“The Chiara Luce Badano phenomenon”

“The Chiara Luce Badano phenomenon” is what television host Rosario Carello called the events surrounding the beatification last 25th September of the young woman from Sassello. She said this during the 10th October airing of “In His Image” on Italy’s Rai Uno.

“The phenomenon isn’t so much her, though she certainly lived in an extraordinary way,” says Maria Voce, President of the Focolare, but rather the global phenomenon that was triggered by her exemplary life, but within the normality of a young woman of today.

The Pope proposed her as a model of holiness for youths everwhere, inviting them to become more acquainted with her: “. . . A short life, but a stupendous message. Nineteen years full of life and of faith. Two years, the last two, of suffering also, lived in the faith and in the joy that was born from her heart that was so full of God . . . A grace of God – the Pope contiued – with the help of human collaboration.” He remembered her parents especially, her parish community, the Focolare Movement, which she belonged to.

The evening of 25 September, Paul VI Hall was exploding with with joy and a desire for holiness witnessed by thousands of youths both inside and outside the hall, who expressed themselves with songs and dances, choreography, photos, and life experiences. All of them wanted to say something about her, like a group of teenagers from Latin America: “Chiara Luce is a model for young people. She succeeded in overcoming so many obstacles and became holy. She’s a great example for all of us.” And some youths from Lebanon: “Chiara Luce tells us that we can follow her example with our life. Holiness is not far away from us young people.” An African girls remarked: For me, the most beautiful moment of today was the beatification. It was the first time I’ve ever particpated in one and it was very moving.” A young Italian girl summarized the day in this way: “Now I understand that in order to become saints, you need to always love.” “Holiness for us young people – says a youth speaking for a group from India – appears very difficult nowadays, but if we try to follow in her footsteps it will be a wonderful experience.” And finally the enthusiastic Mexicans: “It was so powerful to know about Chiara Luce’s life and this event was very beautiful. With her example to help us, we’re sure we’ll succeed in moving ahead on a path of holiness.”

But who is this young woman, this new Blessed named Chiara? How do you explain this “phenomenon” of a young girl born in a little town in Italy called Sassello, who has become the “saint of the young people?”

“What I find striking in her – an Italian teenage boy confides – is that she made ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure.”

Four-hundred of these young people who came from everywhere in the world, stayed behind in Italy for another several days in order to delve more deeply into the spirituality of unity whith which Chiara Luce reached the altars.

The “desire for holiness” among young people: This is the phenomenon that her beatification has highlighted in a world that seems to have its mind on anything but this.