Graziella De Luca left this world
“The adventure of unity:” this is how Chiara Lubich and her first companions were fond of describing their choice of God as the Ideal that led them to live for the unity of the human family. Graziella De Luca was with Chiara right from the start of the Focolare Movement. It would be impossible to describe in few words the very fruitful life she lived in spreading the spirituality of unity in many so many places and hearts. “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! (Lk 12:49). Chiara had suggested this Gospel sentence to her as a goal, also because of her keen apostolic spirit that led her in great simplicity to share with parliamentarians and simple workers, the great discovery that changed her life, the encounter with God’s love. Born in Trent, Italy, on March 12, 1925, Graziella De Luca died on May 9, 2015 at 15:35, as the focolarine gathered around her were praying the Veni Creator Spiritus, writes Focolare president, Maria Voce informing the global community of Graziella’s death. She continued: “Let us thank God for her abundantly fruitful life. Let us pray for her, in the joy of imagining her already in the Bosom of the Father, with Our Lady and all those who are dear to us. Let us trustfully entrust the Work of Mary to her as it “reaches out,” certain that she will help us to set the world on fire with love”. Live streaming of the funeral: live.focolare.org/graziella
Along the way “Taking the same route every day, I usually come across a multitude of people. There are those who cross the street when they shouldn’t, those who honk at me for a jumpstart at the traffic light, those who try to cut in front of me… Luckily, at times I manage to remember that each one of them is a brother and so… even the most chaotic traffic becomes less complicated. It was particularly hot one day, and I noticed that a vagabond, whom I had seen many times, had fainted on the sidewalk. That was his street corner, and that piece of carton was his house. “He generally did not appear to be sick, and I had never stopped for him before, but seeing that something was wrong, even if I was late in my deliveries, I couldn’t act as if nothing had happened. My van, however, stuck in a zone of intense traffic, immediately called the attention of the local police, who from afar made signs to make a move. I mimed that I wanted to take a look at that person in trouble. They continued to urge me to go away, pointing to the booklet of fines. I thought that they themselves should have taken care of the man, but seeing their indifference, I ran into a bar to get a fresh drink for that poor man. When I returned, I caressed his cheek gently so as not to waken him suddenly. Thank God he regained consciousness but was tired and scared. I put the glass to his lips and he answered with a smile, thanking me continually. In the end, also the policemen arrived and seeing that scene, put the fines booklet back into their pockets and greeted me with a smile.” Alexander –