[:it]Emergenza sud-est asiatico: come posso aiutare?

29 Dec 2004 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Dissipare le tenebre del sospetto e costruire ponti di dialogo[:es]Disipar las tinieblas de la sospecha y construir puentes de diálogo[:pt]Dissipar as trevas da suspeita e construir pontes de diálogo

28 Dec 2004 | Non categorizzato

“It is love that can make the unity among Christians progress”

12 Dec 2004 | Non categorizzato

 From the Vatican Radio News service of December 23, 2004 Q: During these days of your Conference, the attendance of Bishops from different Churches has been more numerous than expected, I believe. How would you explain this? A: I would attribute this to the fact that Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, this land, Turkey itself, is a country which has ancient Christian roots. It is rich in history and has numerous sacred places. This was what attracted a great number of bishops to come here and live an experience of unity in this very place. It has been a special meeting, a very enriching experience which has renewed us spiritually as we came in contact with early Christianity: with the Orthodox, the Syrian Orthodox, the Apostolic Armenians and Catholics of different rites. It was an absolutely exceptional and extraordinary event, something to praise God for. Q: Your Conference took place right at a time when historic events were happening in the relationship between Constantinople and Rome, to be precise, the return of the relics of two great Fathers of the Church, St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory Nazianzen, so-called “the Theologian.” Moreover, you have had more direct contacts with the Patriarch. Could you tell us the significance of this conference for you? A: The return of the relics after so many centuries was, for the Christians here and for Turkey as well, a very powerful and deeply moving sign of hope. I was impressed by how much the bishops of the Anglican and Evangelical-Lutheran Churches – who were assisting for the first time at the veneration of relics by Orthodox and Catholic Christians – appreciated this gesture. Patriarch Bartholomew I offered deeply touching remarks, thanking the Pope and the Roman Curia for such an exceptional gesture. Q: And the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Syrian Orthodox, Armenian and Anglican communities which you visited? What did the bishops’ presence signify for them? A: All these communities experienced the unity that there was among us. They appreciated the liturgies, the “quality” of what was shared. It was extraordinary for them to see bishops of many Churches united in prayer and they openly expressed their joy. It was, for them, a new calling to unity: if the bishops are together, then also the People of God should be together. I think that all these communities received great encouragement for what the future has in store. Q: During the ceremonies of St. Andrew’s Feast, Patriarch Bartholomew I spoke about the primacy of that spiritual unity which we are all called to live in Christ, according to the model of the Holy Trinity. That’s quite a challenge! A: I think that what we experienced here in Constantinople, which many Christians of different Churches are experiencing together in living the Focolare spirit of unity, with Jesus in the midst, is an example, a hope of that unity which already exists among the different Churches in communion, in the love of the Trinity. Among us, in fact, there is great love and respect for every Church, for every tradition. I saw how the Evangelical-Lutheran, Anglican and Catholic bishops appreciated the icons, the relics, and the Orthodox liturgy – which is very beautiful but it’s also sometimes quite long. All this has been an example of the unity which already exists and should spread in all the Churches, in the whole Christian world. Love can make the unity among Christians progress. If we bishops and the leaders of the Churches bear this witness, first of all – and the gift of the relics is a very powerful sign – then all this will be assimilated by the consciences of our respective Churches. Q: What is the root of your experience of unity? A: The root of unity is the love of God, the love of Christ which unites the whole world in the Holy Spirit, above all the Christians who unite in his name. This is why we have Jesus, Jesus in our midst, in us and in our hearts. The spirituality of the Focolare Movement is the spirituality par excellence of the Church of Christ, of every Church. I keep underscoring again and again that it is not something that pertains only to this Movement, nor to the Catholic Church alone. The unity proposed by Chiara Lubich and the Focolare Movement is for the Orthodox, the Lutheran, the Anglican Church too, simply because it is evangelical, it summarizes, embraces the whole Gospel, the essence of the Gospel which is the love of God, unity in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Q: Your pilgrimage in this land of early Christianity also included Nicea. What were your impressions there? A: We lived through a deeply moving experience in Nicea. It is a place that bears witness to the undivided Church. In 325, the first Council – which formulated the first part of our Creed – was held there. In Nicea we all signed a pact of mutual love among us bishops and we pledged – and as bishops we did it also on behalf of our local Churches – to work for the re-establishment of full and visible communion. It was a very powerful sign and a hope for the future. Q: Where and when is the next appointment? A: Next year we will hold our meeting in Bucharest, Rumania. We will meet in an ex-communist country which, after suffering through 50 years of repression, has regained its freedom, and even that came at a great price. Our meeting hopes to be a source of encouragement not only for the Orthodox, but for the other Christians of Rumania as well. There is an active community of Catholics there, of Evangelical-Lutherans and Calvinists as well. Q: It might be an occasion to meet Patriarch Teoctist. A: Yes, certainly it will be an occasion to meet Patriarch Teoctist and the leaders of the Catholic and Evangelical-Lutheran Churches, as well as a number of other bishops. It will be a chance to acquaint them with the role played by the Focolare Movement in fostering unity. Here in Constantinople, we heard the moving experience of a Rumanian Catholic priest who took upon himself the commitment of regularly gathering together Orthodox, Catholic, Reformed and Lutheran priests. Such meetings have changed the face of that city. Now they pray together and work together in a more spirit-filled way. I have come to appreciate the way the Focolare Movement shows great respect for each confession: it helps one rediscover his roots in his own Church; each priest, each Christian deepens his or her own tradition, and this is something extraordinary that somehow helps change the situation in a very positive way. 22-12-2004

[:it]Dai luoghi del cristianesimo dei primi secoli un nuovo impegno per la piena unità dei cristiani

12 Dec 2004 | Non categorizzato

Creating unity in the seminary and everywhere

30 Nov 2004 | Non categorizzato

 Until a few years ago our seminary was situated in a traditional type structure, with bare walls and long hallways.  Maybe it was also for this reason that each of us was running the risk of remaining closed in his own world.  Some of us seminarians came in contact with the spirituality of unity.  It was a great discovery to realize that the Gospel could be lived in such a concrete manner and especially with a sense of community.  So we immediately started living the “Word of Life” with poise and enthusiasm – it is a phrase from the Gospel that everyone in the Focolare Movement commits to translate to practice during an entire month – and it wasn’t long before we too began living our first experiences.  Soon other seminarians joined us, attracted by this novelty of life.

In the meantime, the number of students had grown sensibly and there wasn’t enough space for everyone in the seminary building.  The counselors then decided to turn a big living room area into a room for twelve seminarians.

But no one wanted to move, as everyone preferred having their own room.  We understood that it was an opportunity to love in a concrete way and to throw ourselves into a stronger life of communion.  So we offered to move.
The following year there was still a problem with the lack of rooms and the counselors suggested we continue our experience in a house near the seminary.

We began this new adventure trusting that it was something that God was suggesting.  We put everything in common:  clothes, books, money, and even our many needs.  To support ourselves, we started different activities, among which raising chicks.  Curious about this activity, many people would offer their help and would bring us food for them.  Everything was an opportunity to be a testimony to our ideal of unity and so our house became a meeting place and a big family grew around us.

In the meantime, the diocese decided to build a new seminary.  The experience of our “little house” inspired the idea to project it not like a big building, but an assembly of various homes with a chapel at the center.  There have been many episodes since then and the hardships accompanied us as well.  But whenever faced with difficulties we always told each other that only living and being a testimony to reciprocal love is what counts.

One day one of us needed a pair of slippers and I needed a pair of shoes for a celebration.  We renewed the pact of mutual love between us, convinced that the first thing to search for is the Kingdom of God and the rest would be given to us in surplus, and we newly began loving everyone – superiors and fellow students – in the small things, trying to see Jesus in everyone.  Come night time, a fellow student asked me if I needed a pair of shoes because he had received two pairs; a lady offered us a sum of money, the exact amount needed to buy a pair of slippers.  We felt God’s concrete love.

One of the weak points in our seminary life was sports.  Inevitably, every soccer game ended in contrast and discussion.  So we planned a tournament that had as a rule that everyone rejoice for the success of others as his own.  It went extremely well!  Our spiritual guide was the happiest.  And many seminarians thanked us for giving them the opportunity to discover that the Gospel can be lived in sports too.

We tried to transmit this life outside of the seminary as well, especially in pastoral activities.  One day, with a fellow student, we went to a female prison.  Before going in, we told each other that we would stay solid in mutual love and see Jesus in each of the prisoners.  At first they were quite indifferent, each of them concentrated on her own work. Then we tried to sing something for them and they slowly all came closer.  Once the relationship was established, we were able to talk to them about some experiences we lived through the “Word of Life”.

They were extremely happy and they made peace with each other.  We could not understand how Jesus could act so quickly.  One of them said she understood that she had to live by loving, even in prison, and that was the only way she could be free, maybe even more so than many that live in actual “freedom”.  Another one brought us to the door of her cell to tell us how that same night she was planning on killing herself, but that the love we brought gave her the joy to live again.  It was obvious that we weren’t the ones who had done these things, but Jesus present among us through mutual love.

(N. U. A. Q. – Columbia)