![Service and Regality]()
20 Mar 2013 | Non categorizzato
Pope Francis spoke strong words at the inaugural Mass of his Petrine ministry. One of these words was “service”. How did that resonate with you?
“It echoed the way that each of us in the Focolare Movement try to live our different roles. A service yes, but a loving service. And whoever serves for love, Chiara Lubich would often recall, could be said to ‘reign’. This is not a service that lowers or humiliates but is the precise attitude of someone who totally gives himself out of love. Those who act in this way give others their proper place and put them in a condition to be what they need to be. From this it follows that service and regality draw each other out.”
Other words spoken by Pope Francesco – and he raised his voice when he said them – were “take care of the poor”. Will anything in the Focolare Movement have to be revisited?
“We mustn’t stand here and only observe Pope Francis. I think that we should look into ourselves, examine our own consciences regarding how we make use of the things that seem truly necessary, then share with others as much as we can whatever can be given away. But I also seem to perceive in the Pope’s words the suggestion of a poverty that is not only material, but able to understand those who are lonely and alone, who do not feel understood, those who are abandoned, those who don’t know God but are in need of Him though they are unaware of it. Faced with these and other forms of poverty I believe that each one of us has to ask: “What can I do?”
The Focolare Movement is in the process of undergoing an examination of conscience, striving to be converted to a greater measure of love, of service and giving. It will always be possible to grow in this regard.”
Compiled by Victoria Gómez
Read excerpts of messages from Maria Voce to Benedict XVI and to Pope Francis
17 Mar 2013 | Non categorizzato
The election of Pope Francis is a great sign that shows continuity with what Benedict XVI left to the church when he resigned the ministry of bishop of Rome. I saw continuity because in choosing the name Francis, for the first time in church history, the new pope has evidently wanted to place his ministry in that prophetic light given by the evangelical witness of Francis of Assisi.
The fact that the pope referred to brotherhood, brotherhood to be lived, is a strong sign of his will to follow the most authentic spirit of the Gospel in our times.
Another significant fact is that he first wanted to address the church of Rome, speaking to it as its bishop and pastor, before extending his greetings to all the churches and people of good will.
His asking the intercession of the people of Rome in order to receive God’s blessing, before imparting his own blessing on them, was deeply significant. This act recalls the spirit of Vatican II, which placed the “people of God,” the community of believers, at the center of vision of the church.
I would also highlight the way he address the people gathered in St. Peter’s with a simple “good evening” and then “good night and sleep well.” It was a regular greeting, with nothing clerical about it. The way he called us back to mutual trust is also important because it describes a method of pastoral service and announcement. With this, Pope Bergoglio seems to want to face the big challenges that await the bishop of Rome, to reform the curia and to relaunch evangelization, as he himself said, starting with Rome and then throughout the world.
I was also struck by how he wants to go to entrust his pontificate to Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love and Mercy.
Pope Bergoglio is a Jesuit, and therefore has direct experience with a great charism that illuminated the life of the church in the modern times. And he wanted to call himself Francis, who was a charismatic par excellence. It seems that in this way he wants to unify the ministry of Peter with the love and the prophecy that the church experiences in its history through the charisms.
This first meeting with his church and the universal church is certainly a sign of great hope for Catholics but also for Christians and all of humanity. Asked he asked us to do, we too join in prayer to be united in living this new step of hope and commitment, so that the Gospel can be leaven and salt for our times.
By Piero Coda
Msgr. Piero Coda is a professor of Fundamental Theology at the Lateran University in Rome, and a member of the Abba School, the Focolare interdisciplinary study center.
16 Mar 2013 | Non categorizzato
«…. I dream that the atmosphere of our Church will be more suited to her as the Bride of Christ; a Church which shows herself to the world as being more beautiful, more one, more holy, more charismatic, more in conformity with her model, Mary, therefore, Marian, more dynamic, more like a family, more intimate, more similar to Christ her Spouse. I dream of her as being a beacon for humanity. And I dream of seeing in her a sanctity of the people, as never before.
I dream that brotherhood, which is gaining momentum today in the consciences of millions of people, will be lived out more and more widely across the globe, so as to become in the future, in the next millennium, a general, universal reality.
Consequently, I dream of the relenting of wars, conflicts, hunger, and the thousand other evils in the world.
I dream of an more intense dialogue of love among the Churches so as to see in the near future the coming together of the one Church.
I dream of a more living and active dialogue among people of the most varied religions linked to one another by love, “the golden rule” present in all their sacred books.
«I dream that the various cultures in the world will mutually enrich each other and draw closer to one another so that they may give origin to a world culture that highlights those values which have always been the true wealth of individual peoples, and I dream that these values will stand out as global wisdom.
I dream that the Holy Spirit will continue to inundate the Churches and potentiate the “seeds of the Word” beyond themselves, so that the world may be invaded by continual innovations of the light, life, and works which he alone is able to kindle. So that ever-greater numbers of men and women may set out towards straight paths, converge toward their Creator, and put their heart and soul at his disposal.
I dream of gospel-based relationships not only among individuals, but also among groups, movements, religious and lay associations; among peoples, among States, so that it becomes logical to love the other’s country as one’s own. Likewise, that it becomes logical to tend towards a universal communion of goods, at least as the point of arrival.
I dream of a world united in the variety of peoples….
In a word, I dream of an anticipation of the new heavens and new earth as far as this is possible here on earth. I dream many things, but we have a millennium to see them come true».
(taken from Chiara Lubich, Attualità leggere il proprio tempo (edited by Michele Zanzucchi), Città Nuova Editrice, Roma 2013)
![Service and Regality]()
14 Mar 2013 | Non categorizzato
«Together with the whole Church, I am truly happy for this moment, which shows the Church’s vitality and the freshness of the Holy Spirit who always finds a way to amaze us.
Besides the surprise, because he certainly was not among the cardinals most mentioned, there is the joy of thinking that this is also a sign of novelty for the Church today, which is living a special moment. This novelty began with Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation from the ministry as Bishop of Rome and was followed by this new Pope who raised an extraordinary echo all over the world.
The choice of the name Francis is very significant, because it seems to express the desire for a return to the radical nature of the Gospel, to a simple life and to a great attention to humanity and to all religions too.
It also seems particularly noteworthy to me that a Jesuit chooses the name of Francis: I think it means openness to charisms, to all charisms, to acknowledge and value what is good in each of them.
I was also particularly impressed by his simple, informal style when he first appeared on the central balcony: he seemed to know how to touch the hearts of all the men, women and children present in St. Peter’s square. I believe that at this moment in time when there is much suffering in humanity, we need someone capable of touching hearts and letting everyone feel the joy of having a father and a brother who loves us.»
Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement.
![Service and Regality]()
13 Mar 2013 | Non categorizzato
For Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) current affairs were the best way to read the signs of the times, of being open to eternity and attentive to every one who in a large or small way was involved in the events of human history.
From among her numerous interviews and articles published by Citta Nuova magazine from the year of its founding in 1956 to 2005 when she gave her last article, Thirty have been gathered in this book that highlight the original intuition that never left her: Following currrent events means to discover the hand of God in human history.
This book provides a method of interpreting current news and events in order to give our own contribution to society as she had done.
In the preface to the book director of Citta Nuova, Michele Zanzucchi writes:
“Chiara Lubich harboured such attention and respect for the truth that she could not tolerate anything that might obscure it or misrepresent reality. This is how she read the “signs of the times” (a term that she dearly loved) by giving free reign to her prophetic spirit in order to discover teachings for the present times. It wasn’t by chance that in her writings she often used words such as “today”, “present” and “current events” […] Here was the supreme location for discovering God’s manifestation in human history. For example, one could read the articles she wrote following the attack on the Twin Towers to see how much her vision was prophetic and countercurrent. But she didn’t dismiss the past, nor the lessons of history. She gathered within herself the profound depths of the entire human story when she spoke about the present: the historical heritage of human thought, and the joyful or tragic events that afflicted humanity. These were essential for her to be able to well understand the novum that was being manifested and, as a consequence, also the novelty brought by the charism that was entrusted to her by the Holy Spirit. Moreover her vision never lost sight of love for the human person […] She never wrote not only to comment on current events, but to improve social coexistence. She did it, as she said, to help build “a more united world”.
![Service and Regality]()
9 Mar 2013 | Non categorizzato
«I think that Pope Ratzinger’s decision last February 11 offered us the very essence of his theological and spiritual reflections. Above all he underscored God’s sovereignty: the consciousness that it is He who guides history. Moreover, he led us to perceive the signs of the times and to respond with the courage of choices both suffered and innovative. He left us with a clear note of hope for “the certainty that the Church is Christ’s.”
But to which countenance of the Church was the Holy Father looking? Out of love for which aspect of the Church did he take a step of such great importance? I think I am not mistaken if I say it’s “the Church as communion”, fruit of Vatican II, but also with the view of being «more and more … the expression of the Church’s essence,» as Pope Ratzinger emphasized also at the end of his pontificate.
«More and more», meaning that we have not yet fully arrived. Which direction should be taken?
We know that the Church exists for the world. For this reason, when facing the demands of reform ad intra, I think the Church should focus on looking outside itself, intensifying its dialogue with society. Such vital contact would allow the Church to make its clear voice heard as it remains faithful to the Gospel and, at the same time, listens to the aspirations of men and women of this era. Doing so, She will discover within new resources and unimagined vitality.
We will certainly need to persist in ecumenical dialogue, on this important theme of the visible unity among the Churches, striving to reach definitions of faith and ecclesial praxis acceptable to all Christians.
I would wish for a simpler Church, regarding the goods She possesses and Her liturgical expressions and manifestations. I would suggest a more fluid and direct communication with today’s society that facilitates easier relationship with people, as well as an attitude of greater welcoming also towards those who think otherwise.
Universality and openness to dialogues will therefore be two notes that must be assumed by the new Pope. So that he may respond to these enormous challenges, we envision him as a man of profound spirituality, united to God, thus receiving from the Holy Spirit solutions to the problems, in the constant exercise of collegiality, involving also lay men and women in the thought and action of the Church.
Therefore what awaits us is to work with a new sense of responsibility. This means to encourage creativity on different levels. I think of the economy which will emerge from the crisis only if placed at the service of the human person; of politics which needs to become credible again, returning to being that “shared life in the polis”; of communications as an agent of unity in society; I also think of justice, being open towards those who make mistakes, who suffer the wounds of exploitation, towards those who suffered the mistakes of other men, of other women, also in the Church. I think of those who feel excluded from the ecclesial communion, like those who “have remarried”. This too is the Church, because Christ who founded it died on the cross to heal every division.
Let’s make the true countenance of the Church shine forth. For this reason I invited all those in the world who adhere to the spirit of the Focolare Movement to make a new “pact” that everywhere our listening, trust and mutual love might grow during this time of waiting, so that the Church, in unity and in collegiality, may choose that Pope which also humanity needs.»
Source: Zenit
Radio Vaticana
Press Area
