our laws speak of children’s rights, but they should be more explicit in demanding the duty of care. (…) We know it’s not easy (…), but if you change the life of just one child, it’s already worth sending you this statement! If you take care of us, we will take care of the world!” A delegation of Gen 4 brought the Statement to the place in Porto where the Social Summit of the European Commission was taking place. That same evening, the news was broadcast on the TV news. The Statement of the Gen 4 has now been translated into several languages and is spreading to many countries throughout the world.
Laura Salerno
30 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
The will of God is the voice of God that continually speaks to us and invites us; it is God’s way of expressing His love to us, a love that demands a response from us so that He can accomplish His wonders in our lives. The truth that does not pass After 4 years in India and 25 years of life lived totally at the service of others, my ‘batteries’ were completely flat, I returned to Italy to try and regain the health that I feared had been irreparably damaged. During those long months of inactivity and solitude (albeit surrounded by the love of my companions in community), ‘outside’ of the life that had been so dynamic and rich in relationships on which my outgoing temperament has always thrived, something very important happened – on an inner, existential level – which is difficult to put into words: a return to my original choice, and understanding a fundamental truth that everything is a gift, and we need to thank God for everything whilst being ready to lose because it is not the truth. The truth that does not pass is something else. It is our personal relationship with Him, the only ideal of all time: God and nothing else. Contrary to what I had feared, I did regain my health. And so begins a new period in the newfound joy of working at His service, whilst treasuring the new union with God that was born from that trial in the depth of my heart. (Silvio – Italy) I used to be a nurse Struck by the fact that so many doctors and nurses were risking and even giving their lives, I decided to re-register as a reserve nurse in a hospital since I had been a nurse 30 years earlier (but had later changed jobs). Recently I was asked to help out once a week in the intensive care unit. It is a huge challenge for me (so much has changed in the last 30 years with regard to hospital equipment and hospital care), but an enormous joy for me to still be useful. The greatest reward I could have received was when my children that I try not to neglect told me they were proud of me. (Martina – Czech Republic) New essentiality In the care home for the elderly where I work as an animator I grew very fond of the guests. Understanding how best to help a patient with Alzheimer’s disease or patients with other degenerative diseases had made my service a true network of intense and living relationships. Then Covid came into the home and one by one they all became ill. It was heart-breaking for me to feel I was the link between the patient and their relative but could do nothing to fill that void. Then I too contracted the virus – maybe when I was helping a very sick elderly woman talk to her family via her mobile phone. In my loneliness I understood even more what these elderly people were going through and rediscovered the value of prayer. Every time I received news that someone had died my grief increased along with my sense of helplessness but I began to pray more intensely, often not on my own but with those who were still there. The pandemic has brought us to a new ‘essentiality’ beyond that caused by illness and old age. (G.K. – Slovakia)
Edited by Lorenzo Russo
(taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, year VII, no.3, May-June 2021)
28 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
We are all called to make this conversion within ourselves by continually beginning to love everyone again, if we have stopped; we must experience this kind of re-birth, this fullness of life. We must therefore try, as much as possible, to translate all expressions of our existence into love for our neighbor. There before me was the stupendous page on the last judgment: Jesus will come to judge us and tell us, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”.[1] It was as if I was reading those words for the first time. I rediscovered that at the last judgment Jesus will not ask me if I did one thing or another, the things I have to do anyway, but He will focus on love of neighbor. Like a person just beginning their ascent to God, I began to love everyone, everyone who in one way or another crossed my path during the day. And believe me, I felt as if I were reborn. I realized that my soul, above all, thirsts for love, thirsts to love, and that it truly finds its rest, its nourishment and its life in love for everyone. It’s true that I had previously tried to do many acts of love, but I now realized that some of them stemmed from an excessively individualistic spirituality, fed by small or larger penances. In spite of our good will, these can become times when we, who are called to love, focus on ourselves instead. Now, in this new effort to love everyone, I could still find opportunities to do many acts of love, but they were all for the sake of my neighbors in whom I saw and loved Jesus. And it was only in this way that I could experience the fullness of joy. Dearest everyone, we are all called to continually work at our own conversion; we must all experience this kind of rebirth, this fullness of life. Therefore, we must try as much as possible to translate all the aspects of our daily existence into charity towards our neighbor. Is it our task to look after the house? Let’s not do so for merely human reasons, but because there is Jesus in the others to be loved by dressing, feeding and serving them. Do we have any other kind of work to do? Jesus is present in the individuals and the communities whom we serve. Must we pray? Let’s always pray for the others as well as ourselves, referring to that “we” that Jesus has taught us to use in the “Our Father.” Are we called to suffer? Let’s offer our suffering for others. Is it the will of God to spend time with someone? Let our intention be to listen to Him, to give advice to Him, to console Him… in short: to love Him. Must we rest, eat, or take time for recreation? In all these actions let’s place the intention of wanting to re-gather our strength in order to serve our neighbor better. In other words, let’s do everything with our neighbor in mind. (…) For this to happen, indeed, so that such a continual conversion may take place in us (…) let’s keep in mind our commitment “to be reborn through love”.
Chiara Lubich
(Taken from a conference call, Rocca di Papa March 20th 1986) [1] Mt 25:35
26 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
Jesus is well aware of the fundamental needs of people: to be understood in their innermost depths and to have, in addition to support for their efforts, clear indications on the path to follow. Let us not miss the opportunity to relate to those we meet with the love He suggests in the Gospel. With patience and tenacity My uncle, considered “a man of honour”, had lived for years in Supramonte, a mountainous region of Sardinia. He came down to the village every now and then, and when the carabinieri came to arrest him, he was already far away. My father had tried to keep us out of trouble with the law and with my uncle’s family, from whom we were separated by inheritance issues. As a Christian, however, I was waiting for the right opportunity to make peace with them. The first opportunity came with the arrival of a cousin in the village. Regardless of the people watching us, I went to greet her. When she and her husband greeted me, I breathed a sigh of relief: the first step had been taken. Later, when I heard that my uncle was in hospital, I wanted to visit him. My mother advised against it, saying that I had no uncle. But he was a brother to me. I went and he was very emotional when he greeted me. In time, I got closer to all the other relatives. The last one was my aunt, the one who had made us suffer the most: I had not been in touch with her for 18 years, and it had taken so many years with patient and tenacious love for peace to return to our families.
(Gavina – Italy)
Others’ needs As I am going out in my car, I notice that my neighbour is trying to clean the windscreen and the other windows from ice. I go to help him, putting aside my haste. With a smile, he asks: “Why are you doing this?”. I have no obvious answer, but inside I thank God for pointing out the needs of the other before my own chores. A few hours later the same neighbour phoned me: “I was so happy with your gesture that I said to myself: I too must live by noticing the needs of others. And it didn’t take long: at work, in fact, I found a difficult situation, which I resolved quite easily by putting myself in the other person’s shoes. Thank you!”.
(F.A. – Slovenia)
Adopting a little brother We are students at a technical institute. When our teacher brought Città Nuova for us to read in class, at first certain things seemed a bit delusional… But the idea of helping to build a more united world together seemed good to us. Furthermore; as we went on reading, we realised that they were not words. The newspaper reported news that we could not find in other papers, a different way of seeing events. All in all, what were we missing by trying? We tried. Every morning, together with the teacher, we gave ourselves a little “maxim” to live by. For example: “Love everyone” … who had ever thought of that? Then we happened to read an article about adoptions at a distance. And then the idea came to us to take out one, all together. That small gesture of each one contributing a small monthly sum makes us grow as people. By now Nader, even though he lives far away (he’s a little Lebanese boy), has become very important: we talk about him, about his needs, as if he were our little brother.
(The boys from IIIB – Italy)
Edited by Lorenzo Russo
(taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, year VII, n.3, May-June 2021)
