Igino Giordani – Brief Biography
Born 1894 into a poor, profoundly Catholic family in Tivoli, Igino Giordani’s parents could not guarantee regular schooling and worked in manual labour. But the young Igino was noted for his intelligence, and a rich gentleman for whom he worked, impressed by his acumen paid for him to study at the seminary, not to become a priest but to be one of the most brilliant diplomats at that time. As he finished his studies the First World War broke out and he went to the trenches. He never fired a shot against his enemies, because Christianity forbade murder. As a result of this brave choice he was gravely wounded. Whilst he was in the military hospitals he graduated in Literature and Philosophy. He married in 1920. He and his wife Mya had 4 children, and he began working for the newly formed Italian Christian political party, founded by Luigi Sturzo. The Fascist regime destroyed freedom and rights, and even Igino was persecuted. From this period there remain some of his famous writings denouncing fascist violence. On returning to Italy from a journey to the United States he became the director of part of the Vatican Library. From there he also directed the journal ‘Fides’, which was known in Catholic environments throughout the world. It was through them that the re-birth of a post-fascism Catholic political party came about, Christian Democracy. He was elected to Parliament in the first elections after the Second World War. 1948 was the decisive year of his life: he was 54, and a man established in politics and culture. He met Chiara Lubich, a young woman aged 28, in whom he found extraordinary spiritual inspiration. He adhered fully to the Focolare Movement and at Chiara’s side he took on an important role building the Movement and deepening its social doctrine, to the point of often being designated by Chiara as co-founder. Of special note, the deep spiritual relationship with Chiara was the start of the intense mystical period known as “Paradise ‘49”. From then Chiara clearly saw through Giordani’s life confirmation that the ideal of unity was made for all, and was a gift for the whole of humanity. Igino was the first married focolarino of the Focolare Movement. Due to some courageous political decisions (pacifism and unity in spite of the ideological differences, or because of them), in Parliament, he became considered as a Christian Democrat out of step, and as a result was not re-elected. This was the time to dedicate himself more to the Focolare Movement, to contribute to the debate in the Church taking ahead themes that would be understood in the Second Vatican Council (above all concerning the mission of the laity). He became the director of the newly created ‘Citta Nuova’ (1959) magazine, and from 1961 became a director of Centro Uno, a body within the Focolare Movement working within ecumenism. In 1965 he was nominated president of the international institute Mystici Corporis in Loppiano. After the death of his wife and with the agreement of his children, he lived the last seven years of his life in a “Focolare”. He left this earth on 18th April 1980. The process towards his canonisation has begun. Introduction to the Bibliography Igino Giordani was an intellectual difficult to label: we cannot describe him as a political thinker or journalist, or studier of ancient Christian literature, or a writer about the lives of saints or history, in the hope of being able to sufficiently express his talents. He was driven by a great passion and was spurred into public life through a wide range of interests. It is said that “for him writing was life”, therefore an understanding of the figure of Giordani could (almost) easily come through analysis of his writings. There are about 100 books and more than 4,000 newspaper articles. NEW ENGLISH PUBLICATION A Soul on Fire: a profile of Igino Giordani (1894-1980) The story of Giordani’s personal journey to God Paperback: 144 pages Language: English (translation by Margaret Linard, Australia) Publisher: Centro Igino Giordani, Focolare Movement. ISBN-13: 978-0975025215 Copies available from Centro Igino Giordani, email
Nigeria Focolare Centre
Christopher’s smile was enough to transform people’s lives
“Christopher’s life reminds me of Chiara Luce’s life,” says Francisco from Panama, who attended the rite of Beatification of the young Italian woman. And he adds: “They were both young people, simple, with normal lives. But they searched for God in everything. Two young persons who gave God to everyone who met them and, with a smile, transformed their lives.”
Christopher Amaya was born in Costa Rica. He was only a year old when, in 1994, his family moved to Panama. His parents separated when he was still a child and, notwithstanding the pain, he becamse a reference point for the both of them. After coming to know the spirituality of the Focolare, and understanding how behind every pain there is a presence of Jesus in that moment of maximum suffering when He cries out the abandonment, Christopher realized that this painful situation in his family was “his” particular face of Jesus Forsaken.
He met the Focolare through Project Give, at his school. He soon became one of the leaders of the project that promotes a culture of giving and values of peace and solidarity. He began to insert himself among the Gen3. them he came to know about Chiara Lubich, the foundress of the Focolare Movement. He established a personal relationship with her, considering her as his mother and friend, someone he could trust for understanding the truth.
One day, during a difficult time for the family, he confided to someone: “My mother Chiara taught me to forgive and to really love my relatives”. He often spoke of his life and of his choices with the other Gen, because he felt that with them he could experience the presence of Jesus, according to His promise: “Where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). During one of these conversations he shared how God was calling him to a vocation that involved a total choice of God, even though he didn’t yet know what it was.
Christopher was actively involved in his parish and in the final months he set out to unite the various youth groups. Many of his peers recall him as a bridge-builder between parish groups, so that there could be unity among.
This year he was chosen as a member of the honour guard, a privilege granted only to the finest students in the school. On national holidays they wear a tri-coloured sash and carry the Panama flag. Christopher was murdered before he had the chance to march, but his friends wanted him to be there just the same, by marching with his photo with a sash and anti-violence slogan.
Sharlin, a next-door neighbour who was at his side during those last moments, affirms: “I can bear witness to his ‘Yes’ to God and assure you that he loved Him to the last moment; because, who among us, with a wound in his chest, would have turned to his mother to say: ‘Stay calm, don’t be frightened’?”
At his funeral messages arrived from all over the world. His mother remarked: “I’m happy, because I’m finding out how good my son was and that what he sowed will continue to grow in all those who will follow the example of his life.”.
South Korea, have confidence
The facts are known. In recent days North Korea has inexplicably shelled Yeonpyeong Island, close to the maritime border with South Korea, leading to 4 deaths among military and civilians, and Seoul has in turn responded by firing artillery shells toward the North.
“Life in the streets, seems to run normally, but in reality the country is on the alert,” writes President of the PMU, Mark Fatuzzo, who in these days of tension is in South Korea for a series of meetings and public events. The government employees have been ordered to remain in their offices, political parties have called for permanent “security committees” and there was a special session of Parliament, during which a strong condemnation was issued for the act of aggression.
Right up till the last moment it seemed that the public events scheduled in Seoul by the Korean PMU would have to be cancelled. But things took a positive turn and it was possible to do everything as planned.
Everything began on November 24th with the National Centre for the PMU which includes parliamentarians among its members, three of whom were present. “It was an important event,” says Fatuzzo, “lasting about three hours with intense dialogue in which everyone participated.” As can be imagined, based on recent events, discussions were centered on trust. Can there actually be some form of concrete fraternity between North and South Korea? How will fraternity be explained using the categories of dialogue, reconciliation, forgiveness, and of overcoming historical and present conflicts? Everyone was confident that this is the road to follow, supported by the awareness that the entire PMU worldwide is living with them these moments of painful suspension. There was also some feasting for the admission of a new young member of the PMU Centre: Emilia Heo who studied International Relations in Geneva and now works in Japan.
November 25th was the day for two other meetings at the headquarters of the Korean parliament. The first, with the Political Forum for Unity, a group for parliamentary research, consisting of some 30 Members of both the majority and opposition parties, and of different religious and cultural orientations – Christians of various denominations, Buddhists, Won-Buddhist, Confucians, Taoists – or without any religious reference.
This was followed by a public seminar entitled “The politics that people like” with 150 people in attendance, including twenty members of the three major parties: The Grand National Party, the ruling United Democratic Party and the Progressive Liberty Party, from the opposition. A strong presence of young people and representatives from the media was also quite significant. Both the introductory statements and the round table discussions supported by three deputies, two academics and a young student, as well as the ensuing debate, gave a view of politics that opened people’s hearts to hope, even in the midst of the current suspension and crisis.
Closing Ceremonies for the first class in the School for Formation in Politics are scheduled for Saturday, the 27th of November.