May 13, 2022 | Non categorizzato
To participate in a film competition and then use the cash prize to help others. With United World Week (SMU) 2022 just days away, we share an experience that comes straight from Jordan. A true action of integral ecology carried out by the teens of the Focolare in the wake of the #DARETOCARE campaign. “I would like to invite you to embark, together, on a journey. A journey of transformation and action. Made up not so much of words, but above all, of concrete and urgent action. (…) Integral ecology is an invitation to an ‘integral’ vision of life, starting from the conviction that everything in the world is connected (…)”. With these words, Pope Francis addresses, through a video message, the participants of the “Countdown” TED’s digital event on climate change, held in October 2020. An invitation to “act” concretely, for the good of the planet and all of us: to care for the common home and meet the needs of its inhabitants. It’s enough to start with small actions, as these Gen 3 from Jordan did, who, with a keen eye on #DARETOCARE, really succeeded in creating a ‘virtuous’ circle by presenting their short film on ecology ‘Nature Karma’ at the Middle Eastern Film Festival. Talking about the importance of caring for the environment and winning an award was just the first step in deciding, with conviction, to want to help others.
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta
https://youtu.be/7iQylkfn4kk
May 10, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The new commandment calls us to make space within ourselves for the power of Jesus’ boundless love and to allow its wonderful sound to echo forth. It means understanding just how precious is the immense love that we have received without merit and ensuring that it circulates among others. A successful approach We have been married for less than fourteen years and never had any real crisis. Both of us have Christian backgrounds; nevertheless, we are aware that conjugal love can be very fragile. The greatest challenge is bringing up children and this can lead to disagreements. For example, when it comes to disciplining them, I would be more lenient than Pavel. Sometimes I defend them irrationally. In this situation, I am helped by thinking that my husband also wants what is best for them and I try to respect what he feels is his duty as a father (It is also true to say that I often realise that he is right). I pray when I don’t know what to do. We also try to implement the words recommended by Pope Francis: “Please, thank you, I am sorry”, and “may the sun not set on your anger”. From my own experience, I think it is important to respect the time the other person may take to deal with a difficult situation. At such times, I try to express my love with a kiss or a caress. Marriage truly teaches us to relate to the other person . We have seen how “successful” it is to praise our husband or wife – even for the smallest things. Pavel is a master of this approach. (K.S. – Czech Republic) The guest Since the beginning of the pandemic, our community has made a point of keeping in touch with all the members of the group to make sure everyone was well, especially the people who were alone. When one of them who was normally very active fell and broke her right arm, my husband and I offered her hospitality for a while. She accepted. In the meantime, in view of the end-of-year festivities, new, more restrictive health regulations were being imposed, and since our guest would be isolated for Christmas and New Year, we suggested that she extend her stay with us. Impressed by the true family spirit of our community, she attributed it to the implementation of Jesus’ precept: “What you did for one of the least of these brothers, you did for me”. When she was physically more independent and returned to her home, she was aware that the Gospel could become a foundation for life and she immediately started to help those who might be in need. (Constance – Canada) “That” violin When I was twelve, my parents’ marriage ended, but for another ten years we continued to live in the same flat: my mother and I lived in one room and my father in the other. The rest of the flat was shared by us all. The divorce drama made me insecure and fearful. Having sided with my mother, I had to give my father back the violin I was using for practice. When I grew up, I wanted to introduce him to my fiancé but he did not want to see him. He did not come to our wedding and did not even want to meet the two grandchildren when they were born. However, we did not give up and, in order to live our Christian faith consistently, we tried to forget old wounds and we continued to write to him and invite him to our home. Finally, one day he came to meet his son-in-law and grandchildren. Feeling loved, he gradually began to stay longer and longer and bring gifts to the children. When he heard that one of them was learning to play the violin, he brought “that” violin back. (S. – Hungary)
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta
(excerrpts from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, year VIII, no.2, May – June 2022)
May 9, 2022 | Non categorizzato
This year too, the United World Week (UWW) gave space to global events and actions for peace and fraternity that focused on “Caring”, with a particular focus on integral ecology. The #Daretocare Campaign will continue for another year.
Korea – © UWP
United World Week Podcast – © UWP
Cuba – © UWP
Paolo Balduzzi
May 9, 2022 | Non categorizzato
In his first letter, St John states: Anyone who does not love their brother or sister who they see, cannot love God who they don’t see.(1Jn.4,20) In this extract, Chiara Lubich reflects on how love for each neighbour, brother or sister whom we meet is an obligatory passage for going to God, for feeling union with him. There is a system which is typically ours so we can be sure that we are walking on a right path that will certainly take us to our goal which is God. It has an obligatory passage, and this is called our brother or sister. Let’s throw ourselves into loving every brother or sister we meet during the day. Let’s set alight in our hearts the ardent and praiseworthy desire that God surely wants. It’s the desire to love every neighbour, making ourselves one with him or her in everything, with a disinterested love and without imposing limits. (…) Love will give new life to relationships and to people, and it will prevent us from being selfish. In fact, love will be the best antidote. (…) In this way we will be able to prepare a gift for Jesus. This will be abundant fruit and our heart that is filled with fire and consumed with love. The motto then that will help to remind us of this decision could be: to God through my brother or sister!
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, Conversazioni, Città Nuova, 2019, pag. 100)
May 3, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination continues to raise funds for Ukraine. Father Vyacheslav Hrynevych, executive director of Caritas Spes Ukraine sent us this short video with a thank you directly from one of the distribution centres. https://youtu.be/co7-47VjQ74 For those who would like to contribute Azione per un Mondo Unito ONLUS (AMU) IBAN: IT 58 S 05018 03200 000011204344 presso Banca Popolare Etica Codice SWIFT/BIC: ETICIT22XXX Azione per Famiglie Nuove ONLUS (AFN) IBAN: IT 92 J 05018 03200 000016978561 presso Banca Popolare Etica Codice SWIFT/BIC: ETICIT22XXX Causale: Emergenza Ucraina
May 2, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The word of life for May 2022 suggests that we put into practice the new commandment of Jesus: mutual love. By looking beyond differences- which are so emphasized in the present time- we can give life to real communities that reveal the great novelty of the Gospel You know that Jesus is present, for example, in the sacraments. In the Eucharist, for instance, he becomes truly present. Jesus is also there wherever mutual love is lived. He said: ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name’ (and this is possible through reciprocal love) ‘I am there among them.’[1] And also in a community where life is deeply rooted in mutual love, he can continue to be actively present. And through the community, he can continue to reveal himself to the world and influence the world. Isn’t this wonderful? Doesn’t it make you want to start right now to live this love with your fellow Christians? According to Saint John,(…) mutual love is the foremost commandment of the Church, whose vocation is, in fact, to be communion, fellowship, to be unity. (…) If, therefore, you want to find the true mark of the authentic disciples of Christ; if you want to know their distinctive characteristic, you will find it in the mutual love they live. Christians are recognized by this sign. If it is missing, the world will no longer be able to find Jesus in the Church. Reciprocal love creates unity. But, what does unity achieve? ‘That they may all be one’ – Jesus continues – ‘so that the world may believe…’[2] Unity, by revealing the presence of Christ, draws the world to follow him. When people see mutual love and unity being lived, they believe in him.
Chiara Lubich
Chiara Lubich, in “Parole di Vita”, [Words of Life] Citta Nuova, 2017, pages 171/2 [1] Mt 18:20. [2] Jn 17:21.
