“One can be very strong even though one is meek and open to others’ good reasons “, or rather, “only in this way can one be truly strong”: this is the teaching of Chiara Lubich in the words of Mattarella, who takes up Maria Voce’s invitation to “dialogue to the extreme”.
© Domenico Salmaso – CSC Audiovisivi
© Domenico Salmaso – CSC Audiovisivi
© Domenico Salmaso – CSC Audiovisivi
Directed by Giacomo Campiotti, shooting will begin next spring and will take place in Rome and in Trento, her hometown. “The strength of a someone like Chiara today is to make us look at the other person as a possibility, a gift, a bearer of a seed of truth to be valued and loved, however distant the other person may be. Universal fraternity as a premise for dialogue and peace”. We read in the press release in which Luca Barbareschi, producer for Eliseo Fiction, and Rai Fiction say they are “proud” to announce that a TV movie about Chiara Lubich will be made for Italian television. Directed by Giacomo Campiotti, shooting will start next spring and will take place in Rome and in Trento, her hometown. The press release goes on to explain that “Chiara is very young when, in the years of the Second World War, she feels called to build a better world, a more united world. From that time on she set sherself the goal of building bridges between people , whatever their race, nation or religious faith. The strength of a someone like Chiara today is to make us look at the other person as a possibility, a gift, a bearer of a seed of truth to be valued and loved, however distant the other person may be. Universal fraternity as a premise for dialogue and peace. Chiara’s message does not belong only to the Catholic world, she has contributed to raising the profile of women and their role even , and above all , outside the ecclesiastical institution.
By the editorial staff of focolare.org
The international exhibition dedicated to the person and charism of Chiara Lubich is being inaugurated on December 7th 2019. This is the first multimedia exhibition ever made about her. Giuseppe Ferrandi, director of the Trentino Historical Museum and Anna Maria Rossi, one of the curators, tell the story of its origins, the process and the innovations. https://vimeo.com/378511637
Chiara Lubich, the Founder of the Focolare Movement was born in Trent on January 22, 1920. President Maria Voce’s words on the 100th anniversary of her birth. In a world where “particularisms and divisions emerge continuously and where new barriers and frontiers are being built ”, Chiara Lubich’s message of unity is “ of great current importance”. This is the focal point of the video message, Maria Voce, President of the Focolare sends today on the 100th anniverary of Chiara Lubich’s birth. https://vimeo.com/385943084 text of the message
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated every year. In the northern hemisphere it is held from 18th-25th January, in the southern hemisphere from the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost. The motto for 2020, chosen by Christians of various Churches in Malta, is taken from the Acts of the Apostles “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2) On this occasion we present an extract from the talk given by Chiara Lubich on the 27th October 2002 in the Protestant Cathedral Church of St Peter, in Geneva, Switzerland. Love! What a great need there is for love in the world! And in us Christians! All together we Christians of various Churches number more than a billion people. Such a large number should be quite visible. But unfortunately we are so divided that many do not see us, nor do they see Jesus through us. He said that the world would recognize us as his own and, through us, would recognize him, by our reciprocal love, by unity: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). So our uniform, our distinctive characteristic was supposed to be reciprocal love, unity. And this was supposed to be the characteristic of his Church. But we didn’t maintain full visible communion, and we still don’t have it now. Therefore, we are convinced that the Churches as such must also love one another with this love. And we strive to work in this direction. How often do the Churches seem to have forgotten the testament of Jesus, scandalizing the world with their divisions, while they should have been winning it for him! If we look over our 2,000 year history, and in particular at the history of the second millennium, we cannot help but see that it has often been a series of misunderstandings, quarrels and conflicts that in many places have torn the seamless tunic of Christ that is his Church. Certainly, this was caused by circumstances, whether historical, cultural, political, geographical or social…. But it was also caused by the fact that among us there was a lack of this unifying characteristic typical of us: love. That is why today, as we seek to make up for so much wrongdoing, and to draw new strength for a fresh start, we must put all our confidence in this evangelical love. If we spread love and mutual love among the Churches, this love will lead the each of the Churches, different from one another as they are, to become a gift for the others. Dear brothers and sisters, we have understood the point: our present times ask each one of us for love; they call for unity, fellowship and solidarity. And the Churches are called to recompose the unity that has been torn apart for centuries. This is the most important of all reforms, which heaven is asking of us. It is the first step that we need to take towards becoming one family with all people in the world. The world will believe if we are united. Jesus said so: “That they may all be one… so that the world may believe” (Jn 17:21). God wants this! Believe me! He says it again and again and cries out for it through the present-day circumstances which he permits. May he give us the grace, if not to see all this accomplished, at least to prepare for its coming.
Chiara Lubich
Taken from: Il dialogo è vita (Città Nuova 2007, pp 16-33)