Nov 4, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Taking care of others builds community. Following is the experience of Teresa Osswald, who supports a small group of children in Porto, Portugal. Pay attention to what is happening around us. Devote time and energy to those in need. Put yourselves in each other’s shoes and share their joys and labours. Often, loving those around us means stepping into the shoes of everyday life and being close to them. This is the experience of Teresa Osswald, who works with a small group of children in the city of Porto, Portugal. Like every year, when the school closes for summer vacation, the children enjoy some rest in the open air: some by the sea, some in the mountains, some in the city. There are some, however, who do not have the chance because their families are experiencing financial difficulties or do not have family or friends who can take care of them while their parents are at work. So they are socially isolated, partly because they come from distant countries, with different cultures, traditions and religions. This is the story of three Portuguese children whose parents are originally from the islands of São Tomé and Principe off the west coast of Africa. They generally spend their vacations at home, alone and not doing much. This year would have been the same if Teresa hadn’t taken in their discomfort. She did the same for other children and other families in the same conditions. “I had a great desire to have an answer for all these situations,” she says. “At least we managed for one family: at the end of July I had spoken to a friend about these three children who would spend the month of August alone at home. The next day she gave me some information about the summer camps in our town.” But places were few, their request arrived late, and it was not clear if the children could participate. Teresa entrusted everything to God. “Thy will be done.” They find places, and the cost of the camp is covered by the Focolare community there in that city. Those who donate then experience a “return” elsewhere. Teresa considers it Gospel fulfilled: “Give and it will be given to you” (Lk 6:38). Then the children need to be brought to camp in the morning and home in the evening. It is not easy to find time between daily commitments, but Teresa offers herself all the same. “I see three happy children running towards my car. All that’s left to do is to tighten the laces on the little girl’s shoes, and everything is fine.” After a week, a phone call arrives. It is a friend who comes to help her and offers to take the children to her place. “And so it was that, with a small contribution from many,” she explains, “these children had the opportunity to swim, dance, socialize, instead of being locked in the house. Above all, they had the opportunity to infect teachers and other children with their joy and great generosity.” And it was also nice to see the joy of their mother, who was moved and grateful. “There were words so strong that they shook me,” confides Teresa. “To be interested in everything that happens near us and taking care of others has helped us build a little piece of the united world in our community.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Nov 3, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Insights by Sherin, a focolarina of the Coptic Orthodox Church, drawing from her daily experience of how unity among Christians from different Churches is possible. The Church of tomorrow will follow “the example of the Most Holy Trinity, where there will be unity in one truth, and variety in all traditions; they will be different aspects of the same truth”. This is how Chiara Lubich described the ecumenical journey towards unity among Christian Churches in her book Una spiritualità per l’unità dei cristiani. Pensieri scelti (A Spirituality for the Unity of Christians. A selection of writings), edited by Città Nuova. Focolarina Sherin, a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church living in Cairo, Egypt, agrees with Chiara, adding that it’s possible to experience unity among Christians of different Churches in our daily lives. What was it about the spirituality of unity that struck you when you met Chiara and the Focolare Movement? “I discovered that the Gospel, lived by a people with a new lifestyle, language and culture, is leaven for a new humanity. I learned universal fraternity and our own lives are not in separate compartments. And one can live one’s faith 24 hours a day, allowing Jesus to transform us, to become another Him, so He Himself can live among His people, as He promised in the Gospel”. You are a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Has joining the Focolare Movement, founded by a Catholic woman and largely Catholic in its membership, created a sense of distance from your own Church? “Certainly not! Maybe God prepares us. I went to a school run by Catholic nuns where there was such respect and love that I never felt any conflict in belonging to another Church. When I met the Movement, the experience was even deeper, and my heart opened up to the whole Church. It prompted me to go deeper in my understanding of my own Coptic Church, to discover similarities in it with the life I found in the Focolare. I discovered, for example, that St Anthony the Great invites all Christians, as brothers and sisters “to become one soul with one will and one shared faith”. So as time passed, I felt I wanted to commit myself to live for the unity of the human family. I feel such gratitude to Chiara”. You live your daily life in community with other Focolarine who are Catholic. What does building unity with them mean for you? “It means never being afraid to face up to any differences, because they are always an opportunity to love, believing that this actually builds unity and allows us to experience the presence of Jesus among us. It’s the same for people with different ethnic backgrounds, social provenance, politic beliefs, and so on. If we think we’re all children of God the Father, then every other person is a brother or sister to love”. For the Coptic Orthodox Pope, His Holiness Tawadros II, the journey towards communion among the Churches is centred on Christ. The “ways” leading to Him are dialogue, study, prayer, relationship. In practical terms, what does it mean to seek unity in these areas? “In the Focolare Movement ecumenical dialogue is understood as a “dialogue of life”, in which we try to love one another reciprocally in our daily life as Jesus did. Then through dialogue we can discuss themes of faith, focussing on finding what unites us. The Coptic Orthodox Church gives great importance to prayer and fasting. So we pray together because unity is a gift only God can give. And we practice fasting for the soul to transcend the material level and so get spiritually closer to God. Within the Movement there is also a group of academics who together look into many different subjects, each one from the perspective of their own Church. Their approach is one of mutual love, listening, welcome and respect. They pray to perceive and discern how God may view things”.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Nov 2, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The insecurity arising from worldwide challenges such as globalization, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic seems to awaken in many people a new need for a spiritual life. But, as Chiara Lubich says in the following text, spirituality for today is characterized by a strong community dimension. One of the more original characteristics of this spirituality of unity is its communitarian dimension. In the two thousand years since the time of Christ, the Church has experienced the flowering of the most beautiful and fruitful spiritualities one after the other. Sometimes they occurred in the same period, adorning the Spouse of Christ with many saints, like precious pearls and diamonds. But in all this splendor one factor has always remained constant; spirituality was focused primarily on the advance of the individual toward God. … But times have changed. Now the Holy Spirit is inspiring people to walk together, in fact, to be of one heart and soul with all who share their convictions. The Holy Spirit has motivated our Movement from the beginning to make this outreach toward others. In the spirituality of unity one advances toward God by going through one’s neighbor. “I—my brother—God,” we say. You go to God with other people, your brothers and sisters, or rather, you go to God through others. In our era the reality of communion is coming to the forefront; the kingdom of God is sought not just in individual persons but in the midst of the people. Spiritualities characterized as individual usually make precise demands on those involved, such as: Solitude and flight from the world to reach mystical communion with God within. The silence that solitude requires. Separation from others by a veil, a cloister as well as a particular habit. The practice of all kinds of penances, sometimes very difficult ones like fasts and vigils, in imitation of the passion of Christ. In the way of unity we do seek solitude and silence in response to Jesus’ invitation to go to your room to pray, and do avoid others if they lead us to sin, but generally we welcome our brothers and sisters, we love Christ in our neighbors, in every neighbor, as Christ is living in them or can be revived in them through the help we offer. We seek to be united with our brothers and sisters in the name of Jesus, who guarantees his presence in our midst (see Mt 18:20). In the individual spiritualities it is like being in a magnificent garden (the Church), looking with admiration at a single flower, the presence of God within. In a collective spirituality we love and admire all the flowers in the garden, every presence of Christ in others. And we love him in others as we love him within ourselves. …
Chiara Lubich
From: Chiara Lubich: Essential Writings – spirituality, dialogue, culture New City Press, Hyde Park NY, 2007, pp. 27-30.
Oct 31, 2020 | Non categorizzato
A long and deep friendship united the Focolare Movement to the recently deceased Metropolitan.. The article that follows was written by Gabriella Fallacara, a focolarina and expert in ecumenism who for many years was in charge of “Centro Uno”, for the unity of Christians. “When I first visited Gennadios Zervos’ modest house, I was greeted with particular cordiality. His mother, who spoke little Italian but beautiful Greek offered me a strange dessert: it was a small “curl” of a white creamy substance that was stuck firmly to a long spoon and it was immersed in a glass of clear water. Its subtle flavour seemed to embody every aspect of the orient.” This was how I began my article about an interview with Gennadios Zervos that I wrote for “Città Nuova” magazine.[i] That first meeting dates back to November 1970. I did not know then that, after a few months, Gennadios Zervos would be elected by Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople and his Synod and be given the title of Bishop of Kratea. This meant that for the first time in 275 years, an Orthodox Bishop was to be consecrated in Italy. That “homely atmosphere” was a characteristic of the friendship that Bishop Gennadios shared with us for many years. Zervos was very young when he first came to Naples in 1961. He was only twenty-four years old but he was a high school teacher and lecturer in Greek patrology in the Superior Institute of Theology in Bari. He also wrote for the magazine “Stakis” which was the most important paper in the Greek Orthodox world. He had already graduated in Orthodox theology in Constantinople and in Catholic theology at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Naples. He certainly had a prestigious career before him, but how did this develop? He had actually expected to carry out his mission in Greece, but the Patriarch Athenagoras presented him with a new goal. “You need to be in Italy,“ he said, “ because it is the centre of Catholicism. We need young theologians there … for the unity of the two sister Churches.” And this is a prophecy that has been fulfilled. The last time we were in contact, a few months ago, he spoke of the joy that has always been characteristic of our relationship. “I will never forget our meetings in Rocca di Papa [ii] because they gave me the joy of knowing Chiara Lubich who I had admired for so many years. There were our meetings with the Orthodox, as well as our meetings with the Bishops Friends of the Movement. The last time I saw her was in the Gemelli Hospital. Her splendid figure and her splendid personality live in my soul. For us she is a pillar of love and unity through whom we have come to know the supreme testament of our Saviour, his will that “all may be one.’” Gennadios was a humble but determined protagonist of the “new season” that began with the Second Vatican Council. He shared and lived Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity which contributed to the fulfilment of the vision of the Council. His simplicity and integrity made him an ambassador for the Eastern Church, thus creating bridges of respect, collaboration and understanding. His contribution to the history of the Church fills us with gratitude.
Gabri Fallacara
[i] G. Fallacara in “Citta Nuova” Feb. 1971 [ii] Ecumenical Meetings promoted by the Centro “Uno” Secretariat. Foto: Metropolitan Gennadios Zervos & Gabriella Fallacara at the 59th week long Ecumenical Meeting, promoted by Centro “Uno”, Castel Gandolfo, Italy, 13th May 2017.
Oct 30, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Just days after the Metropolitan’s death, we publish the tribute prepared by Monsignor Piero Coda, professor of Trinitarian Ontology at the Sophia University Institute of Loppiano (Italy) where he was Dean from 2008 to 2020. “He had a vision: a door was open in heaven…”. With these words, taken from the book of Revelation, the Metropolitan Gennadios Zervos, Orthodox Archbishop of Italy and Malta, loved to describe – with a gaze full of wisdom – the meeting between Patriarch Athenagoras and Chiara Lubich. Athenagoras used to say, “because if the door is now open, we are called to go inside together: to share in the wonder and joy of the divine gift of Unity”. I cannot find more appropriate words to describe the flame that lit the heart and illuminated the action of Metropolitan Gennadios. He was an extraordinary and tireless apostle of Unity between the Church of the East and the Church of the West that we have known since the Second Vatican Council until today. His work began way back in 1960, when he arrived in Italy from his native Greece, sent by Patriarch Athenagoras. A humble and ardent disciple of the Eastern Church with its two-thousand-year-old tradition. A tradition impersonated by the prophetic figure of Patriarch Athenagoras, and in which Metropolitan Gennadios had been formed from the time of his studies at the historic Theological School of Chalki, an experience he had shared with the future Patriarch Bartholomew; and in the charism of unity given by the Holy Spirit to Chiara Lubich for the whole Church of our time, beyond confessional distinctions. He thus lived, as an active and discreet protagonist, the great progress inaugurated by the reconciliation between Rome and Constantinople at the close of Vatican II, sealed by the historic embrace between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem. He continued then with tenacity and without hesitation on this road, contributing in a unique way, in Italy, to the mutual knowledge of the two sister Churches. Along the journey he joyfully nourished himself with the light of the charism of unity. Metropolitan Gennadios animated his ministry in the Orthodox Diocese of Italy and Malta, with this spirit leading the diocese with foresight as Archbishop – the first after almost three centuries – to a magnificent flowering in the constant search for communion with the Catholic Church and in a sincere dialogue with all. Finally, as if it were the precious legacy he wanted to leave us, he intensely desired the Ecumenical Chair Patriarch Athenagoras-Chiara Lubich at the Sophia University Institute in synergy with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople: “a sign” – he stressed on the day of the inauguration – “of our infinite love for these two extraordinary protagonists of the dialogue of love”. With amazement and gratitude, I am a witness of how close to his heart this last initiative was. For him, it was a new contribution so that the ‘miracle’ rained down from Heaven might continue. ‘Miracle’ is how he described the meeting between Athenagoras and Chiara – Chiara had become a living bridge between the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope of Rome, Paul Vl. He even considered it indispensable to the ecumenical journey towards full and visible unity: “the love between Athenagoras, Chiara and Paul VI “- he repeated – “is such a powerful reality that no one can erase it anymore, because it is the presence of Jesus in their midst”. With immense gratitude we gather from his hands the witness he transmits to us. As we remembering him , we are deeply moved by the words of Patriarch Bartholomew who wanted to celebrate his many and luminous charisms in which we rejoiced, and which we now contemplate in a fuller light: “among them the greatest are humility and gentleness, peace and wisdom, and the greatest of all love and faith towards Mother Church”.
Piero Coda
Oct 29, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Just like Jesus, we too can approach our neighbour without fear and be by their side walking together through difficult and joyful times, appreciating their gifts, sharing material and spiritual goods, encouraging, giving hope and forgiving. The art of teaching During the pandemic, like many of my colleagues, I started giving lessons online. In the beginning it was a novelty so there was a high level of participation among the children but with time some of the craftier ones found ways to do something else and slowly lost interest in the lessons. Faced with such a variety of responses to my commitment to them, I tried not to show preference or approval but tried to highlight the importance of taking personal responsibility which was certainly more difficult in those times of crisis. The real dilemma, however, was when I had to pass judgment because it was clear to me that the written work they sent me lacked originality and was probably copied. One day I asked the pupils how they would act in my place. It was an opportunity for them to really reflect on their own participation or non-participation. And what really moved me was that they made their own judgment. I don’t think I have ever experienced a life lesson like it before. (G.P. – Slovenia) Overcoming the crisis together We were unable to have children and this “defeat” meant that we both focused on our careers but after 24 years, our marriage was in crisis. It was as if he had slipped away from me. When I understood that we were moving from young love to adult love, I decided I had to make the first move and asked my husband to come with me to see a counsellor. When we got back home, he was visibly upset and confessed that he had no idea I had been suffering so much and apologized. I asked God for help and I prayed. It felt right that I should leave the job that had led me to excel in my career and I tried to be more present at home, more affectionate and understanding. It took a lot of kindness and patience but now our relationship has matured and is no longer tied to expressions that had seemed so important to us when we were young. Today I hear myself saying things that would have been unthinkable a few years ago, like: “I couldn’t live without you”. We are like two companions on a journey each striving to realize God’s plan on both of us united. (S.T – Italy) A teenage grandson During the time when schools were closed due to the pandemic, my teenage nephew became more aggressive than ever. We live in the same house and I would say that, as a grandmother, I had brought him up, sometimes replacing his parents; I also accompanied him through difficult moments with his school friends and teachers. One day his reaction to some food he didn’t like was quite offensive. My first thoughts were to judge him harshly but instead I decided to be the first to love by going into the kitchen to prepare a quick dessert that I knew he liked. When he recognised the smell coming from the oven, he came up to me, hugged me and asked for forgiveness. I didn’t say anything to him, and just acted as if nothing had happened. Then he started to open up and we had the kind of dialogue we hadn’t had for a long time. When his parents came back, to my surprise, he said that, unlike his classmates, he felt privileged to have his grandmother living in the same house. (P.B. – Slovakia) No more complaints Often, instead of being grateful to God for what we have and sharing it with those who don’t have, we complain about the food we do not like, how small our houses are, certain clothes we don’t have and so on. We forget that Jesus believes that everything we do to our brother is done to Him. It was Hurricane Mary that made me and other friends change our attitude, giving us a strong impulse to look at the needs of others. It was also Hurricane Mary that had caused a lot of suffering and destruction in our country. Among the many people who had been left homeless was the family of one of my classmates: his parents and their six children who had been living in a basement flat had lost everything. Together with the other classmates I made a list of the things they needed and we organised a collection with the much appreciated help of the altar boys in my parish. When we went to hand over the “providence” we had collected, we were really moved to see with what joy and emotion our friend and his family received everything. (Némesis – Puerto Rico)
edited by Stefania Tanesini
(taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, year VI, no.5, September-October 2020) _______ 1 C. Lubich, Parola di Vita October 1995, in Parole di Vita, edited by F. Ciardi (Works of Chiara Lubich 5), Città Nuova, Rome 2017, pp. 564-565.
