14 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
Living charity, which is the source of every virtue, brings out the figure of Christ in us, because by loving we are another Him. In spite of our love for our brothers and sisters, we still carry with us certain faults that take away something of the beauty of Christ in us. … You know how in acquiring [virtues] and in combatting their opposing vices, we, who are called by God to find our “fortune” in our neighbour, discover that it is truly by loving Him that we deny ourselves. And you know that, to improve ourselves, we do not usually aim directly at removing one fault after another. Instead, we go around the obstacles, or “change room,” as we say, by “living the others”. In this way, we place ourselves on the path of charity which is the source of every virtue. … Besides, Jesus Forsaken, to whom we have given our lives, is for us the model of all virtues. We have always said that we want to love Him not only in suffering but also in living the virtues. Charity, in fact, brings out the figure of Christ in us because when we love we are another Christ. But by loving Jesus Forsaken in living the virtues, we have the impression of chiselling that figure of Christ in us, of refining it. We notice, in fact, that despite our love for our brothers and sisters, for years we’ve still been carrying around little or larger faults, that are sometimes trivial, but which take something away from the beauty of Christ in us. … What are these faults? Everyone has their own. At times we spoil what we are doing by rushing, or we don’t do the will of God perfectly. We are distracted in prayer; we dwell on foolish things that the world enjoys; we don’t know how to moderate our appetite. We are often overcome by curiosity, or we fall into vainglory. We speak out of turn or unnecessarily. We are attached to little things, a bit dependent on television. We let our brothers and sisters serve us; we are inconsistent, and so on. What should we do? When it is a question of things that are not good, Jesus invites us to act decisively when he affirms, “ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out” (cf. Mt 5:29). We too, therefore, out of love for Jesus Forsaken, while continuing on the path of love, must not waver and must remain who we are, but root out our vices one by one. … I am convinced that this is even more possible on our spiritual path. Love, in fact, helps us. Love is self-denial and burns away these things too. Nonetheless, it isn’t a bad idea to focus on some of our faults and get into the habit of practising their opposite virtues. … Let’s take courage then and get to work!
Chiara Lubich
(From a telephone conference call, Rocca di Papa 21st June 1984)
11 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
Almost two years after a powerful earthquake, the Focolare community thanks all those who donated money to support their country in a moment of enormous difficulty. And the communion of goods continues: surplus funds have been sent to others who have had to face their own emergency. At 3.54 a.m. on 26 November 2019, a powerful earthquake struck the central northern part of the Republic of Albania. Fifty-two people lost their lives and over 2,000 were injured; numerous buildings collapsed creating substantial damage. More than 4,000 people had to leave their homes. The Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination Team responded immediately to meet the country’s needs. During the preliminary operations, six families were identified as being most in need. Their homes had suffered substantial damage and were therefore included in the reconstruction project. Because of the pandemic, the work had to slow down considerably but all the families were able to get through the winter season in suitable housing. So far five houses have been rebuilt. The only family whose house still needs to be repaired is waiting for the necessary permits from the local council. 
Upon receiving news of the earthquake, many members of the Focolare worldwide took action to respond to the needs of the Albanian community. A large communion of goods was organised through AMU (Action for a United World) and AFN (Action for New Families) with donations being received from many countries including Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Australia. Francesco Tortorella of AMU stressed how “the effects multiply when we move together, not as individual organisations or individual expressions of the Focolare Movement but as a single reality.” A total of €53,000 was collected, €14,000 of which has been or will be used for reconstruction projects in Albania including work on the last house which will begin once the permits have been obtained. The remaining funds were donated to the indigenous peoples of Honduras whose farmland and stilt houses were destroyed by two typhoons in 2020. “The experience of reciprocity has involved everyone on the project,” explains Francesco Tortorella, “everyone agreed that the money left over should be donated for this new emergency”. Another part of the funds was used to set up a course on emotional wellbeing for young people. After the earthquake and the pandemic, there was a great need, especially among young people, for support in managing stress and anxiety. Twenty-five young people between the ages of 14 and 24 are currently taking part on the course. Elsa Cara, a member of the Focolare and an accountant in Tirana, the capital of Albania, said: “I lost seven cousins in the earthquake. It was really hard but I wanted to do something. Thanks to donations received from the Focolare, I was able to go to Thumane, one of the places most affected by the quakes. Being an area that is predominantly Muslim, the Catholic community is very small. I decided to go there every week, to be close to the children, and offered them a catechism course. Initially everyone was suffering from shock. Now they are a united group which is happy to be on this journey. Many of them have now been baptised. All this was the result of a collaboration between the Focolare, the local Church and Caritas.” Alfred Matoshi, a lawyer in Tirana and someone who has been heavily involved in the reconstruction project, thanked all those who donated, on behalf of the whole Focolare community in Albania: “Thank you. Because of them we have been able to help families in difficulty, children on the streets without a home, people who were crying from fright. Thank you, don’t stop giving, wherever there is a need.”
Laura Salerno
9 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
An international online conference, with translations in 20 languages, promoted by the Focolare highlighted the contribution of Chiara Lubich’s spirituality to increase unity among Christians. “God’s will is mutual love, so to heal this rupture it is necessary to love one another”. With these words, on 26 May 1961, Chiara Lubich launched the Centre ‘Uno’ for Christian Unity, as a contribution in the ecumenical sphere to ‘heal’ the ‘rupture’ of the division between Christians of various Churches. Those who, from all over the globe, more than 13,000 people, participated in the international meeting for Christian unity promoted by the Focolare Movement and held online on 28-29 May entitled “Love one another as I have loved you”. (Jn 15:12), was able to see that the line indicated at that time by the founder continues to be the Movement’s line in the ecumenical sphere. In particular, two guidelines have emerged on the path towards Christian unity: “the dialogue of life” and “the sharing of spiritual gifts”. For the members of the Focolare Movement, these are based on two points of the spirituality of unity: the presence of Jesus in the midst of Christians united in His love (cf Mt 18:20) and love taken to its extreme in the cry of Jesus on the cross (cf Mk 15:34). The cry of humanity today,” said Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, in her speech, “seems to be an echo of his cry: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mk 15:34). But Jesus, in a supreme act, gave himself completely back to the Father, thus bridging every gap, every possible disunity”. “In Him,” he continued, “we find the measure of love. When we recognise Him in all that hurts us, in our own limitations and in those of others, when it is difficult to ‘meet’ each other without hurting ourselves, it is still He who calls us to love the Church of the other as our own”. Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Church of Jesus, also referred to the “two poles of the charism of unity”, unity and Jesus forsaken. Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, referred to the “two poles of the charism of unity”, unity and Jesus forsaken, indicating them as the contribution of Chiara Lubich’s ecumenical spirituality to increase unity among Christians. He also said that he had “received much inspiration for my present task” from her. He conveyed the greetings of Pope Francis who “hopes that the reflection on dialogue and the exchange of spiritual gifts, as well as the sharing of the experience of communion lived in these years, will be an encouragement to realise daily the prayer of Jesus to the Father ‘That all may be one'”. Rev Ioan Sauca, acting secretary of the Ecumenical Council of Churches, said that love is “at the heart of the spirituality of unity of which Clare has always spoken; we are all embraced by the love of God in Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit”. Catholic theologian Piero Coda, referring to the presence of Jesus in the midst of his followers, said: “And then it will be He, in the light and power of the Spirit, who will guide us on the path of unity”. “Jesus in the midst” is an expression coined by Lubich which, as Prof. Mervat Kelly of the Syrian Orthodox Church recalled, “has never been heard before” even though various Church Fathers have spoken of it. While the Lutheran evangelical theologian Stefan Tobler observed that “the Movement, wanting to support the journey of the Churches, can lead back to an experience that is the foundation, the nourishment of every ecumenical journey”. The conference was followed in many countries of the world: with 20 languages in simultaneous translation, the live webcast had over 13,000 individual views on the first day and 8500 on the second day. Live experiences from Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Congo, USA, Lebanon, Romania, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy and the “Together for Europe” project confirmed that the “dialogue of life” is a viable way on the path to unity. Another dimension that emerged at the conference was ‘receptive ecumenism’, that is, the exchange of spiritual gifts, the discovery of the gifts that each Church can offer and share. Mgr Juan Usma Gómez of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, an expert in dialogue with the charismatic-pentecostal reality, outlined the tensions that exist within Christianity. “I would like us to try together,” he said, “to dream of a possible path between the members of the Focolare Movement and those who belong to the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement, identifying some essential elements to put it into action”. The session was enriched by Pastor Giovanni Traettino, founder of the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation in Italy and Pastor Joe Tosini, founder of the John 17 Movement in the United States, while the testimonies from Italy of Pentecostals and Catholics who are members of the Focolare Movement working together in solidarity projects for their cities, validated the fruitfulness of the “dialogue of life”. At the conclusion of the meeting, Jesús Morán, Co-President of the Focolare Movement, said: “Mutual love among us Christians is the strongest and most credible witness to the world around us” and “at the present time in which humanity is living, Christian unity is an ethical imperative”. Affirming that “we do not want to evade that “effort of unity” to which Cardinal K. Koch referred in his report, he said that “we must not lose sight of the need for unity”. K. Koch referred to in his report, he concluded: “We only want to give priority to what has priority, and this is the experience of God that underpins all logic, all preaching about God. It seems to me that in these days we have had this experience, once again, as an immense gift from God.
Joan Patricia Back
Here are the links to review the live broadcasts of 28 and 29 May in different languages: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKhiBjTNojHo9Zx4JZmSokKOePyBL4Prp
8 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
A competition for young people 10 – 35 who can use artistic skills to present the inspiration derived from their encounter with Chiara Luce Badano. Closing date – 30 June 2021. This year, once again entries can be made for the Chiara “Luce” Badano Award promoted by the Chiara Badano Foundation. This competition began four years ago in recognition of Chiara Badano, a young member of the Focolare Movement from the Sassello community in Italy who was beatified on 25 September 2010. The competition aims to promote artistic works inspired by the example and the story of her life. Its aim is to spread knowledge about Chiara Badono and propose her as a role model for young people. When she was 17, Chiara discovered she had a bone tumour. She realised the seriousness of the disease but her infinite love for God was stronger. Her offer was decisive: “For you Jesus. If you want it, I want it too!” She had a close and profound relationship with Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, who wrote to her: “God loves you immensely and wants to penetrate the depths of your soul and make you experience drops of heaven. “Chiara Luce’ is the name I thought you could have; do you like it? It is the light of the Ideal that conquers the world…” Chiara Badano left for heaven on 7 October 1990 at the age of 19. Her life was short but, when seen in terms of her relationship with God Love, it is an example for thousands of young people all over the world. The Chiara “Luce” Badano Award is open to all young people between the ages of 10 and 35 years. Its purpose is to reward those who are most successful in expressing in an artistic manner whatever their encounter with Chiara Badano has inspired in them. There will be two categories for entrants:10 to 16 years and 17 to 35 years. Individuals or groups of young people can take part. Only one entry per participant. The date of registration for the award will be taken as proof of age. Entrants can use their favourite form of artistic expression: drawing, poetry, story writing, song, dance, mime, cartoon, video clip or other. Entries must be received no later than 30 June 2021. For full details refer to www.chiarabadano.org. Entries for each age group will be judged by a team of experts led by Maria Theresa Badano, Chiara’s mother. Awards will be announced in Sassello on 29 October, Chiara Luce’s feast day. Winners will receive a glass plaque of Chiara and the prize winning works will be exhibited or performed.
Lorenzo Russo
7 Jun 2021 | Non categorizzato
Charity, which is a sharing in the divine life, cannot be improvised by us, we must draw it from God and from his Spirit. Then, in listening and obeying his voice, God’s plan unfolds magnificently and majestically. (…) To be perfect in love. To reach this goal — as we know — each day we must become more perfect, because “the one who does not go forward, goes backwards”. Love for the person we encounter must always be more refined, more exquisite. But what is the best means to achieve such an objective? I don’t see any other means than to direct our heart, mind and strength towards Jesus Forsaken with a constant desire to renew our love for Him; to love Him in the inevitable sufferings of each day. (…) It is this love – as we say—this always going beyond the wound in each moment, that allows the Risen One to live in us, full of light, that allows his Spirit to break every entrapment of our ego. And if the Spirit is freed within us, He will be able to increase the charity that He Himself has infused in our hearts. During these last few days, I have been experiencing that in trying to live with the Risen One in my heart, the voice of God grows louder within me and it is this voice that guides me in all the relationships that I must establish, with whomever I meet, those of the Church and of the Movement. (…) Yes, charity, which is a sharing in the divine life cannot be improvised, we must take it from God and from His Spirit. Therefore, when we listen to and obey His voice, the plan of God unfolds in a magnificent and majestic way. And as this happens, unity among grows deeper. (…) Dearest all, we have an ideal that is both extraordinary and divine (…) We truly do not know what we have. Rather, we do know: we have Jesus, the Son of God in and among us who lives and reigns where charity is queen. Therefore, so that this may always be so, (…), let’s make a renewed effort to love Jesus Forsaken in order that the Risen One may radiate within our hearts. The voice of His Spirit will grow louder within us and we will be able to be always more perfect in love, always more pleasing to God and to Mary, and then always more ready to serve the Church. Let’s keep this trinomial in mind: Jesus Forsaken, the Risen One, and to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. If we do this, we will be an expression of God’s love for everyone.
Chiara Lubich
(From a telephone conference call, Rocca di Papa, November 21st 1985)
