EOC’s New Business Park
On Saturday, 6 November, a Portuguese business park of the Economy of Communion (EOC) opened its dorrs in the Focolare town in Abrigada-Alenquer.
Two-hundred-fifty persons were present, among them the Mayor of Alenquer, a few deputies, businessmen and economists. Professor Luigino Bruni, an economist, and businessman Alberto Ferrucci from the Central Commission of the EOC spoke, during their speeches, of the importance of the business park of the EOC in a Focolare town (presently there are 35 such towns on five continents), as a testimony to a new economic culture, which is capable of bringing down the walls of capitalism and the individualism of our times.
Economist and Professor Manuela Silva underlined the vital importance of this, highlighting the prophetic vision of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare, concerning the Economy of Communion. “When it is applied – she added – it is destined to be a far-reaching light, like a beacon in the darkness of today’s society.” Therefore she challenged everyone to remain faithful to Chiara’s original intuition concerning the Economy of Communion.
Several businessmen who belong to the project shared the story of this business park’s construction, beginning in 2004, involving the efforts of many in the realization of this dream. They were gestures of generosity, small ones and large ones, sufferings, spiritual and material losses, the “living stones” for this “cathedral”, as someone defined the new business park which is destined to give testimony to God in the world of economy.
At the moment, three businesses have moved into the Giosi Guella Business Park and many others have joined the project and are spread thoughout the country though connected to the Park. They are small and medium-sized for profit businesses which, with the ideals of the Economy of Communion, are working for the common good.
At the conclusion of the programme there was a link-up via internet with the Lionello Bonfanti Business Park in Loppiano, Italy, which provided a wider dimension to the event. Someone recalled a phrase from Chiara Lubich regarding the Italian Business Park: “A light in the midst of darkness, even if it’s only small, will be seen from afar.” It came as an encouragement to stand up to the challenge.
The Mayor of Alenquer, Jorge Riso, presided over the inauguration. In his brief speech he thanked the Movement and the Focolare town of Arco-Iris for the positive contribution they make in the area not only through the Physical Therapy Centre, but also through their relationships with the local population. “This business park – he said – is a privilege for the Commune of Alenquer. It is a project that extends beyond the limits of our local territory.”
“Jesus Magazine” publishes insert on the Focolare
The dossier traces the stages in the historical journey of the Focolare, the life of the focolarini today, social involvement, and faith in daily life. Compiled by Vittoria Prisciandaro, the insert opens with the words: “Giving voice to the grassroots and to the Movement’s president, Maria Voce”. Jesus Magazine which was founded in 1979, now publishes 37 thousand copies. The November issue will come with an attachment – the first in a series of audio books – dedicated, for this occasion, to Chiara Lubich. The anthology called “Love conquers all” contains thoughts of Chiara Lubich, recited by Italian actors. “Focolare. Ideal of fraternity”. In the 32 pages dedicated to the Focolare – besides historical sites and stages and factual examples of daily Gospel living – there are also questions directed at the president and co-president of the Movement. Questions regarding the place of priests and bishops in the Movement were put to Giancarlo Faletti. Questions regarding ecclesial movements, education, inculturation, justice and reform, interfaith dialogue and the multiethnic society were directed to Maria Voce, “Emmaus, the lawyer-theologian who now holds the position that was once occupied by Chiara Lubich.” An online interview (in Italian) with Maria Voce can be found on the Jesus Magazine website: http://www.stpauls.it/jesus/default.htm.
November 2010
Jesus begins his preaching with the Sermon on the Mount. On a hill near Lake Tiberius, not far from Capernaum, Jesus sat down, as was customary for teachers, and described to the crowds what it means for a human being to be blessed. The word for beatitude, ‘blessed’, had been heard throughout the Old Testament. It spoke of the exaltation of the one who, in the widest variety of ways, fulfilled the Word of the Lord.
The beatitudes of Jesus were partly an echo of the ones the disciples already knew. But for the first time they heard that not only were the pure in heart worthy of going up the hill of the Lord, as the psalmist sang (Ps. 24:4), but they could even see God. What kind of purity could be so sublime as to deserve so much? Jesus would explain it several times during the course of his preaching. Let’s try to follow him so we can draw from the source of true purity.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
First of all, Jesus points out the very best way to be purified: “You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.” (Jn 15: 3) His Word, more than the practice of religious rites, is what purifies our inner self. The Word of Jesus is not like human words. Christ is present in his Word, as he is present, in a different way, in the Eucharist. Through his Word Christ enters within us and, provided we allow him to act, he makes us free from sin and therefore pure in heart.
Thus purity is the fruit of living the Word, of living all the Words of Jesus which free us from our so-called attachments, which we inevitably fall into if our hearts are not in God and in his teachings. These can be attachments to things, to people, to ourselves. But if our heart is focused on God alone, all the rest falls away.
To succeed in doing this, it can be useful at different times during the day to say to Jesus, to God: “You, Lord, are my only good!” (see Ps. 16: 2) Let’s try to say it often, especially when various attachments seek to pull our heart towards those images, feelings and passions that can blur our vision of what is good and take away our freedom.
Are we inclined to look at certain types of posters or television programmes? Let’s stop and say to him: “You, Lord, are my only good” and this will be the first step that will take us beyond self, by re-declaring our love for God. In this way we will grow in purity.
Do we realise sometimes that someone, or something we do, has got in the way, like an obstacle, between us and God, spoiling our relationship with him? That is the moment to say to him: “You, Lord, are my only good.” It will help us purify our intentions and regain inner freedom.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Living the Word makes us free and pure because the Word is love. It is love, with its divine fire, that purifies our intentions and the whole of our inner self, because our ‘heart’, according to the Bible, is the deepest seat of our intelligence and our will.
But there is a type of love that Jesus commands us to practise and that enables us to live this beatitude. It is mutual love, being ready to give our life for others, following the example of Jesus. This love creates a current, an exchange, an atmosphere characterised above all by transparency and purity, because of the presence of God who alone can create a pure heart in us (see Ps. 50:12). It is by living mutual love that the Word acts with its purifying and sanctifying effects.
As isolated individuals we are incapable of resisting the world’s temptations for long, but in mutual love there is a healthy environment that can protect purity and all other aspects of a true Christian life.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
So, then, the fruit of this constantly re-acquired purity is that we can ‘see’ God, which means we can understand his work in our lives and in history, hear his voice in our hearts, and recognise him where he is: in the poor, in the Eucharist, in his Word, in our communion with others, in the Church.
It is a foretaste of the presence of God which already begins in this life, as we ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7), until the time when, ‘we will see face to face’ (1 Cor. 13:12) forever.
Chiara Lubich
[:it]Assisi e lo Spirito[:es]Asís y el Espíritu[:fr]Assise et l’Esprit Saint[:pt]Assis e o Espírito[:zh]『共同經歷手足情誼』
“The Chiara Luce Badano phenomenon”
“The Chiara Luce Badano phenomenon” is what television host Rosario Carello called the events surrounding the beatification last 25th September of the young woman from Sassello. She said this during the 10th October airing of “In His Image” on Italy’s Rai Uno.
“The phenomenon isn’t so much her, though she certainly lived in an extraordinary way,” says Maria Voce, President of the Focolare, but rather the global phenomenon that was triggered by her exemplary life, but within the normality of a young woman of today.
The Pope proposed her as a model of holiness for youths everwhere, inviting them to become more acquainted with her: “. . . A short life, but a stupendous message. Nineteen years full of life and of faith. Two years, the last two, of suffering also, lived in the faith and in the joy that was born from her heart that was so full of God . . . A grace of God – the Pope contiued – with the help of human collaboration.” He remembered her parents especially, her parish community, the Focolare Movement, which she belonged to.
The evening of 25 September, Paul VI Hall was exploding with with joy and a desire for holiness witnessed by thousands of youths both inside and outside the hall, who expressed themselves with songs and dances, choreography, photos, and life experiences. All of them wanted to say something about her, like a group of teenagers from Latin America: “Chiara Luce is a model for young people. She succeeded in overcoming so many obstacles and became holy. She’s a great example for all of us.” And some youths from Lebanon: “Chiara Luce tells us that we can follow her example with our life. Holiness is not far away from us young people.” An African girls remarked: For me, the most beautiful moment of today was the beatification. It was the first time I’ve ever particpated in one and it was very moving.” A young Italian girl summarized the day in this way: “Now I understand that in order to become saints, you need to always love.” “Holiness for us young people – says a youth speaking for a group from India – appears very difficult nowadays, but if we try to follow in her footsteps it will be a wonderful experience.” And finally the enthusiastic Mexicans: “It was so powerful to know about Chiara Luce’s life and this event was very beautiful. With her example to help us, we’re sure we’ll succeed in moving ahead on a path of holiness.”
But who is this young woman, this new Blessed named Chiara? How do you explain this “phenomenon” of a young girl born in a little town in Italy called Sassello, who has become the “saint of the young people?”
“What I find striking in her – an Italian teenage boy confides – is that she made ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure.”
Four-hundred of these young people who came from everywhere in the world, stayed behind in Italy for another several days in order to delve more deeply into the spirituality of unity whith which Chiara Luce reached the altars.
The “desire for holiness” among young people: This is the phenomenon that her beatification has highlighted in a world that seems to have its mind on anything but this.