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We, the Church

We, the Church

17 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato

Igino Giordani during a visit to Loppiano

“If two or three, gathered in the name of Jesus, call to Jesus and Christ is in their midst, then they actually become what we could define as a “perfect society”, being two persons together with God-made-Man. It is – in embryo – the “human-divine” society, namely the Church. But it is important to note that what is asked of us is to “gather together”, to “dialogue” as contemporary social philosophy puts it. We see what happens when someone keeps to themselves, segregating themselves individualistically from others. As in the example of electricity, when the two poles do not make contact, no light is generated. Now, God’s grace makes use of human channels, and of natural elements such as water (Baptism) and bread (Eucharist) etc, almost as a continuation of the incarnation. In the same way, when one person is placed alongside another, and love springs to life between them: a light appears on the earth. This light is Christ who is Love, and our access to the fount (of Love) is opened up. Jesus came to break the chains of isolation and the bitterness of exile. He did not come to constitute separate individualities but rather a society, an “organic” living together which, as in every form of life, has Love as its guiding law. In order to love, there must be at least two persons, and in order to form a society there must be love. As “love comes from God” (1 John, 4:7), loving is actually allowing God to live in us, allowing God to be among us. So, loving – which involves putting in common (communicating) one’s own soul with the soul of the person being loved – is not so much in order to achieve joy and peace for oneself, and not even to give peace and joy to the other person, bur rather so that God can live among the two. The crowning glory of love is “making yourself one”, the oneness that is, in fact, Christ. In this way, the mystical Christ becomes present in the one who loves and in the one being loved. With this step, we look forward to experiencing the fullness of Christ, the building up of the “complete” Christ. Loving someone in Christ allows the Holy Spirit to circulate between the two. And it is the same Holy Spirit who circulates between the Father and the Son. It is therefore the life of the Holy Trinity alive in them. In this way we find ourselves 24 hours a day participating in another most mysterious and immense achievement: the construction, stone by stone, of the Church, the mystical Body of Christ. In this, we are collaborating with God as we use our strength and live our lives for this, while at the same time contributing to the communion of saints. This means each person is Christ for their brother or sister, and each sister or brother is Christ for the other person. This society with the Trinity is the Church. Loving one another in Christ is to live with the Church, to live the Church and at the same time to bring it to completion, to the point of its fulfillment. Christianity’s perfection lies in understanding, and above all, in living the mystical Body. The health of all its members depends on the orderly functioning of this Body. If it exudes health, then all its members feel the benefit; if it produces toxins, then everyone else suffers too. The ills of the body of the Church cannot be cured by polemics or past regrets, but only by its own holiness, which can act as healthy globulins, released by each cell into the body’s circulatory system. The mystical Body has an effect on the body of society in the same way as the soul affects the physical body. All the good that the mystical Body achieves on earth is the spirit of God present in humanity. It is God who lives among the people, bringing them back to Himself. The Church is the vehicle for bringing creation back to the Creator.” Igino Giordani, La divina avventura, (The divine adventure), Città Nuova, Roma, 1993, pp.47-64.

World Day of the Poor

16 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato

The World Day of the Poor will be celebrated on Sunday, 18 November. It was established by Pope Francis in 2016, at the end of the Jubilee of Mercy with the title “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him” (Ps 34.7). In his message for that occasion the Pope wrote: “This Psalm allows us today, to immerse ourselves in many forms of poverty, and understand who are the real poor towards whom we should direct our gaze. […] What does the poor man’s cry express if not his suffering and solitude, disappointment and hope? We may wonder: how come this cry, that rises up to God’s presence, is unable to reach our ears and leaves us indifferent and passive? On a Day like this, we are asked to seriously examine our conscience to understand if we are really capable of listening to the poor.” On the occasion of the 2nd World Day of the Poor, we are again invited to open our own homes, and share our meals in a simple and fraternal way, as a sign of solidarity and comfort to the many forms of poverty we can all see with our own eyes.

The Value of Philosophy

15 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato

Every year, since 2002, a World Day has been dedicated to philosophy. By proclaiming the Day, UNESCO has underscored the value of philosophy for the development of  human thought. Ex-General Director Irina Bokova, went on to say: “Philosophical reflection is a calling back to humility, to reflection and reasonable dialogue, to build solutions together to the challenges that are beyond our control. […] The more the difficulties are large, the more philosophy is useful for giving sense to the questions of peace and sustainable development.” On this Day, all UNESCO partners – national governments, public organisations and institutions, NGOs, universities, schools, along with citizens and associations – are called to a free, collective, reasonable and informed reflection on the challenges of our times. “Philosophy’s genuine value,” said Moufida Goucha, ex-director of the ‘Human Safety, Democracy and Philosophy,’ Section, “is to establish a dialogue that should never interrupt over the essential,” along with the task of restoring, “a large portion of human dignity, whatever our conditions.”

A hundred years ago – the Great War

11 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato

 11 November commemorates the centennial of the end of the First World War, which was followed by the Peace Conference in Paris (18 January 1919 – 21 January 1920). But for at least another 5 years all of Europe was beset by continual revolutions and violence of all kinds. From Finland to Anatolia, from the Caucasus to Ireland, from Germany to Greece. “Wars are always tragic, affirmed the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Materella, last 4 November. And citing the words of the writer, Claudio Magris, “Every country thought of teaching a good lesson to the nearest enemy, benefitting in territorial and other advantages. Nobody could have imagined that war would have been so tremendous, and would have lasted so long.” In our time, still marked by winds of war, may the recurrence of the centennial be a warning to persevere in the process of European integration and unification, the only guarantees for an enduring peace.”

GEN ROSSO Music and Arts Village

GEN ROSSO Music and Arts Village

9 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato

After the success of the 1st edition, Gen Rosso (International Performing Arts Group) presents the 2nd edition of “Gen Rosso Music and Arts Village“, a depeening artistic experience and a sharing of values in the light of the charism of unity. The Village, which will take place at Gen Rosso production studios in Loppiano from 27 December 2018 to 5 January 2019, intends to involve young professionals and students of various disciplines such as music, dance, vocals, theater, sound and light engineering, from 18 years old and up.A certificate of participation will be issued at the end of the program. The teaching methodology is designed and managed by Gen Rosso tutors in collaboration with teachers with recognized skills and artistic experience. The program includes the study of specific themes in the arts world, the exchange of experiences, creative spaces and practical workshops that will converge in a final performance. Contributions by professional artists are scheduled for some evenings. The Gen Rosso Village secretary is available to provide further information and all the necessary documentation for registration (limited number). Contacts Secretary VILLAGE: tel +390558339821 (9 am to 1 pm) mobile Franco Gallelli +393806592166 (24h) e-mail village@genrosso.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9eF6q1PYO4