Many Roads for a United World
An International Congress will be held in Castelgandolfo 19-21 February called ‘United World Project’. Young people from all over the world will come together to share their ideas and talents to further universal solidarity.
The journey started in 1985, when Chiara Lubich encouraged the young people of the Focolare Movement to widen the invitation to work together to build a more united world to young people of every nationality, culture and religious conviction. The journey has already taken them far and wide, and can be seen in the many activities and projects that have been started in developing countries, in cities, or simply where these young people live.
To give new impulse to this project and to raise awareness with as many young people as possible, ‘Youth for a United World’ are meeting together at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo from 19 to 21 February. This meeting will be a re-launch of the original ‘Many Roads for a United World’ that marked the beginning of the Movement, in order to reinvigorate it today together with today’s young people. In this increasingly globalized world we can reach a bigger variety of young people including people from remote places, or others who don’t have any particular religious belief, but share the commitment to break down those obstacles which still exist between people of different ethnic, cultural or social backgrounds.
The meeting, which includes a half day visit to Rome, is not only open to those who already know ‘Youth for a United World’ but to anybody who might like to get to know it. Reflections, sharing of experiences and meetings will alternate with moments of celebration, friendship and practical work, to put into action the ideas that emerge during the congress.
Bookings are open until 12 February at sgmu@focolare.org, or at the International Centre of GMU tel: ++ 39 06 94792089
www.mondounito.net
‘Youth for a united World’ are also on Facebook
Giancarlo Faletti
Brief biography
Giancarlo Faletti was Co-President of the Focolare Movement from July 2008 – September 2014. Faletti was born on the 14th of September 1940 in the Municipality of Cerro Tanaro, Province of Asti in the Piedmont Region of Italy, into a family that was sensitive to social issues. Though never receiving a particular religious formation, from an early age he felt a growing desire to become involved in the world of Catholic youth and, later, in the field of Christian volunteers which brought him close to the suffering and the poor. Following a period of personal searching, in 1959 he encountered the spirituality of communion and remained fascinated by Chiara Lubich’s proposal to live for the realization of the unity of the human family that Jesus had asked of the Father: “That all be one!” – which is the goal of the Focolare Movement. At the age of twenty-five he decided to completely give himself to God in community life in a focolare. After completing his studies in Economics, he was employed at a prestigious bank in Turin, where he held executive level positions. In 1972, after living in various focolare communities in Turin, he was given the responsibility of the Focolare in Genoa, where he showed particular attention towards the youth. It was during these years that the fruits of holiness began to blossom precisely among the youth, as in the case of Chiara Luce Badano who was recently beatified, and Alberto Michelotti and Carlo Grisolia for whom the process of beatification is in progress. Following his appointment as co-director of the Focolare Movement in Lazio, Giancarlo concluded his theology studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and in 1997 was ordained to the priesthood. A few months later Chiara Lubich him appointed him delegate of the Movement in Abruzzo, Sardegna and Rome, where he remained until the Assembly of 2008 in which he was elected co-president of the Movement. He accompanied Maria Voce on her visit to Benedict XVI at the conclusion of the Assembly and, in the end of January 2009, he attended the enthronement of Patricarch Cirillo I in Moscow. During the years, he has accompanied the president Maria voce on several trips in Europe and in the world to visit Focolare communities. During these trips he has had numerous contacts with civil leaders, ecclesiastical leaders, and leaders of institutions.
February 2010 – Find joy
Jesus presents himself as the one who fulfills the divine promises and the expectations of a people whose story is marked by an alliance with God that has never been revoked.
The idea of the gate is similar to and explained quite well by another image used by Jesus: “I am the way… No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). He is truly a passageway, an open door that leads to the Father, to God himself.
“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture."
Practically speaking, what does this Word of Life mean? Other passages of the Gospel have implications similar to this phrase from John. Let us reflect on the “narrow gate,” through which we must strive to enter (see Mt 7:13) so as to enter into life.
Why did we choose this passage? We feel that perhaps it is the closest to the truth that Jesus reveals about himself, and it helps us see best how to live it.
When did he become this wide open door, completely open to the Trinity? At the moment the door of heaven seemed to be closed for him, he became the gateway to heaven for us all.
Jesus Forsaken (see Mk 15:34 and Mt 27:46) is the door through which a perfect exchange between God and humanity takes place; in his emptying, he united the children to the Father. It is through that emptiness (the opening of the door) that we come in contact with God and God with us.
So he is at the same time a narrow and wide open door, and we ourselves can experience this.
“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”
In his abandonment, Jesus himself became our access to the Father. His part is done. But to take advantage of such a huge grace, each one of us must do his or her tiny part, which consists of approaching that door and going through it.
How? When we suffer because of disappointment or something painful, or because of unexpected misfortune or unexplained illness, we can recall the suffering of Jesus, who experienced all these trials and a thousand others.
Yes, he is present in everything that speaks of suffering. Every suffering of ours can bear his name.
Let us try to recognize Jesus in every hardship, in all life’s difficult situations, in every moment of darkness, in our personal trials and those of others, in the sufferings of humanity. All these are him, because he has taken them upon himself.
It would be enough to tell him, with faith, “You, Lord, are my only good” (See Ps 16:2). It would be enough to do something tangible in order to alleviate “his” sufferings in the poor and those who are unhappy, in order to go beyond the door and find a joy on the other side we have never experienced before, a new fullness of life.
By Chiara Lubich
The Word of Life, taken from Scripture, is offered each month as a guide and inspiration for daily living. From the Focolare’s beginnings, Chiara Lubich wrote her commentaries on each Word of Life, and after her death in March 2008, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary, addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in April 1999.
Ninety years ago today, Chiara Lubich was born
Eli, Chiara would have been ninety today. During her lifetime the world changed a lot. You knew her closely. What do you think is her historical importance? «In each period of history, God has sent a charism to meet the particular needs of the world. At this time there is a tension towards unity, in politics, in business …and we can see this from European unity, the UN, and the ecumenical dialogue that happened during this period. The Second Vatican Council opened the Catholic Church to other Christian traditions and other faiths. It seems that everything had been prepared for the charism of unity. Chiara’s gift, which can be summed up in the words of Jesus “May they all be one”, is unity in its maximum expression: “all One”. Her charism is addressed to everyone as children of God-Love, for everyone has been created in order to love. Chiara focused on this aspect of human nature, and created relationships of all kinds. Her inspiration that mutual love brings unity was something new! It was the discovery that you can go to God together in a communion which grows deeper and deeper». Many people, including Church leaders, have suggested that Chiara had a “gift of prophecy”. Could you tell us about any intuitions she had that proved to be true? «In the very early days of the movement, on the feast of Christ the King she invited her companions to ask for what they read in the Readings of the day: “… ask and I will give you as an inheritance all peoples…” While she was still alive, she saw this spirit reach 184 nations, almost all of them. Another new intuition was regarding the presence of Jesus “where two or more are gathered” in his name. His presence among the first group was an answer to all their aspirations and was a totally new experience for them. So too was the communion of goods and unity (a word only used by communists at that time) and living the Words of the Gospel (something emphasised at the time more by Protestants than Catholics). She had an openness that emphasised the positive aspects of other Christian traditions, which began an ecumenical dialogue: similarly an interfaith dialogue began, and a wider dialogue with those with no formal faith. .. These are all elements that were affirmed first by the Council and then successive Popes as part of the life of the Church. The experience she had with the Bangwa people in Africa was an example of “new evangelisation”, and began in the sixties. She also emphasised the role of the laity in paving the way for the institutional Church in many fields of human activity. In all this it is easy to see why God chose a woman to build unity at such a broad level. The Focolare Movement (“Work of Mary”), as written in our Statutes and approved by the Church, desires to be as far as possible a continuation of the presence of Mary on earth. This wish of hers came from a very profound spiritual experience». What was Chiara’s relationship with young people and what did they mean to her? «She had a special relationship with young people because she felt that they had less to lose than adults. She felt they were freer, and was at her ease in their company, especially the youngest ones. She had a belief in their “uncontaminated” nature and had a direct, simple and immediate rapport with them. She was very excited about their ability to follow great ideals, and to believe everything is possible. She had a great “utopian” ideal and young people were drawn to it. She was “revolutionary” just in the simple way she related to them, with her approach, the normality of reaching fulfilment by doing the will of God, holiness within the reach of everyone. She received many letters from young people who wanted to imitate her in following God, in living the Gospel, in giving everything. When she launched the Economy of Communion, she issued a challenge to young students, encouraging them to broaden their knowledge about it and develop it. When she began her adventure, she was young and surrounded by people even younger than her. She always had a great trust in young people». What do you think Chiara would say to us today? «I think she would say, “Love one another, like Jesus loved us”. »
The Year for Priests: ‘Be faithful witnesses of love and unity’
‘I thank you for the effort of translating in an artistic response the extraordinary life of Saint Curé d’Ars’, Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, said at the end of the ConcerTheatre ‘Ars Amoris – the Love that comes from Ars’ which had its first performance on Thursday 14 January at the Mariapolis Centre in Castelgandolfo.
Speaking to the 550 priests from 31 countries, meeting together for their annual retreat, the Archbishop reaffirmed the importance of making God’s love visible in today’s society: ‘This is all the lay faithful expect from a priest, as Chiara Lubich affirmed 35 years ago: “Love, the gospel is the real “revolution”.’
The Love that comes from Ars, he continued, is ‘the art of loving, the ability of knowing how to love every person always and everywhere, in every situation and circumstance.’
He recalled how the inspiring spark of Chiara Lubich’s charism had been ‘a renewed revelation of God as Love.’ This charism ‘whilst being part of the life of one specific person, is, in reality, universal, as love, and also unity, are at the heart of the gospel message and of the history and life of the Church itself.’
‘Not just an abstract feeling of love,’ he pointed out, ‘but the Love made visible in Jesus of Nazareth, Lord and Christ, the Love which was nailed to the cross for us and for our sins, the Love of Jesus Forsaken.’
And he concluded: ‘Dearest priests, friends of the Focolare Movement, you are called in a very special way, particularly because of the responsibility implied in having met such a beautiful and fruitful charism, to live this radical measure of love.’ ‘Today I want to leave you with a real “missionary mandate”: be faithful witnesses of love and unity in your dioceses, in your presbyteries, competing with each other in loving your fellow brothers and in faithful obedience to the Church.’