Living the Word changes our relationship with God and our neighbour

10 Apr 2008 | Non categorizzato

This is the final spiritual reflection, prepared for the Movement by Chiara from her hospital bed at the Gemelli hospital  shortly before she “departed”, and released recently: “I would like this time to underline the value of relationships, relationships among us. At the beginning in Trento, our relationship with God and with our brothers was changed by Living the Word. In this way what we called a “Christian community” came to life. Let us not forget these beginnings. Let us build our Opera (Movement) on this foundation.” Here is part of the first commentary on the Word of Life, still very relevant, from over 50 years ago. We can take it as a commentary on the reflection above, to explore it more deeply and translate it into life. “The words of the Gospel may seem simple, But what a change they require! How far they are from our usual way of thinking and acting! Take courage! Let’s try. A day spent like this is worth a whole life. In the evening we will not recognise each other. A joy never experienced before will invade us. A strength will come to us. God will be with us, because he is with those who love. One after another, the days will be full. We will slow down at times, be tempted to discouragement, to stop. And we will want to return to our old life… But no! Take courage! God gives us the grace. Let’s always start again Persevering, we will see the world around us gradually change. We will see that the Gospel makes life more fascinating, brings light to the world, gives flavour to our existence, and contains the principle for solving every problem. And we will have no peace, until we have shared our extraordinary experience with others: to friends who understand us, to our relatives, to whoever we feel inspired to give it. Hope will be born again.”

Set fraternity in motion in sport

1 Apr 2008 | Non categorizzato

 The 2008 congress of Sportmeet, “Sport in–credibile – Set fraternity in motion”, from March 28-30 in Rome, presented sport as both credible and beautiful, far from the threat of violence, racism, doping, and over-commercialisation.

The challenge of fraternity in sport, and through sport, was issued by 420 sports enthusiasts from 38 countries from all five continents, through important life experiences, reports from international experts, round tables, workshops, and sports and games.

Among the many testimonies from sportsmen and women at all levels were those of Josefa Idem, Olympic canoeing gold medallist 2000, Ippolito Sanfratello gold medallist in Turin in 2006 in speed skating, Marco Pinotti, pink jersey in the “Giro d’Italia 2007”, Karl Unterkircher, high-altitude (8000m) climber, Nicolo’ Corradini orienteering world champion ‘94 ‘96 and 2000, and Hungarian Petra Treveli who finished third in the 2007 Milan Marathon.

Alongside them were people involved in the promotion of socially oriented sports projects in developing countries (Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Philippines…), and animators of anti-Mafia and anti-Camorra peace education projects in Sicily and Campania. 

Teachers and students from 17 universities around the world, testified their commitment online at Sportmeet to develop and spread a new sporting culture, oriented to fraternity.

“Woman of intrepid faith, a meek messenger of hope and peace”

18 Mar 2008 | Non categorizzato

To Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone Secretary of State «I am spiritually participating in the solemn liturgy with which the Christian community accompanies Chiara Lubich in her departure from this earth to enter into the wound of our Heavenly Father. I renew with affection my condolences to the directors and to all the members of the Work of Mary, to the Focolare Movement, and to all those who have collaborated with this generous witness to Christ, who totally gave of herself for the spreading of the evangelical message into every expression of contemporary society, always remaining open to the “signs of the times.” There are many reasons for thanking the Lord for the gift given to the Church of this woman of intrepid faith, humble messenger of hope and peace, founder of a vast spiritual family that embraces many fields of evangelization.  I would like to above all thank God for the service that Chiara has rendered to the Church: a both silent and incisive service, always in harmony with the teaching of the Church.  “The popes,” she commented, “have always understood us.” This is because Chiara and the Work of Mary have always tried to respond with gentle faithfulness to every request and desire. The uninterrupted bond between my venerable predecessors – Servant of God Pius XII, Blessed John XXIII, Servant of God Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II – give a concrete witness to this fact. The thought of the Pope was her source of direction and guidance. Moreover, looking at the iniatives that she gave rise to, one could affirm that she had an almost prophetic capacity to intuit and anticipate the thought of the Pope in her actions. Her legacyy now passes onto her spiritual family: the Virgin Mary, a constant model and reference point for Chiara, help each focolarino and focolarina to continue along the same path, contributing to make the Church, as our beloved John Paul II wrote on the eve of the Great Jubilee Year of 2000, always more home and school of communion. God of hope welcome the soul of our sister; comfort and sustain the commitment of  those who have embraced her spiritual testament. For this, I assure you of a special remembrance in my prayers and send to all those present at the sacred rite my Apostolic Blessing». Vatican, March 18, 2008

“Chiara Lubich’s life has been a song to the love of God, a God who is Love”

17 Mar 2008 | Non categorizzato

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Authorities, Dear members of the Focolare Movement, Dear brothers and sisters, The first reading encouraged us to meditate again on the well-known verse from the book of Job. The just man, harshly tested, proclaims, in fact, almost cries out: “I know that my Redeemer lives…Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him” (Job 19: 25, 27). While we pay our last respects to Chiara Lubich, the words of the saintly Job evoke in us the memory of the burning desire to encounter Christ that marked her whole life, and even more intensely during her last months and days in which she was tested with the worsening of her condition that stripped her of all physical energy, in a gradual ascent to Calvary, culminating in the sweet return to the bosom of the Father. Chiara travelled the final leg of her earthly pilgrimage accompanied by the prayers and affection of her people who gathered around her in a wide and uninterrupted embrace. In the heart of the night, weak but decided was her final “yes” to the mystical spouse of her soul, Jesus “forsaken and risen.” Now everything has been truly completed: the dream of the beginning has become a reality, the passionate desire has been quenched. Chiara is meeting the One she loved without seeing and, filled with joy, she can exclaim: “Yes, my Redeemer lives!” The news of her death gave rise to a huge wave of condolences from every sphere, from thousands of men and women worldwide, believers and non-believers, the powerful and poor of the earth. Benedict XVI, who immediately sent his comforting blessing, is now through me renewing the assurance of his participation in the great suffering of her spiritual family. Exponents of other Christian Churches and different religions joined their voices to the choir of deep esteem and profound participation. Also the mass media highlighted the work she did to spread Gospel love among people of different cultures, faiths and formations. In effect – we could well say – Chiara Lubich’s life has been a song to the love of God, a God who is Love. “Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16). How many times Chiara meditated on these words and how many times she mentioned them in her writings; for example, in the “Words of Life” which hundreds of thousands of people draw from for their spiritual growth! There is no other way to know God and to give meaning and value to human existence. Only Love, divine Love makes us capable of “generating” love, to love even our enemies. This is the novelty of Christianity, and herein lies the entire Gospel. But how should we live Love? After the Last Supper, in his moving farewell to the apostles – we just heard it – Jesus prayed “so that all may be one.” Christ’s prayer therefore supports his friends’ journey in every age. It is his Spirit that brings to life living witnesses of the Gospel in the Church; and it is still him, the living God, to guide us in our times of sadness and doubt, of difficulty and suffering. Whoever trusts in him fears nothing, neither the effort of going through stormy seas, nor every type of obstacle or adversity. Whoever builds his house on Christ, builds on the rock of Love which supports all, overcomes all and conquers all. The XX century is constellated with the bright lights of this divine love. It should not only be remembered for the wonderful conquests made in the technical and scientific fields and for its economic progress, which however has not eliminated but at times exacerbated the unjust distribution of resources and goods among peoples; it will not remain in history only for the efforts made to build peace, which however have not deterred horrendous crimes against humanity and conflicts and wars that have bloodied vast regions of the globe. The last century, though filled with many contradictions, is the century in which God gave life to countless heroic men and women who, while caring for the wounds of the sick and suffering and sharing in the lot of the young, the poor and the least, distributed the bread of charity that heals hearts, opens minds to the truth, rebuilds trust and gives renewed thrust to lives that have been broken by violence, injustice, and sin. Some of these pioneers of charity have already been recognized as saints and blessed by the Church: Fr. Guanella, Fr. Orione, Fr. Calabria, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and still others.   It was also the century where new ecclesial Movements came to life, and Chiara Lubich found her place in this constellation with a charism that is all hers and that is distinguished for its physiognomy and apostolic action. The foundress of the Focolare Movement, with a silent and humble style, did not create institutions at the service of humanity, but she dedicated herself to lighting the fire of the love of God in human hearts. She gave life to people who would themselves be love, who live the charism of unity and communion with God and neighbour; people who spread “love that is unity,” making of themselves, their homes, their work a “focolare” [hearth] where the burning fire becomes contagious and enflames all that surrounds it. This mission is possible for everyone because the Gospel is within everyone’s reach: Bishops and priests, children, youth and adults, consecrated and lay people, couples, families and communities, all called to live the ideal of unity: “That all may be one!” In the last interview that she gave, which came out in the very days of her agony, Chiara stated that “the wonder of mutual love is the life source of the Mystical Body of Christ.” The Focolare Movement is therefore committed to live the Gospel to the letter, “the most powerful and effective social revolution,” and from it were born the “New Families” and “New Humanity” movements, the Città Nuova Publishing House, the little town of Loppiano and other towns of witness in the different continents, and lay branches such as the “Volunteers of God.” In the climate of renewal brought about by the pontificate of blessed John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, it found fertile ground for its courageous ecumenical scope and its quest to dialogue with other faiths. During the years of the youth protests, the GEN movement catalyzed thousands and thousands of youth, fascinating them with the ideal of Gospel-based love, expanding its concrete reach with “Youth for a United World.” Chiara proposed the Gospel with no half measures also to children, to teenagers for whom the “Young for Unity” movement was founded. In Brazil, in order to meet the needs of the many who lived in poverty on the outskirts of cities, she launched the project for an “economy of communion in freedom,” giving rise to a new economic theory and praxis based on fraternity, for a sustainable development in favour of all. May the Lord grant that many scholars and economic experts take on the economy of communion as a viable resource to shape a new shared world order! And still, how many other meetings with representatives from different faiths, with political and cultural exponents! Mariapolis, city of Mary: this is how she wished to call the gatherings and the proposals for a society renewed by Gospel love. Why city of Mary? Because for Chiara the Virgin Mary “is the precious key for entering into the Gospel.” And perhaps, precisely for this reason, she was able to highlight in an effective and constructive way the “Marian profile” in the Church. She decided to entrust her Work to Mary, by giving it her name: the Work of Mary. The Movement, Chiara stated, “will remain on earth as another Mary: all Gospel, nothing other than the Gospel and, because it is the Gospel, it will not die.” And how can we not imagine that it was the Holy Virgin herself to accompany Chiara to the threshold of eternity? Dear brothers and sisters, let us continue our Eucharistic celebration by placing our thank you to the Lord on the altar for the witness given to us by this sister in Christ, for her prophetic intuitions which preceded and prepared the great changes in history and the extraordinary events lived by the Church in the XX century. Our thanks is joined to Chiara’s thank you. Considering the many gifts and graces she received, Chiara used to say that when she would be face to face with God, and the Lord would ask her name, she would simply respond: “My name is THANK YOU. Thank you, Lord, for everything and for ever.” It is now up to us, especially her spiritual children, to carry on the work of the mission which she began. From Heaven, where we like to think she is being welcomed by Jesus her spouse, she will continue to journey with us and to help us out. Today, while we say good-bye to her with affection, let us listen to her very words that she often loved to repeat: “I would like the Work of Mary, at the end of time, compact, while it awaits to appear before Jesus forsaken and risen, to be able to repeat – making its own the words that always move me by the Belgian theologian Jacques Leclercq: “… On your day, my God, I will come to You… I will come to You, my God … with my wildest dream: with the world in my arms.” This was Chiara’s dream, may it also be our unceasing desire: “Father, may they all be one, so that the world may believe.” Amen!

The last farewell to Chiara Lubich In St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome

17 Mar 2008 | Non categorizzato

I learned with deep emotion the news of Chiara’s death which has crowned a long and fruitful life. Chiara’s life has been marked by her tireless love for Jesus Forsaken.” This is the beginning of the telegram by Pope Benedict XVI which reached us this morning. “In this hour of painful detachment”, the Holy Father assures us his spiritual closeness “with affection”, “to her relatives and to whole Work of Mary – Focolare Movement founded by her.” He is also close “to all those who appreciated the Movement’s commitment to constant communion in the Church, in the ecumenical dialogue and in the brotherhood among all peoples.” The Pope thanked the Lord “for the witness of her life which has answered the yearnings of contemporary society in full fidelity to the Church and the Pope”. Benedict XVI expressed the hope that “those who have known and met her, admiring the wonders that God has done through her missionary zeal, will follow in her footsteps maintaining alive her charisma.” The Pope concludes by invoking “the maternal intercession of Mary” and giving his apostolic blessing to “all.” The last farewell to Chiara Lubich will take place on Tuesday 18th March at 3:00 pm in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The ceremony will be presided by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. It will be broadcast live via Internet and satellite. Throughout the whole morning there has been a constant flow of visitors to her home. The funeral parlour will be set up this afternoon at 4:00 pm and will continue up to Tuesday at 11am. It is located at the International Centre of the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa (via Frascati 306).   She will be buried in the Chapel of the same International Centre of the Movement in Rocca di Papa.   The Mayor of Trent Alberto Pacher has declared today a day of city mourning.