Jan 19, 2022 | Non categorizzato
On 21 January 2022 the Focolare Movement’s international centre at Rocca di Papa, Italy, hosts the launch of an intriguing new book ‘Chiara Lubich in Dialogue with the world: intercultural, linguistic and literary perspectives of her writing’, edited by Rubbettino publishing house. “The writings of authors defined as ‘spiritual leaders’ are often considered solely as works of spiritual edification (…) frequently offered to the public within anthologies, afforded limited critical attention. The truth is, however, they can often be of great literary value, demonstrating a vital, creative, even courageous use of language[1]”, writes linguist Anna Maria Rossi in her introduction to the book she co-curated with Vincenzo Crupi: Chiara Lubich in Dialogo con il mondo, prospettive interculturali, linguistiche e letterarie nei suoi scritti (‘Chiara Lubich in dialogue with the world: intercultural, linguistic and literary perspectives of her writing’), published by Rubbettino. This volume contains the papers presented at the event of the same name held in Trento, Italy on 24-25 September 2020 as part of the centenary celebrations of the birth of Chiara Lubich. The proposal to publish this book “was welcomed with enthusiasm and without reserve as corresponding perfectly to the guidelines of the ‘Iride’ (‘Iris’) series published by Rubbettino, designed as “a meeting point between Italian academics and foreigners, to meet the need for informative resources on the best available material in the field of literary criticism, linguistics and philology,” affirmed Rocco Mario Morano, series editor. “This volume on Chiara Lubich – he continued – makes a significant contribution to this line of research, gathering as it does the depth and breadth of analysis contained within the studies of 25 academics from different parts of the world, who employ their literary experience, sensitivity and competence in a range of different disciplines to this subject”. Morano identifies how, in order to describe her own spiritual experience, the author Chiara Lubich demonstrates particular care to use “models of writing formed, time and again, to meet her driving need to communicate her innermost understanding and thought, permeated with an elevated spirituality and great religiousity (…). This drives her tendency to submit her texts to continual revisions to enable the reader to penetrate her deepest meaning in all its aspects (…). These adjustments never distract (…) from the strong desire and immense joy of giving the Word as an act of love to all people of good will throughout the whole world, whatever their religious, political or philososphical creed”. The book, which is launched on 21 January 2022 at the Focolare Movement’s international centre, focuses on the texts written by Chiara Lubich between 1949 and 1950, writings often referred to as “Paradise ‘49”. A detailed textual analysis of the author’s words and a precise study of the language of mysticism used to communicate such a deep experience, “offers – according to Rossi – through image and metaphor, insights for intertextual comparison”. The word itself is viewed, too, as a means which leads to an ideal, to unity. In fact, an analysis of Lubich’s writings in the second section of the book reveals her as a “woman of dialogue”, one who always directed her attention to others, attentive to the multicultural dimension of those with whom she communicated; a woman who with her words was capable of ‘building up’, of being ‘constructive’ in the face of differences, one who lived evangelical love in full. This love continues into the passage from one language to another in the highly delicate task of translation, which necessarily presumes a process of consultation, exchange and relationship between translator and author. According to Regina Célia Pereira da Silva, Lecturer in Portughese Language at the Università per Stranieri of Siena, Italy, specialist in Linguistic Information Translation, Strategy and Technology, “the words of Chiara come not solely from a religious theory, but rather they are fruit of a real concrete life, touched by encountering the divine. Only if the translator too experiences such giving of oneself through words, will they be able to understand this kind of reality, living it not individually but in a collective way”. To find a way of communicating such a strong experience, respecting the intentions of the author while eliminating every possible ambiguity of phraseology, is not just a matter of expressing the same language, but also the translator should give their own ideas and be ready to lose them, ‘emptying’ themselves. A dialogue must be established between “the author, translator and beneficiaries of a text,” explains Regina Pereira. “This presumes a new dynamic, one typical of Chiara Lubich (…) which involves penetrating the needs of the other in order to share in them and if possible to take the first step. It demands humility and love. The author-translator relationship has at its heart a novel form of communication based on the concept of nothingness which, as an emptiness, is able to welcome the other person completely with their own personal and cultural identity. The translator or the reader enters the text, enters the author and acquires her experience and is enriched by it”.
Maria Grazia Berretta
[1]Rossi, Anna Maria in Chiara Lubich in Dialogo con il mondo, prospettive interculturali, linguistiche e letterarie nei suoi scritti, edited by Anna Maria Rossi, Vincenzo Crupi, Rubbettino Editore, 2021, p. 11.
Jan 17, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated from 18-21 January in the northern hemisphere. The Christians of the Middle East who prepared the resources for 2022 affirm: “The new path for the Churches is the path of visible unity which we pursue with sacrifice, courage and boldness, day after day, ‘So that God may be all in all. (1 Cor 15:28)’.” In an interview with Bavarian TV in 1988 in Montet (Switzerland), Chiara Lubich spoke specifically about how to make progress on the path to Christian unity. When speaking of Christian unity, we must bear in mind that this work was not begun by Christians from one Church or another. Here too, we know that it is the Holy Spirit who is urging Christians to progress towards unity. It is God’s plan before being ours. Therefore, we are truly prudent and wise if we follow him by listening to his voice which speaks within us and tells us: take this step, take this other step. Now the Churches are travelling on two tracks: that of building unity in charity, the dialogue of charity, typical of Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI, for example, and then dialogue in truth between Churches or groups of Churches. It is good to keep the idea of charity as the foundation because through charity we establish the presence of Christ in our midst. We know that where there is charity and love, there is God. Now if he is in our midst, he can prompt and enlighten theologians so that they can find ways in which we can united and find just one truth, one truth seen perhaps from different viewpoints. So, what is needed? We should continue with the approach the Churches have begun, to dialogue in charity and on this basis, to dialogue also in truth, about the truth. Regarding the unity of all humanity, I see that there are all these efforts being made towards unity and a small example is what we are doing. What I feel is that many barriers must fall, because if the barriers fall, many things will be resolved If we spread Christianity and renew our Churches, and if we bear better witness to Christ and spread Christian principles through dialogue with other religions and with people of good will, we will certainly become one more and more. Jesus came on earth to bring universal fraternity. But only God knows how things will be in the end.
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, Una spiritualità per la unità dei cristiani, [A spirituality for Christian unity] Città Nuova, 2020, p. 122-123)
Jan 14, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Giving of ourselves, giving what we hold dear, is the greatest gesture that someone, going beyond themselves, can make. It repeats the experience of the Magi who came from the Far East to the manger, bringing precious gifts to honour the King of Kings. The results of sharing I am a physician, having retired three years ago. In the last years of my employment, before the pandemic, I served at a vaccination centre. The job was very demanding. I was quite tired and looked forward to retirement. The arrival of the pandemic, the establishment of the massive vaccination campaign, the call for the availability of as many forces as possible (medical and nursing staff, even those retired), woke in me a strong desire to get back into the field, to commit myself to help stop this wave that was overwhelming us. I started the vaccination campaign in a large hub. It’s an engaging endeavour. As a physician, I primarily collect pre-vaccine history and certify eligibility so that the vaccine can be safely administered. It is a matter of opening my heart, as well as my mind and scientific knowledge, listening to the person in front of me, understanding and accompanying them toward an informed choice of the best thing to do for their good and that of the community. I have been able to share many painful situations of personal illnesses, stories and family events, fears, anxiety, disappointments, ideals and projects broken by the pandemic, deaths of loved ones, but also joy, hope, freedom, encouragement, trust in science and the community. The feedback I get is: “Thank you, you have saved us, you give us peace…” “I couldn’t wait to come and get vaccinated…” “I’m touched…” “I’m getting the vaccine not just for me, but for others.” One gentleman showed me all that this service of mine to humanity can be. He told me, “I am a non-believer, but if God exists, I met him today in you.” I thanked God, above all because I experienced the strength of unity in everything I do. This witness gives testimony to the Triune God, who shows himself through the “mobile Focolare” that I take with me. P. Italy Sugar and shoes One evening, arriving home, I found my daughters worried. A relative who had come to ask for sugar had taken away what little we had left. I reassured them by saying she needed it more. A few minutes later, an acquaintance arrived with a bag full of food for us. Inside, among other things, was twice as much sugar as we had given. Sometime later, with our first earnings, we finally managed to buy a pair of shoes for our eldest daughter. One day she came home from school and told me that she intended to give them to one of her classmates who had broken shoes. “Mom, you taught us that we should give the best things to the poor,” she said. Knowing how many sacrifices we had made, I was puzzled, but I didn’t feel like contradicting her. Three days later, a lady brought us a pair of new shoes of the same size. She had bought them for her daughter, but they were too small. Our daughter looked at me, surprised and happy. Since we try to live the words of Jesus, we experience that God is Father and leads us by the hand. E., Mexico
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta.
From “Il Vangelo del Giorno,” Città Nuova, year VIII, n.1, January–February 2022.
Jan 13, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The Ecclesial Assembly was an unprecedented experience for the Church in Latin America. It was an amazing experience which involved the whole People of God in a process that culminated at the end of November. It is ongoing in the effort to implement the priority pastoral guidelines that emerged. “We lived a true experience of synodality, in mutual listening and in communitarian discernment of what the Spirit wishes to say to his Church. We travelled together, recognizing our multifaceted diversity, but above all what unites us and, in dialogue, our disciples’ hearts looked at the reality that our continent is living with its pains and hopes”. 
These are the words of the 885 members of the Latin American and Caribbean Ecclesial Assembly, which took place from 21st-28th November in a blended virtual and personally present way in Mexico, with representatives from all the countries of the American continent. Susana Nuin, a Uruguayan focolarina, coordinator of Cebitepal, the Training Agency of the Episcopal Council of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) commented, “On 24th January 2021, Pope Francis opened this first ecclesial assembly, inviting all the Holy People of God to participate: Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, Lay People, all generations and all cultures”. It was a journey that involved all the dioceses, parishes, communities and movements, in a period of “listening”. 70,000 collective or individual responses were received, that will be compiled into a book. The broad lines that were worked on in the various groups derived from this material. Susanna continued, “In my opinion, the groups offered a very interesting space, due to the commitment and interest of the participants. We worked non-stop for 3 hours at a time, with a great freedom of expression and hunger for change”. Sandra Ferreira Ribeiro, a Brazilian focolarina, co-responsible for Centro “Uno”, the Focolare’s Secretariat for dialogue between Christians of different Churches, said, “For me it was a real experience of synodality. Every day, in the working groups, there was a different question to be discussed on the basis of the topic that was dealt with in the first part of the day. There were 14 people from different countries, vocations and ages in our group, all connected via zoom. First of all, we listened to everyone’s thoughts, then we tried to prioritize what had emerged and give a summary “. It was an intense and effective process, interspersed with short breaks, which at times were even neglected in order to continue the dialogue and be able to give some personal reflections to the coordinating team. The telematic means allowed a greater participation despite the limit on getting to know one another, that kind of contact that occurs spontaneously in the “corridors”, in the breakss and which also a is part of synodality. The moments of prayer were very well prepared, the Religious had a great hand in this this. They expressed the different cultural contributions with symbols and musical expressions always based on the Word. As in every synodal journey, there was also room for dissent and for the exchange of different points of view. At times these were divergent but they never led to clashes or ruptures. A conscious decision was made not to produce a final document, because there is still a lot to put into practice from the Aparecida document (2007). Furthermore, this Assembly is only one step on a path that must and will continue. Instead, a message was sent to the whole People of God of Latin America and the Caribbean, expressing the challenges and priority pastoral orientations which had emerged, ranging from a new impetus as an outgoing Church to the leadership of young people; from the promotion of human life, from conception to natural death, to formation in synodality. Challenges that include listening to and being close to the poor, excluded and rejected, with the aim of rediscovering the value of the indigenous peoples, inculturation and interculturality; priority to the implementation of the dreams of “Querida Amazonia”[1] for the defence of life, the land and the original and Afro-descendant cultures. Last but not least, to give careful attention to the victims of abuses that have occurred in the ecclesial context and to work for prevention. The guests included Cardinal Marc Ouelet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, representatives of the regional Bishops’ Conferences. They all followed the proceedings with great interest. Sandra concluded, “It was a privileged moment in which to be able to meet the Church of Latin America. In my group there were Bishops, Priests, Religious, Lay people. I met the Church in its members, in the people who expressed their anxieties and concerns. It was exciting to see the living, dynamic Latin American Church and its desire to progress fraternity, the Kingdom of God; its desire to truly bring Jesus to everyone “.
Carlos Mana
To download the final message: https://www.cec.org.co/sites/default/files/MENSAJE%20FINAL-Asamblea-Eclesial.pdf [1]“Querida Amazonia” is a 2020 post-synodal apostolic exhortation from Pope Francis in response to the Synod of Bishops of the Panamazónica region held in Rome in October 2019.
Jan 11, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Condolences and words of appreciation from Margaret Karram and the Focolare Movement on the death of the President of the European Parliament. “‘We need to open the European Parliament building to the homeless at night because it is painful to see so many people seeking shelter from the intense cold in the corners of our building here in Brussels. The poor cannot wait’. President Sassoli’s words in the year 2019 give me a sense of his human and civic stature and his vision for Europe. While today we are moved by this great loss, with deep gratitude we want to take up these values that we feel are ours too, and commit ourselves ever more to making them a reality”. This is how Margaret Karram, president of the Focolare Movement, expressed herself this morning on hearing of the death of the President of the European Parliament. She added: “His life, of such great human and political depth, stands before us now as a sign and authoritative testimony to a person who lived politics as service and worked towards a vision of Europe as a continent of fraternal peoples”. David Sassoli and young people In May 2021, President Sassoli spoke to the Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement. They had invited him to speak on the subject of #daretocare, an international project, considering him as a witness to the kind of politics that is responsible for taking care of the world, starting with its wounds: “This image of ‘taking care’ is very beautiful, – he said – because politics has this goal, it cannot have any other: taking care of people, of one’s own community, of one’s own cities. I believe that this expression truly represents your determination to bet on the future”. “I was one of the young Europeans who had the privilege of talking to President Sassoli,” recalls Conleth Burns, an Irish researcher and organiser of the Dare to Care event. Two things struck us in what he said: his conviction that a politics deeply rooted in caring for people and communities is a better kind of politics and one that can transform society. And then his drive to bring politics and the institutions themselves closer to citizens, to strengthen our European democracy. President Sassoli’s vision and his testimony at the service of the common good, as a journalist and a politician, will continue to inspire us all”. Clara Verhegge, a young woman from Belgium, who spoke with the President, also says: “His commitment to the European reception of migrants – despite the fact that he felt powerless – touched my heart and that of many other young people. When we spoke with him, I realised that I was not alone. Indeed, I hope with more confidence that one day Europe will find a unified voice also when it comes to refugees’. When asked by Mátyás Németh, a young Hungarian, whether the climate issue could be an opportunity for the peoples of Europe to unite, President Sassoli said that Covid had made Europe realise that this was an opportunity to restart a common policy on which to base Europe’s post-pandemic recovery. He added: “I think that in times of difficulty we will need open societies that work together and we must be proud of the young people who remind the world of politics of the state of our planet”.
Stefania Tanesini
Jan 11, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Palmira Frizzera, one of the first companions of Chiara Lubich, who died on 5th January 2022, will live on in the memory and in the lives of many: focolarini, young people and families, whom she accompanied in their formation at the Mariapolis Foco (Montet, Switzerland), the little town of the Focolare in which she lived for over 40 years. Drawing on her words, here are some moments that marked her path in life. “Nothing more can be done for your eyes”. This was the harsh diagnosis that the doctor gave to Palmira Frizzera a few months after she arrived in the first focolare in Piazza Cappuccini in Trent. Palmira was 18 when, three years earlier, in 1945, she met the first group of focolarine. She had had problems with her eyes for some time. Because of this her dream of going to be a missionary nun in India had also collapsed. But now the problem was getting more serious. After various visits to specialists that day, she went to an ophthalmologist in Trent, accompanied by Natalia Dallapiccola, another of Chiara Lubich’s first companions. Telling the story to a group of young people in 2004, Palmira said, “The doctor examined me thoroughly and then said: the right eye is lost already and the left eye is about to go”.
Palmira with Chiara Lubich © CSC Audiovisivi
© CSC Audiovisivi
Carlos Mana
