Coming Together in Joy

19 Feb 2013 | Non categorizzato

Orders: New City Press (NY)

Forgiveness

18 Feb 2013 | Non categorizzato

Introduction and Translation by William Babcock

Along with his Confessions, The City of God is undoubtedly St. Augustine’s most influential work. In the context of what begins as a lengthy critique of classic Roman religion and a defense of Christianity, Augustine touches upon numerous topics, including the role of grace, the original state of humanity, the possibility of waging a just war, the ideal form of government, and the nature of heaven and hell. But his major concern is the difference between the City of God and the City of Man – one built on love of God, the other on love of self. One cannot but be moved and impressed by the author’s breadth of interest and penetrating intelligence. For all those who are interested in the greatest classics of Christian antiquity, The City of God is indispensable. This long-awaited translation by William Babcock is published in two volumes, with an introduction and annotation that make Augustine’s monumental work approachable.

Available from New City Press (NY): www.newcitypress.com/city-of-god.html

Thank you, Holy Father

16 Feb 2013 | Non categorizzato

In a letter addressed to Benedict XVI, the central directors of the Focolare’s New Families Movement, Alberto and Anna Friso write:

“The families of the Focolare Movement were deeply moved by the announcement of the Holy Father’s resignation.

The memory is still fresh in our minds of that day when you wished to give solemnity to the 40th anniversary of the New Families Movement by receiving us in special audience at the Clementine Salon on November 3, 2007.

Your words traced a line of light for our Movement and for the world of the family.

Certain that love for the family will continue in your heart, the New Families wish to express their most heartfelt thanks!”

Argentina: a course on growing as a family

14 Feb 2013 | Non categorizzato

During these summer months in the Southern Hemisphere the number of families at Mariapolis Lia has grown. Ten families have come to join the others who have been living at the Permanent Mariapolis for more than ten years. They come from Peru, Chile, Paraguay and Argentina to share an experience of unity among parents and children. Now there are 50 more “citizens” ranging in age between and fifty. And they have enriched life at the Mariapolis with their different ages and cultural backgrounds. Their goal is to “immerse themselves” in community life with its chores, moments for prayer and feasting and, at the same time, to reflect, dialogue and share experiences about issues related to family life. This is a school of life for deepening the meaning of matrimony, seeing it with the tools offered by the culture of unity. Their program also includes moments of reflection on the basic points, aspects and instruments of the spirituality of unity, and how they can be applied in the daily life of a family. Much space has been dedicated to dialogue and communion as couples and as a group. In order to re-evaluate life from this perspective the schedule is flexible. Each family plans its own day: household chores, shopping, preparing meals, helping out with the various tasks at the Mariapolis Lia and time for relaxation. It is also up to each family to find ways to cultivate friendly relationships with other families, through spontaneous gatherings, birthday and anniversary celebrations, sharing customs, folklore and traditional cooking – all in view of becoming a true “family of families”. The children gather according to age, in groups where they have the opportunity for games, projects and experiences that they can then share with their parents when they return home. One young wife told how she was able to “change the basic coordinates” in order to live the ideal of unity with her husband. Seventeen year old Alejandra from Peru: “Today I have a special desire to grow as a family, but I know that I’m not alone on this path because I’m with my parents, my brother and with all the other families at this course. And I know that near or far, in Peru, Chile, Paraguay or Argentina, there are others who have the same goal, perhaps we make mistakes and begin again, but we always believe in love.” Jorge from Chile affirms: “We seem to be like a puzzle in God’s hands, that He has disassembled and put back together with all of His love.” We take away with us a wealth of experiences, some that we lived here and others that we’ll be living in the days ahead” says Gustavo from Argentina. And nine year old Nicolas: “I really like this place in the midst of nature, and it’s perfect for bicycling. I met new friends from different countries, I discovered new cultures and new things like the story of Chiara Luce who knew how to begin again and was able to see Heaven, and I would also like to see Heaven.”

Resurrection – the reason for rebirth

13 Feb 2013 | Non categorizzato

A Christian is not allowed to despair or to crumble. His houses may fall, his riches be lost, but he watches and continues to struggle against every adversity. The lazy minds that squat along the sides of easy street are frightened by the thought of a struggle. But Christianity will continue to exist so long as faith in the Resurrection exists. The Resurrection of Christ inserts us into Christ and into His life. This obliges us to never despair. It gives us the secret for being lifted from every fall. Lent is like an examination of conscience through which we can consider what is swirling around in the bottom of our souls and of our society where the misery of a Christianity that has become routine for so many has lost the its momentum, like a sail without wind. The Resurrection of Christ must be the reason for the rebirth of our faith, hope and love: the victory of our actions over the tendencies that are negative. Easter teaches us to overcome these funerary passions in order to be reborn. It invites each of us to be reborn in a unity of affection with our neighours and with all peoples, in harmony and in good works, so as to establish ourselves within God’s Kingdom.

This is translated into social order through authority, laws and penalties that act in favour of men and rise up to the heavens but by way of the earth. It is ordered according to the divine order. Its law is the Gospel and involves unity, solidarity, equality, paternity, social service, justice, truth, reason, struggle against oppression, hatred, error and stupidity. Seeking the Kindgom of God, therefore, means seeking the happiest conditions for the life of society and of the individual.

And this is understandable, for wherever God reigns, man is a son of God, infinitely valuable. He treats others as brothers. He does to others as he would have them do to him. And his brothers do likewise. In a gesture that is utterly fraternal the goods of the earth are put in common. Love and pardon begin to flow and barriers no longer apply that no longer have the sense of universal love.

Whoever seeks first the kingdom of man, pursues a good that is subject to rivalry and contestation. But the divine objective raises men higher than the level of their quarrels and unites them in love. Then, in that unification, in that vision from above of the things of the earth, such matters as eating, clothing and enjoyment resume their proper proportions, they are coloured with new meaning and are simplified in love – and you have a full life. Also in this sense, Christ has conquered the world for us.    

Igino Giordani, Le Feste, Società Editrice Internazionale (S.E.I.), Turin, 1954.

Lent: how can we progress in virtue?

13 Feb 2013 | Non categorizzato

«Its purpose is to transform our life into a “Holy Journey”, to produce the result desired in the Imitation of Christ, a book of prayer and meditation so rich in spirituality which many of us are familiar with, which says that we need some attributes that are very compelling: […] an ardent desire to progress in virtue, love for sacrifice, the fervour of penance, self-denial, and knowing how to bear every adver­sity….

They are attributes that are necessary for all of us to possess. However, we must ask ourselves: how can we acquire them in accordance with our own spirituality?

The answer is clear and certain: we have not been called by God to accomplish all this through a monastic style of life separated from the world.

We are called to remain in the midst of the world and to reach God through our neighbour, which means through love for our neighbour and through reci­procal love. It is through committing ourselves to undertake this unique and evangelical path that we will discover, as if by enchant­ment, that we have acquired all these virtues in our soul.[…]

But we can do this if we have love. Isn’t it written: “I will run the way of your commands when you give me a docile heart [a heart full of love]” (Psalm 119:32). If in loving our neighbour we run the path of fulfilling God’s commands, it means that we are making progress.

We need love for sacrifice. To love the others precisely means to sacrifice oneself in order to be dedicated to the service of others. Christian love, even though it is a source of great joy, is synonymous with sacrifice.

We need the fervour of penance. It is through a life of love that we will find the greatest and principal penance to perform.

We need self-denial. Love for our neighbours always implies self-denial.

Finally, we need to know how to bear all adversity. Are not many sufferings in the world caused by living alongside of others? We must know how to bear everyone, and to love them out of love for Jesus Forsaken. By doing this we will overcome many obstacles in life.

Yes, in loving our neighbour we find an excellent possibility to transform our life into a “Holy Journey” […] ».

Chiara Lubich, On the Holy Journey, New City Press, New York 1988, pp. 156-158

(From a telephonic conference call – Rocca di Papa, 27 November 1986)