I had the impression of meeting a saint, A memory that will never be erased

The memories I have of Rev. Mons. Luigi Giussani will never be erased. I met with him in Milan in November 1998, shortly after the historic meeting of the Movements with the Pope in St. Peter’s Square on the eve of Pentecost of that year. It was one of the few times I had the sensation I was meeting a saint, a sanctity which was gained also through much suffering. I also deeply sensed that I had encountered an authentic charism, and I shared this impression when I later met with his collaborators.

During that particular Vigil of Pentecost, the Holy Father had asked from us ‘communion and commitment’. This was why I went to Milan. For all of us, and for Mons. Giussani as well – as he had written in a letter to the members of his Fraternity – that meeting with the Pope was ‘the greatest day of our history.’ He also added, ‘I remarked to Chiara and Kiko (who were sitting beside me in St. Peter’s Square): on these occasions, how can we help but proclaim our unity?’ ‘Unity is our responsibility, to the point that we need value even the smallest good there is in the other.’

From then on, there were many occasions to grow in our knowledge and understanding of one another, personally and as a Movement, in Italy and in other countries.

What remains in my heart is an immense gratitude for this person; his life was one spent unsparingly at the service of a charism that has given to the Church a new wave of intense spiritual life, which gave thousands and thousands of men and women all over the world a way to encounter Jesus personally. It also sparked many activities that respond to the needs of our times. Now, my and our prayers go not only for him, but for his Work, which will certainly bring forth new and abundant fruits of the Spirit.

Chiara Lubich