Focolare Movement

Consecrated Life: spirituality of communion, way to sanctity

Dec 15, 2011

In continuity with the ideal manifested with the conferment of the Degree Honoris Causa on Chiara Lubich on 25th October 2004 by the Claretianum of Rome, a meeting was held on the 3rd December, to celebrate consecrated life in the light of the spirituality of unity.

Radicalità, comunione e spiritualità.Radicalism, communion, and spirituality. This is what the young religious desire for their future consecrated life. This emerged from a survey carried out on the eve of the V Meeting on Consecrated Life held in Rome, on the 3rd December, on the initiative of the male and female consecrated religious of the Focolare Movement, in collaboration with the Institute of Theology Claretianum. Two points constituted the core of the survey: one positive and the other negative on Consecrated Life: “I would like the consecrated life I live to be more… I would like the consecrated life I live to be less…” Regarding the negative dimension, it emerged that they reject formality and denounce activism. Based on the results of the survey, the title of the meeting was-“Saints together”-and it proposed the spirituality of communion as the way to common sanctity. The interventions in the hall were various: the archbishop Joao Braz of Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of consecrated life and Societies on Apostolic Life, the Rector of the Pontifical University Urbaniana, Father Fabio Ciardi of the Missionaries Oblates of Mary Immaculate who was entrusted with the theme: “ The spirituality of communion, way to sanctity.” This was followed by a series of lived experiences related by male and female religious. And at the end Lucia Abignente from the Chiara Lubich Centre, presented a short historical “excursus” of the thoughts of Chiara Lubich on the sanctity of the people and she introduced two short films. The second part of the meeting was introduced by an exceptional witness, Chiara Luce Badano, proclaimed blessed on the 25th September, of the past year. She was presented by the Gen, the youths of the Focolare Movement. Born in 1971 Chiara Luce is a contemporary person: “ through her life- explains Tiziana Longhitano sfp– she told us that sanctity is possible even today, that it is possible also for us. Chiara Luce seems to us to be the expression of a shared way. She did not become a saint alone; her parents accompanied her.  Other friends also took part in her way, and they  became  involved in the reciprocity of Trinitarian Love.” “You are a true sign of God to the world and to us consecrated persons- said one of the participants at the end of the meeting-. Your witness infects youths and all those that have the opportunity to know you.”

<img class=”alignleft size-full wp-image-50980″ style=”margin-right: 10px; border: 0pt none;” title=”20111215-02″ src=”https://www.focolare.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/20111215-021.jpg” alt=”” width=”250″ height=”188″ />
___

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

This curse of war

This curse of war

Igino Giordani, when writing his memoirs, reflected on the terrible period of the First World War, in which he himself had to enlist, saying, “I saw the absurdity, the stupidity and above all the sin of war…”, as Benedict XV called it, the ‘useless massacre’. His words challenge us to think about how history could teach us to work for peace today, by opposing the new, absurd, useless massacres of our century.

Jubilee of youth: pilgrims of journey, hope, reconciliation

Jubilee of youth: pilgrims of journey, hope, reconciliation

A pilgrimage in Rome during the event that will see the participation of young people from all over the world. It will follow the historical itinerary of the Seven Churches with catechesis, prayer, testimonies, spiritual insights inspired by the charism of unity, music and sharing.

Indonesia: spreading hope

Indonesia: spreading hope

In Medan, capital of the province of Sumatra, Indonesia, following the 2004 tsunami, the local Focolare community set up the Sumber Harapan Social Centre, which means Source of Hope, to meet the needs of the poorest people in the city. Maximus and Fretty, leaders at the centre, tell us about the work they do.