Dec 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Have you ever visited a community that is alive because it is made up of authentic Christians? Have you ever attended some of their gatherings? Have you tried to understand their way of life? If you did, then you must have noticed that the people who make up this community have different roles: some have a gift for speaking and can communicate spiritual truths that touch your soul. Others have a gift for helping, caring for the sick, or providing aid, and it is amazing how much they can do to benefit those who suffer. Some teach with such wisdom that they add new strength to the faith you already had. There are those who know the art of organizing or leadership, while others have a gift for understanding those around them and offering consolation to those in need.
Yes, you may have noticed all of these things, but what strikes you above all in such a vibrant community like this is that all the members have the same spirit, something that you seem to feel in the air and that makes this particular community into a single body.
“There are many members, yet one body.”
Paul too, in a special way, found himself before vibrant Christian communities, communities that had actually come into being through the power of his extraordinary preaching.
One was the young community of Corinth, to whom the Holy Spirit had very generously conferred gifts, or charisms, as they are called. In those days extraordinary charisms were given for the special vocation of the early Church.
Even after the uplifting experience of receiving numerous gifts from the Holy Spirit, however, this community fell into rivalries and confusion, even among those who received such gifts. Therefore it was necessary to ask for help from Paul, who was at Ephesus.
Paul was quick to reply through one of his remarkable letters, explaining how those special graces should be used.
He explained that there is a variety of charisms and ministries, such as apostles, prophets, and teachers, but there is only one Lord who bestows them all. He said that in the community there are those who work miracles and those who heal, while others have special gifts for serving or for leadership. There are those who can speak in tongues, and those who can interpret them. But, he added, there is only one God from whom all these gifts have come.
Since these various gifts are expressions of the same Holy Spirit, who gives them freely to each person, these gifts will always be in harmony with one another, always complementing one another. They are not given for one’s personal satisfaction, nor should they be a cause of vanity or of pride, but they are given for a common purpose: to build up the community. Their goal is service. Thus, they cannot cause rivalries or confusion.
Although Paul was thinking of the particular gifts that concerned the life of the community as a whole, he saw that each member possessed an individual talent, a special ability, that should be utilized for the good of all. Each person should be happy with what he or she has been given.
He envisioned the community as a body and asked, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?” (I Cor 12:17-19). As it is,
“There are many members, yet one body.”
If each of us is different, each is able to be a gift for the others. In this way, we all can be ourselves and fulfill the plan that God has for us in relation to the others.
In a community in which this variety of gifts work together, Paul saw such a reality that he gave it the splendid name, Christ. The fact is that this original body, made up of members of the community, was truly the body of Christ. Christ truly continues to live in his Church and the Church is his body. Through baptism, in fact, the Holy Spirit incorporates the believer into Christ, and he or she becomes a part of the community. There, all are Christ, every division is eliminated, and every discrimination is overcome.
“There are many members, yet one body.”
Since the body is one, then the members of the Christian community can bring to fulfillment their new way of life by accomplishing unity among themselves, a unity that presupposes diversity and pluralism. The community does not resemble a block of lifeless matter, but a living organism with different members.
To provoke division is, for Christians, to do the opposite of what they should do.
“There are many members, yet one body.”
How then can you live this new word that Scripture proposes?
You should have great respect for the different functions, gifts and talents present in the Christian community.
You need to be open to the entire Church in all its aspects, not only to the particular community that you know or you belong to, like the parish community or the religious organization or movement you are a member of. You need to be open to the universal Church in all her manifold expressions.
You should feel that everything is your own because you are part of this one body.
As a result, just as you consider and protect every part of your physical body, you should do the same with every member of the spiritual body…
You should value all of them and do your part so that they may be useful to the Church in the best possible way…
Do not be scornful of what God is asking of you right where you are. Even though your daily work may seem monotonous and lacking in significance, we all belong to the same body. As members, each one of us participates in the activities of the entire body, even though we remain in the place that God has chosen for us.
What is essential, then, is that you possess that charism that, as Paul proclaims, surpasses all others; and that is love, love for each person you meet, love for all people on earth.
It is through love, through mutual love, that the many members are able to be one body.
Chiara Lubich
An integral version of this commentary has been published in Words to Live By (New City Press, 1983).
The Word of Life, a sentence of Scripture, is offered each month as a guide and inspiration for daily life. From the Focolare’s beginnings, Chiara Lubich wrote her commentaries on the Word of Life, and after her death last March, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary, addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in January 1981.
Dec 29, 2008 | Non categorizzato
Dec 6, 2008 | Non categorizzato
It was December 7 1943. This is how she remembers the moment, early in the morning, when she went alone to the Collegio Serafico of the Capuchins. In the chapel a priest was waiting for her. During Holy Communion, she said her “yes, for ever” to God, the rock on which everything began: Imagine a young girl who is in love, in love with a love which is the first love, the purest one, as yet undeclared but which is already burning in her soul. There is one difference. A young girl who is in love like this here on earth has before her the image of her loved one. This girl does not see him, does not hear or touch her loved one, or sense his fragrance with the senses of the body but rather with the senses of her soul, through which love has entered and taken complete possession of her. So she feels a special joy, one which is difficult to experience again in life, a joy which is secret, serene, jubilant. The church was beautifully decorated. On the back wall was a painting of Mary Immaculate. Before Communion I saw in an instant what I was about to do. Through my consecration to God, I was crossing a bridge. The bride was collapsing behind me. I would never be able to go back into the world. I was getting married. I was marrying God. And it was that God who later would show himself as the Abandoned One. Opening my eyes to what I was doing in that moment was, I remember, something immediate and brief, but so strong that I shed a tear which fell on my missal. I think I ran all the way home, stopping only once, near the bishop’s house, to buy three red carnations for the crucifix awaiting me in my room. They would be a sign of the feast day celebrated by everyone.
Dec 5, 2008 | Non categorizzato
These are some fruits of the Word. All the fruits listed here, however, have their origin in the same truth. The Word of life, as we know, is unlike other words. It can not only be heard, it has the power to accomplish what it says. The Word, a presence of Christ, generates Christ in our soul and in the souls of others. It is true: if we are Christians, then even before living the Word with commitment, Christ’s life is within us and with it we undoubtedly have the light of God, and love too. Regrettably they are often hidden, as if in a chrysalis. By living the Gospel, love radiates light and with the light, love grows: the chrysalis begins to move, and finally the butterfly emerges. The butterfly is the tiny Christ who begins to dwell in us and grow more and more… so that we are increasingly filled with him. There is a marvellous description by Paul VI of what the Word produces: “How is Christ present in a person’s soul? Through the vehicle and the communication of the Word (…) the divine thought passes, the Word passes, the Son of God made Man. We could say that the Lord becomes incarnate within us, when we allow His Word (…) to live within us.” From: Vivere. La Parola che rinnova – Città Nuova Editrice, Roma 2008
Dec 1, 2008 | Non categorizzato
Nov 30, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
WORD OF LIFE December 2008
By Chiara Lubich
Do you remember these words? Jesus addressed these words to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane. These words give meaning to his passion, which was followed by his resurrection. They express the drama unfolding within Jesus in all its intensity. It is the inner laceration provoked by his human nature’s deep revulsion facing a death willed by his Father.
Christ, however, did not wait until that day to conform his will to that of God. He had done it all his life.
If this was how Christ behaved, then it ought to be the attitude of every Christian. You too should repeat in your life:
“Not my will but yours be done.”
Perhaps you never thought of it, even if you were baptized and are a son or daughter of the Church.
Perhaps you might have used this sentence as an expression of resignation—something one does when he or she has no choice. This, however, is not its real meaning.
Listen: in life you can go in one of two directions. You can do your own will, or you can freely choose to do God’s will. In the former, you will soon experience disappointment by attempting to climb the mountain of life using your limited ideas, your resources, your dreams and your own strength. All this, sooner or later, will transform your life into an experience of boredom, inconclusiveness, dullness and, at times, despair.
Your existence will be colorless in spite of your efforts to make it interesting; despite everything, the deepest part of you will not be at peace. You should admit it, for you cannot deny it.
Furthermore, at the end of your life, you will depart without leaving a trace—only a few tears and then inexorable, total oblivion.
If, instead, you do the will of God, you will re-live Jesus’ words:
“Not my will but yours be done.”
Let us imagine that God is like the sun. A ray from the sun falls on each one of us. Each ray is the divine will for me, for you, for everyone.
Christians and all people of good will are called to move towards the sun, keeping to their own ray of light which is unique and distinct from all the others. By doing so, they will fulfill the wonderful and particular plan that God has for them.
If you do the same, you will find yourself involved in a divine adventure you never even dreamed of.
You will be, at the same time, both actor in and spectator of something great that God is accomplishing in you and through you in humanity.
All that will happen to you—joys and sufferings, graces and disgraces, significant events (success and good fortune, accidents and the loss of those dear to you) as well as seemingly insignificant events (routine work at home, in the office or at school)—everything will acquire new meaning since all have been offered to you by God who is love.
Everything that he wills or permits is for your own good. At first, you will accept it in faith and later you will actually experience that there is a golden thread connecting all the events of your life and forming a beautiful embroidery—it is the plan of God for you.
Maybe this prospect is attractive to you. Maybe you sincerely want to give a deeper meaning to your life. Then you should consider this first: when to do the will of God. Just think for a moment: the past is gone and you cannot run after it; you can only leave it to God’s mercy. The future is not here yet – you will live it when it becomes the present. Only the present is in your hands. In the present, you have to live the words:
“Not my will but yours be done.”
When traveling by train—and life is also a journey—you usually remain in your seat. You wouldn’t think of walking back and forth to get there faster. But this is what we do if we live our life dreaming of a future which is not yet here, or thinking of a past which will never return.
No, time moves forward on its own. We must remain rooted in the present and then we will reach the fulfillment of our lives here.
You will now ask me: how do I distinguish God’s will from mine? It is not difficult to distinguish God’s will from our own if we remain in the present. I will tell you one way to do it. God speaks within you. Perhaps in the past, his voice has too often been smothered by you and is now barely audible. But try to listen, God speaks to you (see Jn 18:37 and Rev. 3:20). He tells you when it is the moment to study, when it is the moment to help someone in need, when to work, when to overcome a temptation or to fulfill one of your duties as a Christian or as a citizen. The voice of God within you urges you to listen to those who speak to you in his name; it helps you face difficult situations courageously….
Don’t silence this voice—it’s the most precious treasure you possess. Follow it. You will then build, moment by moment, the story of your life, a story that is both human and divine because it is made by you in collaboration with God. And you will see wonders. You will see what God can work in people who say with their whole lives:
“Not my will but yours be done.”
Chiara Lubich
The Word of Life, a sentence of Scripture, is offered each month as a guide and inspiration for daily life. From the Focolare’s beginnings, Chiara Lubich wrote her commentaries on the Word of Life, and after her death March 14, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary was originally published in August 1978 addressing a Christian audience.
Published in Words to Live By, New City Press, 1980.
Nov 23, 2008 | Non categorizzato
“Sophia”, an Institute of higher education, emerges from a paradox: Chiara Lubich’s decision to “put her books in the attic.” Maria Emmaus Voce: Chiara had an ardent desire to know the truth, and thought she would get to know it through studying philosophy. At a certain moment she felt within that Jesus was asking her to seek the truth not in books, but in following Him, the Truth in incarnate. So she made the choice to put her books away in the attic, and give up her dream of studying in order to follow him. She also felt Jesus saying to her, “I will be your teacher”, promising to reveal his truth, and his knowledge, to her. And this is what happened through the gift of a charism, the charism of unity. From the profound conviction that the charism of unity contains the capacity to generate a doctrine capable of lighting up the various fields of knowledge, a university institute has been born today. “Sophia” it has been said, would like to be a laboratory for formation and research where the links between life and thought, study and experience, are re-established. What does this mean in practice? Maria Emmaus Voce: The attempt to live the unity between these aspects means that those who register at this institute come with a pre-condition, that they are ready to love others, to be open to everyone, regardless of culture, religion, from wherever or whatever race they belong to. The “Sophia” students accept an experience of life where they discover that they can be open to one another not only as individual people, but that their cultures can be open to one another. They also discover that each discipline is profoundly linked to others, and the foundation of all knowledge is Wisdom, God’s vision of man and human affairs. What do you hope for, as a movement and personally, from the process that with “Sophia” has just begun? Maria Emmaus Voce: We would like to form men and women who know how to put together teaching and life, and are capable of contributing to unity, of being men and women of unity, wherever they are in society, in their professional and social lives. We really expect these people, like catalysts in any group of people, to build up a point of attraction, a focus around which cells of unity are built, which reach out more and more into society until “all will be one” when the human family will be brought together in unity once more. This is Jesus’s prayer to the Father, it is Chiara’s and our dream, and therefore also my personal dream. By Chiara Santomiero – November 20 2008
Nov 10, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
Oct 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
We can’t think that just because we are in the world we can take to it like a fish to water.
We can’t think that simply because the media offers us all kinds of choices we are free to watch every program.
We can’t think that just because we walk the streets of the world we can freely look at all the ads and billboards and buy just any publication at the newsstand or bookstore.
We can’t think that just because we are in the world we can live as we please, the way everyone else does, following along passively accepting abortion, divorce, hatred, violence or embezzlement. We can’t.
We are in the world; no one can deny that. But we are not of the world (see Jn 17:14).
This makes a great difference. It puts us among those who don’t live according to what the world says, but rather according to what the voice of God suggests to us from within. God lives in the heart of every human being. If we listen to him, he will lead us into a kingdom that is not of this world, a society in which true love, justice, purity, meekness and selflessness are lived, where self-control is the norm.
In the past many young people journeyed to India and the Far East, hoping to find some peace of mind and to discover the secrets of the Eastern spiritual masters, who, after a long process of self-mortification, frequently radiate a more genuine kind of love that touches the people they meet.
The quest of these young people was a very natural reaction to the uproar in the world, to the noise around us and within us that leaves no room for silence in which to hear God’s voice.
However, it is not necessary to go to India. Two thousand years ago Christ urged us to deny ourselves. If we are Christians, we cannot expect to lead a comfortable and easy life. Christ did not, and he will not ask any less of us if we want to follow him.
The world, with all its attractions and negative aspects, is coming at us head on like a rushing river, and we must go against the current. It is also like dense underbrush in which a Christian must look very carefully where to step. And where should we step? In the footsteps that Christ himself laid down for us while here on earth. These footsteps are his words.
Today he repeats to us Christians: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself….” If we follow Christ, we may be laughed at, misunderstood, scorned, slandered or isolated. We must be ready to lose face, to give up the easygoing, socially acceptable way of being a Christian. And there is more:
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Whether we like it or not, suffering is a part of everyone’s life, ours as well. Sufferings great and small come our way every day.
If we try to avoid them, to rebel against them, or if we feel like cursing them, then we cannot be called followers of Christ.
Christians love the cross; they love suffering even amidst tears, knowing that suffering has a value. God had countless ways at his disposal by which he could have saved humankind. Yet he chose to use suffering.
We know that Jesus rose after carrying his cross and being crucified. We are also destined to rise (see Jn 6:40) if we accept the sufferings that come from living an authentic Christian life and those that each day brings with love, rather than despising them. By doing so we will see that even here on earth, the cross is a way that leads to a joy we have never before experienced. We will begin to grow spiritually, and the kingdom of God will become firmly established in us. Little by little the world’s attractions will fade away before our eyes and seem as if they are made of cardboard. And we will no longer envy anyone.
Then we will be able to call ourselves followers of Christ.
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
And like Christ, whom you have followed, you will be light and love for the countless suffering people in today’s world.
The Word of Life, a sentence of Scripture, is offered each month as a guide and inspiration for daily life.
By Chiara Lubich
This Word of Life was originally published in July 1978 and then in Words to Live By (New City Press, 1981). From the Focolare’s beginnings, Chiara Lubich wrote her commentaries on the Word of Life, and after her death March 14, her early writings are now being featured once again.
Oct 29, 2008 | Non categorizzato
Living the present moment, I live the whole Gospel. If Scripture teaches us to do small things well, this is exactly what happens to people who, with their whole heart, do only what God wants of them in the present. If a person lives in the present, God lives in them and if God lives them, charity is in them. Whoever lives the present is patient, perseverant, meek, completely poor, pure, and merciful because he or she has love in its highest and most genuine expression. He or she truly loves God with their whole heart, their soul and their strength, is illuminated within, is guided by the Holy Spirit and therefore does not judge, thinks no evil, loves their neighbour as themselves, has the strength of evangelical folly to offer the other cheek, to go for two miles… He or she often has the opportunity to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s because in many present moments, he or she has to fully live their life as a citizen… and so on. Whoever lives the present is in Christ the Truth. And that satisfies, satisfies the soul that would like to possess everything in every moment of life. (from Essere tua Parola, Città Nuova Editrice – 2008 p. 51)
Oct 18, 2008 | Non categorizzato
From the start of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich, together with a small group of friends, began a spiritual journey marked by a deep rediscovery of the life of the Gospel. The effect of this life was the birth of a community made up of those who, after meeting them, began in turn to live the Gospel with commitment and enthusiasm, communicating their many surprising experiences to one another. Today the Word of God still occupies a central place. It is experienced as a source of God (cf DV 7) from which to drink, and to nourish the soul, as with the Eucharist (cf DV 21). The habit of sharing experiences of the Word with one another helped them to bring about an increasingly authentic evangelisation. One can understand Chiara’s ardent desire to leave to those who follow her, only the Gospel. “What remains and will always remain”, she said, “is the Gospel, which is not affected by time” (…) “The Work of Mary will thus remain on earth like another Mary: completely Gospel, nothing else but Gospel, and because it is Gospel, it will not die” (C. Lubich, Essere tua Parola, Roma, p 85)
Oct 11, 2008 | Non categorizzato
![Last farewell to W.D. Mohammed, the Imam of peace]()
Oct 10, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
“We commit ourselves more than ever to travel together on the way opened up by our two great guides”, wrote Emmaus Maria Voce, the President of the Focolare Movement, to the followers of “our beloved Imam W.D. Mohammed who gave his life for peace and universal fraternity.” For more than ten years, there was a deep spiritual friendship between Chiara Lubich and the Imam. Through his moral authority, he was recognised as the most important African-American Muslim leader. He died at home in Markham, Illinois, on September 9 at the age of 74. “Thousands of people coming from all over the United States to his funeral” – said one American newspaper – “paid tribute to him as the greatest Muslim leader in the United States.” And it went on, “Muslim groups who have suffered in the past from internal divisions, found themselves united in the presence of a man who had given his life to bring unity.” One impression of the day was expressed by one of his followers: “ September 11, 2001 was a sad day for Muslims. Today however, is a day that fills us with pride.” In 1975, on his deathbed, Elijah Mohammed, his father, entrusted to him the leadership of “Nation of Islam”, the African-American community founded by him to improve the moral and social lives of African-Americans. W.D. strove to bring his followers to an interpretation of Islam true to its roots, emphasising racial tolerance and universality. He became a bridge builder between African-American Muslims and Muslim immigrants from the Middle East and Asia, with Christians, and between whites and blacks. For his extraordinary work in interreligious dialogue, in 1994 he was nominated one of the international presidents of the “World Conference of Religions for Peace”. The journey undertaken together by Imam Mohammed’s followers and Chiara Lubich began on May 18 1997 in the Malcolm Shabazz (also known as Malcolm X) Mosque in Harlem, New York. That was the first time a white Christian woman had spoken in the mosque. Three thousand people, Muslims and representatives of Focolare, were present. While Chiara spoke, telling her Christian experience, quoting the Gospel and phrases from the Koran that illustrated how much we have in common, she was frequently interrupted with applause and shouts of, “God is great.” Shortly afterwards, in a private meeting, W.D. Mohammed and Chiara made a pact in the name of the one God: to work unceasingly for peace and unity. Faithfulness to this pact brought numerous fruits of unity between Focolare communities and his followers: the dialogue that developed became a sign of hope, and a light for many. Its importance increased after the events of September 11. Imam Mohammed and his followers came several times to Rome, to take part in interreligious gatherings organised by the Focolare Movement. In 1999 he was invited to speak, in St Peter’s Square in front of Pope John Paul II, at the interreligious preparatory meeting for the Jubilee year, representing Muslims from all over the world. On that occasion the Pope encouraged and blessed the dialogue that had begun with the Focolare. In 2000 he invited Chiara again, this time to speak to 7000 Muslims and Christians gathered at a two-day meeting in Washington, called, “Faith Communities Together”, because, he said, “America needs to hear your message, to see this unity that binds us together.” Since then, in Washington, Los Angeles, Miami Chicago, New York, and other US cities, there have been regular “Encounters in the Spirit of Universal Brotherhood”, meetings for dialogue where a point of the spirituality of unity is explored from both the Christian and the Muslim points of view, with the sharing of practical life experiences. The most recent meeting between Imam Mohammed and the leaders of the Focolare Movement in Chicago took place only a few days ago. He had planned to go with a group of followers to the forthcoming international meeting for Christian-Muslim dialogue at Castelgandolfo (Rome) from October 9 to October 12, but had been advised not to undertake such a long journey because of heart problems. Imam Mohammed was a man immersed in God. When speaking to 4000 of his followers at their national convention in 2005, he affirmed strongly, “We must love everyone in the way we wish to be loved. We must love Christians so that they become better Christians, we must love Muslims so that they become better Muslims.” When Chiara was asked about her relationship with Imam Mohammed, she replied, “I feel at ease with him because it seems to me that the Lord has put him next to us, as he has put us next to him, perhaps for a plan of love of his, which we will be able to understand in as much as we go ahead in our communion and by working together.” And Imam Mohammed, in an interview, declared, “I think it is possible to free ourselves from the poison of prejudice if we are spiritually healed. This is what we can do, to recognise ourselves as people of different religions and part of a common humanity. I think that we are doing something great, making it possible for people who hated each other to free themselves from hatred, to find new life, new happiness, because the weight of prejudice has been lifted from their hearts.”
Sep 30, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Get Generous
Has it ever happened that you received a gift from a friend and then felt you had to reciprocate — not so much because you felt obliged to pay the person back, but simply out of love and gratitude? I’m sure it has.
If you feel this way, imagine how God must feel, God who is love.
He reciprocates every gift that we give to any neighbor in his name. True Christians experience this frequently. And each time it is a surprise. We can never get used to the inventiveness of God.
I could give you a thousand examples of this. I could even write a book on this subject alone, and you would see how true are the words, “…a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” God always reciprocates with generosity.
Here is one example. Night had fallen in Rome. In their basement apartment, a small group of young women who wanted to live the Gospel were wishing each other good night. Then the doorbell rang. Who could it be at this hour? At the door they found a panic-stricken young father. He was desperate: the following day he and his family were going to be evicted because they had been unable to pay their rent.
The women looked at one another and then, in silent accord, went to the dresser drawer. There they kept what was left of their salaries. In envelopes marked “gas,” “electricity” and “telephone” were the small deposits they had set aside for these bills. Without a moment’s worry about what would happen to them, they gave all the money to their visitor.
That night they went to bed very happy. They knew Someone else would take care of them.
Just before dawn the phone rang. It was the same man. “I’ve called a taxi, and I’m coming right over!” Amazed that he should have chosen to come by taxi, they awaited his arrival. As soon as they saw his face they knew something had changed. “Last night, as soon as I got home,” he said. “I found I had received an inheritance I never dreamed I would get. My heart told me I should give half of it to you.” The amount he gave them was exactly twice what they had generously given him.
“Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.”
Haven’t you also experienced this? If not, remember that the gift must be given with no self-interest, without hoping to get it back, and to whomever asks.
Try it. But not so that you can see if it works, but because you love God.
You might be tempted to say, “I have nothing to give.”
That’s not true. If we want to, each of us can discover that we possess inexhaustible treasures: our free time, our love, our smile, our advice, our peace, our words that might persuade someone who has to give to someone who has not.
You might also say, “I don’t know whom to give to.”
Just look around you: don’t you remember that sick person in the hospital, that widow who always feels lonely, that boy in your class who failed and got discouraged, the young man who is sad because he can’t find a job, your little sister or brother who needs a helping hand, that friend who is in prison, that new person at work who is unsure of herself? In each person, Christ is waiting for you.
Put on the new way of behavior that comes from the Gospel and is the mark of a Christian. It is the exact opposite of having a closed mind or being concerned only about ourselves. Stop putting your trust in this world’s goods, and start relying on God. This will display your faith in him, and you will see from the gifts you receive that your faith is well founded.
It becomes apparent, however, that God does not give as he does in order to make us rich. He acts in this way so that many, many others, seeing the little miracles that happen to us as a result of our giving, may decide to do the same.
God also gives to us because the more we have the more we can give. He wants us to be administrators of his goods and see to it that they are distributed throughout the community around us, so that others might be able to repeat what was said of the first Christian community, “There was no needy person among them” (Acts 4:34).
Don’t you think that in this way you too can help give a solid spiritual basis to the social change that the world awaits?
“Give and gifts will be given to you.”
When Jesus said these words, undoubtedly he was thinking first and foremost of the reward we will receive in heaven. But the reward we receive on this earth is already a foretaste and a guarantee of our heavenly reward.
Chiara Lubich
Sep 7, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
My husband and my children are all alcoholics. Until last year, my eldest son Tom was living with his girlfriend, and both of them became drug addicts too. About a year ago my son came back home because he had fallen out with his partner. In the meantime however, she had had a child. It really upset me to think about the situation of this little grandchild. I blamed the mother and one day when I met her on the street, I openly accused her of all sorts of things. This left a lot of bitterness on both sides. When I got home you can imagine how guilty I was at having failed to love her. No matter how many excuses I gave myself, telling myself that I was right, that I did it for my grandchild, I was not happy. Something inside me was telling me to call her and ask her to forgive me, difficult as it was. I didn’t know whether she would even listen to me. In the end, when I asked her to forgive me, she was eager to forgive me too. Some time after this episode, Dorothy was sent to prison. Things were going from bad to worse, and I was so worried about my grandchild’s situation that I began to resent the parents who had brought him into the world into such a situation. Since they were unmarried, the child would be taken into care. My resentment grew bigger and bigger, and Jesus’s words about forgiveness brought me no peace. I ought to love Dorothy, what ever happened to my grandchild. After several attempts, the Word finally broke through and in a completely different state of mind I went to see her in prison: she gave me a big hug and broke down in tears. I think she felt that I went to love her and accept her as she was. She spoke to me about her child and asked me if I could look after it. We arranged for legal custody to be passed to my son, and now they both live with me. It seemed like the hundredfold promised by Jesus to whoever looks for his Kingdom, doing his will, and the result of my commitment to love, right to the end. (J.S. – USA)
Aug 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
“Love your enemies.” These are very strong words. They completely overturn our way of thinking, and they force us to make a sharp turn in our life’s direction!
Let’s face it. We all have an enemy of one kind or another.
My enemy might be my next-door neighbor, that unpleasant busybody I try to escape from every time I see her approach the elevator I’m taking.
It could be that relative who mistreated your father thirty years ago and you haven’t spoken to since.
It could be that classmate you refuse to look in the face since he got you into trouble with the teacher.
Your enemy might be the girl who was your friend but dropped you to hang out with someone else.
Or it could be the salesperson who cheated you.
Quite often we look at politicians as enemies if their opinions are different from ours.
And, as always, there are people who see some priests as their enemies and then hate the Church.
All of these people and many, many others whom we consider enemies have to be loved.
They have to be loved?
Yes. They have to be loved! However, this is not merely a matter of changing our feeling of hatred into another feeling that is more benign.
We have to do much more than that.
This is what Jesus says:
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
As we can see, Jesus wants us to overcome evil with good. He wants us to have a love that is carried over into concrete actions. We might wonder why Jesus is asking this of us.
The fact is he wants us to pattern our lives after the life of God, his Father, who “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Mt 5:45).
This is the point: we are not alone in the world. We have a Father, and we should be similar to him. Furthermore, he has the right to ask this of us because when we were still his enemies, when we were still living in darkness, he was the first to love us by sending us his Son who died in such a terrible way for each one of us (see 1 Jn 4:19).
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you….”
This lesson had a big impact on little Jerry, an African American boy from Washington, D.C. Because of his high I.Q., he was admitted to a special class, a class with all white children. But his intelligence alone was not enough to win him acceptance. Everyone disliked him because he was black. Then Christmas came. The other children exchanged gifts with each other, but they left Jerry out. Naturally, the young boy cried. When he got back home, however, he remembered the words of Jesus, “Love your enemies.” So, with his mother’s permission, he bought gifts which he distributed with love to all of his “white brothers and sisters.”
“Love your enemies… pray for those who mistreat you.”
One day, a girl from Florence named Elizabeth was heading into a church to go to Mass when, all of a sudden, a group of girls her own age started to make fun of her. It really hurt her. She wanted to scream back at them, but instead she smiled. While she was in church Elizabeth prayed for them. As she was leaving, they came up to her and asked why she had behaved the way she did. She explained that since she was a Christian she had to love in every situation. She said this with great conviction. The following Sunday she discovered that what she had done had borne fruit. When she entered the church she saw those same girls sitting attentively in the first pew.
These experiences show how children understand the Word of God. Because of this they are “grown-ups” in God’s eyes.
Perhaps we too ought to take steps to remedy certain situations in our own lives, all the more so since we will be judged by the way we judge others. We ourselves are the ones who give God the measure by which he will measure us (see Mt 7:2). Do we not really believe what we often pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (see Mt 6:12)? So, let’s love our enemies! Only by doing this can we heal disunity, break down barriers and build up the community.
Is it difficult? Painful? Does the mere thought of it keep us awake at night? Be strong! It is not the end of the world: all it takes is just a little effort on our part, and the remaining ninety-nine percent will be done by God, and then in our hearts will flow a river of joy.
Chiara Lubich
This text has been published in Living City, May 1978.
Jul 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
In however many neighbors you meet throughout your day, from morning to night, in all of them recognize the presence of Jesus.
If your eye is sound, the one who looks through it is God. And God is Love, and love seeks to unite by winning over.
How many people, in error, look at others and at things in order to possess them. It may be a look of selfishness or of envy which in either case is sin. Or people may look within their own selves, and be possessive of their own souls, their faces lifeless because they are bored or worried.
The soul, because it is made in the image of God, is love, and love that turns in on itself is like a flame, that because it is not fed, dies out.
Look outside yourself, not in yourself, not in things, not in persons; look at God outside yourself and unite yourself to him.
He lives in the depths of every soul that is alive, and if dead, the soul is the tabernacle of God that awaits him as the joy and expression of its own existence.
Look at every neighbor then with love, and love means to give. A gift, moreover, calls for a gift, and you will be loved in return.
Understood in this way, love means to love and be loved: as in the Trinity.
God in you will attract other hearts, igniting the life of the Trinity in them, which may already rest in them through grace, although extinguished.
You cannot light up a space—even if electricity is available—until the current’s two poles are brought together.
The life of God in us is similar. It must circulate in order to radiate outside of us and give witness to Christ, the One who links heaven to earth, and people with one another.
Look, therefore, at every one of your neighbors. Give yourself to them in order to give yourself to Jesus and Jesus will give himself back to you. It is the law of love: “Give, and gifts will be given to you” (Lk 6:38).
Out of love for Jesus, let your neighbors possess you. Like another Eucharist, let yourself “be eaten” by your neighbors. Put your entire self at their service, which is service to God, and your neighbors will come to you and love you. The fulfillment of God’s every desire lies in fraternal love, which is found in his commandment: “I give you a new commandment; love one another” (Jn 13:34).
Love is a Fire that penetrates hearts and makes them perfectly one.
When this happens you will no longer find yourself, nor your neighbor; you will find Love, which is God living in you.
And Love will go out to love other brothers and sisters because since your eye is sound, it will see itself in them and all will be one.
And around you will grow a community, just as around Jesus there were first twelve, then seventy-two, then thousands….
The Gospel is fascinating – because it is Light turned into love – it attracts us and draws us to follow it.
Then you might even die on a cross, so as not to be different from the Master, but you will die for whoever crucifies you, and so love will have the ultimate victory.
But your lymph – poured out for the hearts of others – will not die.
It will be fruitful, by propagating, bringing joy and peace and opening up Paradise.
And the glory of God will grow.
But while you are here on earth, be perfect Love.
Chiara Lubich
Part of this text is published in Essential Writings (New City Press, 2007), pp. 80-81.
Jul 17, 2008 | Non categorizzato
My name is Sandeep, born and brought up in Bangalore, India. Raised in a Hindu community, my parents brought me up according to Hindu traditions and religious values. Every day begins offering prayers to our God to seek blessings by lighting a lamp with oil and incense sticks, and end the day in the same way giving thanks to God. Each Hindu family has their own God for e.g. Lord Krishna or Lord Shiva. My parents are devoted to two different Gods; as a result I began devoting myself to both of the deities. We have certain festivals which are practiced in order to thank God and His creations. For instance, at the beginning of our new year, we celebrate the harvest of the previous year and mark the beginning of the new harvest by offering various folk programs and preparing special dishes e.g.:- the festival of Pongal & Onam. In our every day life too we inculcate the practice of offering prayers before beginning any task. It could be before preparing breakfast or signing documents at work. We also inculcate the practice of visiting our Gods’ temples along with our family as often as possible in order to refresh our spiritual life and the feeling of unity under God’s shelter with reference to our Holy Book the Bhagavad-Gita. My parents are religiously tolerant and yet they kept their distance from other faiths; for instance they always had the wrong assumption when it came to Christianity that ‘BEWARE Christians convert other faiths’ as they had a few bitter experiences. My folks never bothered though to know the reason behind the others conversion which I could never understand. As I grew up I accompanied my aunt and grandma who offered prayers every Thursday in a Catholic Church. My understanding towards Christians as well as to other faiths became stronger as I realized that we all are the children of one God with different names. At college a very good friend of mine borrowed my guitar and I had to get it back for practice. When I went to get it he asked me if I would be happy to meet his friends and I obliged. It was worth meeting this bunch of strangers. Later on I got to know that they were all young people of the Focolare Movement who made a choice of putting God in the first place of their lives and tried to put into practice Christianity in a concrete way, by living the Gospel. That was when I decided to get to know more about Christianity and realized in a practical way that true Christians were not the one’s who wanted to convert other people, but helped them build more strength in living their respective faiths. For instance living the Gospel meant putting the Holy Book into practice which made me realize the importance of reading the Gita. The experiences of these new friends shared during our meetings, seeing them attend daily mass at Church reminded me to offer my prayers with family at the temple. The prayers they would offer before every meal reminded me of the verses from the Gita which in turn I recited within myself along side. Hence, I got an opportunity to share the feeling of togetherness, unity, joy and fraternity all under the warm ideal of God amongst us. The Experience of being with these Christians has been unique. An experience which has taught me to share and learn to reciprocate unconditional love with the ideal of God amongst us in all that we pursue. But to love, care and strive towards the will of God in the present moment is very challenging; during my every day life for instance at work, not everybody realises that a small gesture of Love like just saying hello can make a lot of difference and bring a smile on people’s faces making them happy. I just listen to my workmates when they are troubled due to work pressure and this has helped them to learn to love too, and has given me a humble feeling of sharing God’s Love with everybody I meet. With my friends, to help us live our lives according to the Will of God during the day, we circulate amongst ourselves a thought for the day that we try to put into practice. Everyday is a new day and has a different experience to share. Also, every month my Christian friends try to put into practice a certain verse from the Gospel for the whole month, which in turn helps me relate to the objectives in my religion. In doing so, I experience a strong bond of unity with my Christian friends. Now I would also like to share few instances and experiences of putting Christian’s values into practice in my every day life, Firstly beginning at home from being a single kid I was always aloof because my folks were always concerned that I would get into trouble. Of course later music became part of my life and I began making, sharing and knowing more friends but again only pertaining to music. As I began knowing more about the life style of my Christian friends, and met different people from various communities, the shared views, the thoughts and experiences helped me learn more about the Golden Rule which is present in all religions, ““Do to others as you would do to yourself … in order to build unity wherever I am. Consequently at home I began spending a good amount of time with my folks in helping them with the smallest of things of giving them company and helping them in their routine activities. The joy and smile of relief and happiness they would radiate would make it feel as a complete day. Even at class my Christian friend and I observed that the class was always divided into different groups and each group would never want to be with the other due to small issues of not possessing similar tastes, poor communication or various other trivial differences. Gradually my friend and I took the initiative to build unity from the smallest level within our class. It surely made a difference in the class and in the final year of graduation everybody realized the importance of being united and at least made the smallest of attempt to assist and love each other concretely. About my parents who were paranoid as to why I would not miss a single meeting with my Christian friends, they did get suspicious about me getting converted as I was always inclined visiting the church since my 10th grade. But later after my friends visited home and met both my parents they were convinced about no conversion of any sort. In fact they were more than glad to let me be part of the movement and wanted to know more about the movement through me. Actually initially I too was hesitant in getting used to this new style of life as there was more emphasis on the Christian scriptures but when I got more acquainted with it I realized it co-related to the religious Hindu principles thus inculcating more knowledge and faith in my own religion too. Above all I have realized the importance to be selfless and always try to share unconditional love with all my fellow human beings, it is a feeling which is inexpressible. More than that, it makes us experience the presence of God amongst us; all it takes is to always bear in mind the Golden rule “Do to others as you would do to yourself”. (S. – This experience was told at “Let’s connect”, an interreligious meeting, organized from the Focolare Movement, during the Youth Festival of the WYD 2008 in Sydney)
Jul 17, 2008 | Non categorizzato
This journey of being able to meet with friends of many other faiths and do things together for a united world has been a beautiful experience for me. It started in 2006 when I was asked by the focolare movement to be present at one of these regional meetings for World Conference of Religions for Peace in Indonesia. I remember asking what I had to do and my director just said, “Just go and love.” It’s just that simple and sometimes you do not really realise it because in our working life, we tend to approach everything with an agenda and outcome. But yet this was the most important thing to do and that was what I tried to live out. I remember the meeting was in Ambon, the spice islands of Indonesia. When I was on transit to Ambon from Jakarta, I noticed some Japanese and I saw in their demeanour, something simple and felt that maybe they too would be going to the conference. I decided to approach them and even if they are not, just to greet them. Immediately, they responded with smiles and we spoke as one of them spoke in English. It was a good start and many a times, it is these simple gestures that are important for dialogue. I remember many times during this conference to resist speaking and try to listen and then offer a solution. It is very difficult for me because I tend to be very talkative as a person. It is true that when you love, God guides you to do things for Him. I also remembered telling myself to be ready for everything just to be open to loving. And so soon after I arrived and having breakfast with my new friends from the Philippines, one of the organisers came up to me, and asked me to help with a session the day after. I was shocked and then I remembered I promised to say “Yes” and to be open. I kept doing this at the conference and very soon I was facilitating a workshop, a session during the seminar and finally the peace statement. Now 2 years after that experience…. it has been an incredible journey. I suddenly have many friends from the other religions and we work together concretely for peace. We have this youth network called the Asian Inter-religious Youth Network. This is the network to activate religious youth for common actions for peace. Just last year for example, when the Myanmar unrest happened and Buddhist Monks were injured. We activated peace actions in terms of peace signatures, prayers vigils and peace marches throughout Asia. We gathered petitions and then submitted them to the chair of ASEAN in Singapore as Myanmar is a member of this regional grouping. Our petition urged dialogue and respect of the Monks and people of Myanmar. In WCRP, we believe in the power of mobilising diverse religious communities for peace. And the common bond that binds us is the Golden Rule. Personally, I also try to live out the golden rule in my workplace. In Singapore cars are very expensive and so my Muslim colleague drives me to work each day. And together we pray in the morning for the work in the office and entrust it to God. We would share the intention and then have a moment of silence. It is a simple gesture but it really works. I remember one time we were worried about the office’s financial situation. I remembered praying with him and the next day, more than sufficient amount of money arrived. To everybody, I also want to add a final word and that is, if we love then we can be the presence of Jesus in the world. And he is the greatest and foremost master of dialogue since he was the one who spoke first with the Samaritan woman and with Nicodemus. He was also at ease with everyone because he chose to love first before he spoke. If we follow Jesus then we are ready to live the golden rule each day and become the dialogue He wants us to have… (L. C. – This experience was told at “Let’s connect”, an interreligious meeting, organized from the Focolare Movement, during the Youth Festival of the WYD 2008 in Sydney)
Jul 17, 2008 | Non categorizzato
“Al-Salamu Alaikum”. “Peace on You”. I am Najiyyah. I am a Muslim from Mindanao State University in Marawi, a city in the southern part of the Philippines. I met the Focolare Movement in 2006. I am convinced that whatever faith a person embraces, as long he has an inner peace instilled in him, he can light up the world. I am happy to know that I can contribute towards building a peaceful and harmonious community by starting with my self. I am teacher by profession. In school, seventy percent of the students in my class are non-Muslims, but I never make it a hindrance to create a serene, calm and a just atmosphere in the classroom. I try to love all—my students, my colleagues, and the people that I meet everyday. One time I dealt with a noisy student, who is of another faith. I felt that she was a bit harsh on me yet I kept holding back my anger. I tried to double my patience with her. I felt that I had to set aside my prejudices and to see only the good in her even as she continued to test my professional and personal competence as a young Muslim teacher. Later, after loving her concretely, she asked me if I am really a true Muslim, and I said yes. She was very amazed and she told me that I was different from the other Muslims she knew. This marked a beginning of a beautiful rapport between us. In one occasion, we were discussing the theme: “Tourism, a vehicle for peace” in class. When she was given the chance to share her thoughts, she said that peace is truly an individual’s choice and with much conviction she added that peace should really start from within. I felt an immense joy in my heart because I knew that her answer was not just an idea she had in her head, but it was a learning taken from life, an experience which we shared together. In Islam, we believe that the least we can do is not to harm another person even in our thoughts and words. I feel that if I live this aspect of my faith well, I can really contribute something to attain peace wherever I am. As a Muslim and as a teacher, it is very important for me to live my faith in a very modest way because I am aware that people are not only looking at me, but they are also learning from me; thus, I grab every opportunity that comes my way. I am a member of a youth club, which also works for peace. One of our initiatives is peer advocacy, which invites young people to stop talking about how “different” they are from the rest but instead to come together and talk about the “difference” they can make together. This encourages us to embrace others as our real brothers and sisters regardless of faith, culture, and social status. Our club also believes that there are some other ways to attain peace; thus, we came up with some other initiatives like a cleanliness drive in the school campus. Since most of us are students, we find a common free time within the week to meet and to do “clean-up” activities. We also encourage others to participate. Now, I am more and more convinced that a harmonious and healthy environment is a reflection of peace among us. Sharing my time, talents, and “treasure” is part of my commitment for peace advocacy. This must also be the reason why I was chosen to help resolve little conflicts in relationships. Being a mediator is a very big responsibility. I have to set aside my prejudices in order to listen better to the others. Almost always, I see that my personal commitment for peace and the sacrifices I make in order to achieve it, bear good fruits: problems are addressed, conflicts are resolved, and relationships are rebuilt. Through the spirituality of unity of the Focolare Movement, founded by the late Chiara Lubich, I have learned and I have experienced that peace is truly a fruit of unity. Unity has also been my person goal in building my rapport with others especially at home. As part of our culture, I grew with a deep sense of family. In fact, our house has been a home to our “extended” family members; some of them do not share our faith. Nevertheless, we have a peaceful atmosphere since we have respect for each other and that we always point out the good things we have in common rather than the things that divide us. There are also some girls who help us with the household chores. They are non-Muslims. I try to treat them as my real sisters by welcoming them in our home and letting them feel that we are really a family, after all, that is what we are—we are children of one God! They are welcome to eat with us at meal time. We invite them to join us for our family pastimes and we also encourage them to spend time with their own friends. On Sundays, we respect that it’s their worship day and we do not ask them to do household chores. We motivate them to fulfill their religious obligations. We welcome and celebrate the Christmas Season with them, too, but of course as Muslims, we remain faithful to our “Halal” when it comes to food. During Ramadhan, the month of fasting for us, Muslims, they are also invited to join us in fasting, but we have never imposed this on them. We share with them the purpose of why we fast but they have the freedom to join us or not. We don’t expect them to be wide awake at 3 in the morning when we prepare our food even if it is part of their duties at home to do so. I am happy because my mother and my sister also live the spirituality of the Focolare Movement and together, we try to build unity not only at home but also with our community. There are many occasions when we gather with our neighbors to celebrate and enjoy each others’ company. There are times that we also come together to welcome new acquaintances. With the sharing of the food, which is typical of our Maranao culture, and the playing of beautiful music through our very own ‘Kulintang’, these celebrations are always meaningful because we try to make sure that everyone is enjoying and at peace with one another—that not one will feel discriminated or out of place. I will always be grateful to Chiara Lubich. Her faithfulness to her Christian faith has moved me to best Muslim I can be. She is my inspiration to sow seeds of peace and transform the places, where I am, into fragments of unity by loving God and the neighbor concretely. I know that I can never stop the “wars” in Mindanao where I come from, but nothing can stop me from hoping and believing that one day, all shall come to pass. The road to achieving peace is long and difficult, but the journey is worthwhile because I am not alone. Yes, I have to start with myself, but it must not end there. I know that there are many young people who also want peace. If we work together, we can have better and faster means of achieving our goal. Yes, we may not live to see the day…., but we must begin! (N. A. – This experience was told at “Let’s connect”, an interreligious meeting, organized from the Focolare Movement, during the Youth Festival of the WYD 2008 in Sydney)
Jul 15, 2008 | Non categorizzato
On the 7th of July 2008 Giancarlo Faletti was elected as co-president by the general Assembly, to become responsible, amongst other things, of the branches of diocesan priests and religious members of various Congregations of the Movement. Giancarlo was born in Cerro Tanaro (Asti-Italy) on the 14th of September 1940, in a family of Christian but not very practising farmers. His mother was a housewife. His father worked at the National Trains Company, and their family had to move to Turin because of his work. When he was still 10 years old he felt attracted to the idea of giving his life to God, but he felt very reliant on his family and the environment in which he lived. At 16 years of age he passed through a critical phase, seeking a meaning for his life. At 19 years of age he accidentally bought a copy of the magazine Citta Nuova (New City) at the door of his parish church. “On that wintry Sunday I felt as if I had entered a warm environment. Whilst I was reading those articles I felt there was something which bound a family together. I immediately wanted to know more”. This was when he got in touch with the Focolare. The year after, an international meeting in Grottaferrata turned out to be decisive for his life. The way for his life was clear: he wanted to give himself to God in the focolare. After he ended his studies in economics, he started to work with a bank. When he was 25 years old he started his new life in the focolare of Turin. He lived in Genoa from 1972 to 1983, where he was co-responsible of the Movement in Liguria. Here he took particular care of the youth, amongst whom fruits of sanctity soon blossomed: this year the cause of beatification has been opened for two of them, Alberto Michelotti and Carlo Grisolia. He then worked for 14 years at the Centre of the Movement in Rocca di Papa, where he was also co-responsible of the community of Castelli Romani and of a part of the Lazio region. In 1997 he received his licence in theology and was ordained a priest. In that same year he moved to Rome where he was co-responsible of the Movement for the regions of Lazio, Abruzzo and Sardinia. In 2000 Chiara Lubich, who always had a particular love for the city which is the seat of Papacy and Christianity, launched “Roma-Amor”, a great experience of new evangelization. Giancarlo Faletti was close to the founder, who followed this new initiative step by step. The objective is to help give new life to the city with the evangelic ideal of unity, at a civil and religious level, in a capillary way. Amongst the most varied initiatives one finds the ongoing dialogue the Movement has with the Islamic community of Rome, which began when members of the Movement were invited to speak about the Christian experience and the experience of inter-religious dialogue in the Mosque of Rome.
Jun 30, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Have you ever experienced a thirst for something infinite? Have you ever felt in your heart a consuming desire to embrace immensity itself?
Or perhaps, deep down, you’ve felt dissatisfied with what you do, with who you are. You’ll be happy to know that there is a formula for achieving the fullness you long for, a way of life that won’t leave you regretting how you spent your day.
One Gospel phrase in particular makes us stop and think. As we grasp something of its meaning, it fills us with joy. It captures everything we should do in life and sums up the laws that God has inscribed in the depths of every human heart.
Listen:
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets”
This is the “golden rule” that Christ brought, although it was already widely known. For example, the Hebrew Scriptures include it, and Seneca, the ancient Roman author and philosopher, also knew of it. In Asia the Chinese thinker Confucius taught it. This shows how close it is to God’s heart, how he wants all people to make it the basic rule of their lives.
The passage forms a neat turn of phrase—it sounds like a motto:
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you”
Let’s love each neighbor like this, every neighbor we meet during the day.
Let’s imagine we are in others’ circumstances and treat them as we would want to be treated if we were in their place.
The voice of God within will suggest how to express love appropriately in each situation.
Are they hungry? Let’s say to ourselves, “I am hungry,” and give them something to eat.
Are they being unjustly treated? So am I.
Are they in darkness and doubt? I am too. Let us speak words of comfort and share their suffering, not resting until they find the light and experience relief. It’s how we would want to be treated.
Do they have a disability? I want to love them to the point of almost feeling their infirmity in my own body and heart. Love will suggest a way for me to help them feel no different from others and, indeed, that they have received an added blessing, because as Christians we know the value of suffering.
And let’s continue with everyone, not drawing any distinctions between those we find pleasant and those we do not, between young and old, friend or enemy, fellow citizen or foreigner, beautiful or not. The Gospel includes everyone.
I can almost hear the murmurings, and I understand. Perhaps my words seem simplistic, but what a change they demand! How distant they are from our usual ways of thinking and acting!
Take courage; let’s try it!
A day spent like this is worth a lifetime. In the evening we won’t even recognize ourselves. A joy never felt before will fill our hearts, and we will experience new strength. God will be with us, since God stands with those who love.
Fulfilled days will follow, one after another.
From time to time, we may slow down, be tempted to get discouraged or want to stop. We may want to go back to the way we lived before….
Instead no! Take courage! God’s grace is there for us.
Let’s always begin again.
By persevering, we will see the world around us slowly change.
We will understand that the Gospel makes life more interesting. It lights up the world, gives flavor to our existence and contains a principle for resolving all our problems.
We will not be satisfied until we have communicated our extraordinary experience to others; to those friends we feel will understand, to our relatives, to anyone with whom we feel the urge to share it.
Hope will be born yet again.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”
Chiara Lubich
Jun 22, 2008 | Non categorizzato
![Last farewell to W.D. Mohammed, the Imam of peace]()
Jun 19, 2008 | Non categorizzato
The words of Jesus! They must have been his greatest art. The Word that speaks in human words: what content, what intensity, what an accent, what a voice! We will hear it once again in Paradise. He will speak to us. The Word of God is unlike any other. It has the power to accomplish what it says. It generates Jesus in our soul and the souls of others. The Word must become action and guide our lives. In this way it appears attractive. You only need to know a few letters and a few rules of grammar in order to read and write, but if you do not know them you remain illiterate all your life. In the same way, whoever does not assimilate one by one the words of the Gospel, does not know how to write Christ with his or her life. To form Jesus in us, only a few sentences are necessary. We have no other book besides the Gospel, we have no other science, or art. There is Life! Whoever finds it does not die. Chiara Lubich
Jun 3, 2008 | Non categorizzato
May 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
When you love someone, you want to stay with them always. This is also God’s desire, God who is Love. He created us so that we would be able to meet him, and we will only have the fullness of joy when we reach intimate union with him, for he is the only one who can satisfy our hearts. He came down from heaven to be with us and lead us into communion with him.
John, in his letter, speaks about remaining or dwelling within each other, God in us and we in him, reminding us of that compelling appeal made by Jesus at the last supper, “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” And with the parable of the vine and the branches, he explained how strong and vital the link is that unites us to him (see Jn 15:1-5).
But how can we reach union with God?
John does not hesitate: we just have to observe his commandments:
“Those who keep [God’s] commandments remain in him, and he in them.”
Are there many commandments that must be followed in order to reach this unity?
No, because Jesus condensed them all into one. Just before stating the Word of Life that has been chosen for this month, John reminds us, “And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us” (1 Jn 3:23).
Believing in Jesus and loving one another as he loved us: these are the only precepts.
If human existence finds its fulfillment in God’s living among us, there is only one way to be fully ourselves: by loving! John is so convinced of this that he keeps repeating it throughout the letter: “whoever remains in love remains in God, and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16); “if we love one another, God remains in us” (1 Jn 4:12).
Tradition holds that when John was very old, he was asked about the Lord’s teachings and he always repeated the words of the new commandment. If they asked him why he didn’t speak about anything else, he would answer, “Because it is the commandment of the Lord! If we put it into practice, that is enough.”
That’s how it is with every Word of Life: without fail they all lead us to love. It can’t be otherwise because God is Love, and each of his words contains love, expresses love and, if put into practice, transforms us into love.
“Those who keep [God’s] commandments remain in him, and he in them.”
This month’s Word of Life invites us to believe in Jesus and adhere with all our being to his person and teachings. It invites us to believe that he is the love of God—as John teaches us again in this letter—and that for love he gave his life for us (see 1 Jn 3:16). It invites us to believe even when he seems far away, when we don’t feel his presence, when difficulties arise or suffering comes.
Strengthened by this faith, we’ll know how to live by his example and obey his commandment to love each other as he loved us.
We’ll know how to love even when someone no longer seems lovable, even when we have the impression that our love is inadequate, useless, not returned. By loving this way, we’ll revive all our relationships, making them ever more sincere, ever deeper, and our unity will attract God’s presence among us.
“Those who keep [God’s] commandments remain in him, and he in them.”
Here’s one couple’s experience: “We were really in love, my husband and I. Everything was fine during the first years of our marriage. Lately, however, he has been very tired and stressed out. Here in Japan, the responsibility to work weighs down on a man’s shoulders like a ton of bricks.
“After coming home from work one evening, he sat down at the table for supper. I was about to sit down next to him when he shouted at me to go away, ‘You don’t have the right to eat because you don’t work!’
“That whole night I cried and thought about leaving and splitting up. The next day thousands of thoughts continued to nag at me: ‘I made a mistake in marrying him. I can’t live with him anymore.’
“In the afternoon I spoke with my friends, those with whom I share the desire to live an authentic Christian life. They listened with much love. From this communion with them I found the strength and courage I needed to start over.
“I went home to prepare once again my husband’s supper. As the hour of his return from work drew closer, however, my fear returned and grew stronger. ‘How was he going to react tonight?’ But a voice inside of me was saying, ‘Don’t give up. Welcome this suffering. Continue to love.’
“Just then he appeared at the door. He held out a cake he bought for me. ‘I’m sorry for what happened yesterday,’ he said.”
Chiara Lubich
Apr 30, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”
The risen Jesus, the Lord, continues today, as in Paul’s time, to act in history through his Spirit, especially in the Christian community. He enables us, too, to understand the Gospel in all its newness, and he writes it on our hearts so that it becomes our law of life. We are not guided by laws imposed on us from the outside; we are not slaves forced to obey regulations that we find unconvincing or that we do not share. A Christian is moved by a principle of interior life that the Spirit has placed within through baptism, and by the Spirit’s voice repeating the words of Jesus, making them understood in all their beauty─expressions of life and joy. The Spirit makes these words timely, teaches us how to live them, and infuses within us the strength to put them into practice. It is the Lord himself who, thanks to the Holy Spirit, comes to live and act in us, making us a living Gospel. To be guided by the Lord, by his Spirit, by his word─this is true freedom! It coincides with the fulfillment of what is most profound in our being.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”
But we know that for the Holy Spirit to act, we must be completely ready to listen, change our way of seeing things if necessary, and then adhere fully to what the Spirit’s voice suggests. It is easy to allow ourselves to become slaves to pressures from fixed customs and social mores that can lead us to make wrong choices. In order to live the Word of Life this month, we need to learn to say a decisive “No!” to those negative things that surface in our hearts each time we are tempted to settle for ways of acting that are not in line with the Gospel. And we need to learn to say “Yes!” to God with conviction each time we feel he is calling us to live in truth and in love. We will discover the connection between the cross and the Spirit as cause and effect. Each cut, each pruning, each “No!” to our selfishness is a source of new light, peace, joy, love, inner freedom, self-fulfillment. It is an open door to the Spirit. During this time of Pentecost, he will be able to bestow his gifts more abundantly: he will guide us, and we will be recognized as true sons and daughters of God. We will become ever more free from evil, ever more free to love.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”
It was precisely this freedom that a U.N. officer found during his last assignment in one of the Balkan states. The missions entrusted to him were rewarding, although extremely demanding. One great difficulty, however, was that he had to be away from his family for prolonged periods. Also, when he returned home, he found it hard to leave the burdens of his work at the door and devote himself, free of worries, to his children and wife. Suddenly he was told that he would be transferred to another city in the same region. Bringing his family with him to that city was unthinkable because, in spite of recently signed peace agreements, hostilities continued. He wondered what to do. What was more important, his career or family? He spoke at length about it with his wife, with whom he had been sharing an intense Christian life for a long time. They asked for light from the Holy Spirit, and together they attempted to understand God’s will for their family. Finally, they came to a decision: to leave his job, a highly sought-after position. It was a most unusual decision in that professional environment. “The strength to make this choice,” he said, “came from love; love on the part of my wife, who never made me feel the burden of the hardships I had brought on her. As for me, I had sought the good of the family, beyond economic security and career interests, and I found inner freedom.” Chiara Lubich
Apr 10, 2008 | Non categorizzato
This is the final spiritual reflection, prepared for the Movement by Chiara from her hospital bed at the Gemelli hospital shortly before she “departed”, and released recently: “I would like this time to underline the value of relationships, relationships among us. At the beginning in Trento, our relationship with God and with our brothers was changed by Living the Word. In this way what we called a “Christian community” came to life. Let us not forget these beginnings. Let us build our Opera (Movement) on this foundation.” Here is part of the first commentary on the Word of Life, still very relevant, from over 50 years ago. We can take it as a commentary on the reflection above, to explore it more deeply and translate it into life. “The words of the Gospel may seem simple, But what a change they require! How far they are from our usual way of thinking and acting! Take courage! Let’s try. A day spent like this is worth a whole life. In the evening we will not recognise each other. A joy never experienced before will invade us. A strength will come to us. God will be with us, because he is with those who love. One after another, the days will be full. We will slow down at times, be tempted to discouragement, to stop. And we will want to return to our old life… But no! Take courage! God gives us the grace. Let’s always start again Persevering, we will see the world around us gradually change. We will see that the Gospel makes life more fascinating, brings light to the world, gives flavour to our existence, and contains the principle for solving every problem. And we will have no peace, until we have shared our extraordinary experience with others: to friends who understand us, to our relatives, to whoever we feel inspired to give it. Hope will be born again.”
Apr 9, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
The application form in front of me, for a teaching job, reminds me that my student days are over. I have to choose a destination, and the box is staring at me. Should I stay in my Southern town, or go somewhere else? I am in front of a real life choice. Many of my companions choose the North, where there are more opportunities, and they can get away from the things that so often come up in the papers: illegality, irregularity, and criminality. But so many things link me to my town! Not just my family, my feelings, my friends, my interests, but also the hope of doing something, of going against the current, in spite of my limits. The challenge that Chiara gave to young people came to mind: “to die for your own people…”. The idea of staying, with the risk of less work opportunities, in “difficult schools”, is growing, rather recklessly, inside. I speak about it at home, with my girlfriend, with my companions. It is evening and the form has to be sent in the morning. The choice is made: I’m staying. I think, “What can I do in this quarter, an area affected by the Camorra, where people are shot and killed? I can love! May God help me.” I select some “frontier” schools as well as “élite” ones. God will help me understand where he wants me. A few months later, I am given a year’s work. It is amazing, I enter my school career through the main door, with the best contract! On the first morning the lessons are suspended, because of vandalism the previous night. I understand straight away that God has taken me at my word. The moment of trial has arrived. It is a very special situation and the social unease can be felt. The days go by, some with difficult moments where nothing seems to work, and others where the children’s faces light up, and they come to me, because they want to improve and have a better future. I hold on to this hope, and my pain has a meaning. I don’t know whether I can keep it up, because it is hard to confront bullies, to gain respect, and to speak about mathematics in these situations. But I know that moment by moment I can try to bring God into the classrooms. I can bring him through reprimands, through marking, through conversation, through discussions, through explanations, through silence, through ticks on the register. If he wanted me here, there’s a reason. (P.D. – ITALY)
Apr 2, 2008 | Senza categoria
Apr 1, 2008 | Non categorizzato
The 2008 congress of Sportmeet, “Sport in–credibile – Set fraternity in motion”, from March 28-30 in Rome, presented sport as both credible and beautiful, far from the threat of violence, racism, doping, and over-commercialisation.
The challenge of fraternity in sport, and through sport, was issued by 420 sports enthusiasts from 38 countries from all five continents, through important life experiences, reports from international experts, round tables, workshops, and sports and games.
Among the many testimonies from sportsmen and women at all levels were those of Josefa Idem, Olympic canoeing gold medallist 2000, Ippolito Sanfratello gold medallist in Turin in 2006 in speed skating, Marco Pinotti, pink jersey in the “Giro d’Italia 2007”, Karl Unterkircher, high-altitude (8000m) climber, Nicolo’ Corradini orienteering world champion ‘94 ‘96 and 2000, and Hungarian Petra Treveli who finished third in the 2007 Milan Marathon.
Alongside them were people involved in the promotion of socially oriented sports projects in developing countries (Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Philippines…), and animators of anti-Mafia and anti-Camorra peace education projects in Sicily and Campania.
Teachers and students from 17 universities around the world, testified their commitment online at Sportmeet to develop and spread a new sporting culture, oriented to fraternity.
Mar 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
“The spirit from on high is poured out on us. Then will the desert become an orchard and the orchard be regarded as a forest.” Thus begins the section from which this month’s Word of Life is taken. In the second half of the 8th century B.C., the prophet Isaiah announces a future of hope for humanity, almost a new creation, a new garden or “orchard” inhabited by right and justice, which can produce peace and security.
This new era of peace (shalom) will be the work of the divine Spirit, a life force capable of renewing creation, and it will come about by respecting the pact between God and his people and among the people themselves, since communion with God and communion among people are inseparable.
“Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security.”
The words of Isaiah recall the need for serious and responsible commitment in following the shared norms of civil society, the norms that limit selfish individualism and blind judgment and favor harmonious coexistence and diligent works aimed at the common good.
Will it be possible to live according to justice and practice what is right? Yes, on the condition that we recognize all other people as brothers and sisters and see humanity as one family, in the spirit of universal brotherhood.
And how can we see it this way without the presence of a Father of all? He has already inscribed universal brotherhood, so to speak, in the DNA of each person. What a father wants most, in fact, is for his children to treat each other as brothers and sisters, that they choose what is best for each other, that they love each other.
This is why the model Son of the Father, brother of each of us, came on earth and left us the norm for social living: mutual love. And one expression of love is to respect the rules of living together and carry out one’s duties.
Love is the ultimate norm for every action. Love is what animates true justice and brings peace. Nations need laws that are increasingly suited to the needs of social and international life, but above all, they need men and women who order their own personal lives based on the rule of love. This order is justice, and only in this order do laws have value.
“Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security.”
How will we live the Word of Life this month? By devoting ourselves even more to our professional obligations with regard for ethics, honesty, legality.
We live it also by recognizing others as people who belong to the same family we belong to and who expect our attention, respect and close solidarity.
If you put mutual and constant love before everything else in your relationships with others, making it the foundation of your life and the fullest expression of your love for God, then your justice will truly be pleasing to God.
“Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security.”
A policeman in southern Italy decided to move with his family into one of the districts recently set aside for the most needy people in his city, wishing to share the lot of them. The roads were not yet paved; there were no street lights, running water or sewers, not to mention social services or public transportation.
He explained what they did. “We tried to create a relationship with each family and individual in the district. We tried to get to know one another and start a dialogue, in an effort to mend the divide between the citizens and the public administration. Through a committee expressly created for this purpose, the inhabitants of the district—about 3,000 of them—gradually became active advocates with the public institutions.
“We were able to obtain public funds from the regional administration for reorganizing that district. It has now become a pilot area that has given birth to formation programs for representatives of all the committees in other parts of the city.”
Chiara Lubich
Mar 18, 2008 | Non categorizzato
To Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone Secretary of State «I am spiritually participating in the solemn liturgy with which the Christian community accompanies Chiara Lubich in her departure from this earth to enter into the wound of our Heavenly Father. I renew with affection my condolences to the directors and to all the members of the Work of Mary, to the Focolare Movement, and to all those who have collaborated with this generous witness to Christ, who totally gave of herself for the spreading of the evangelical message into every expression of contemporary society, always remaining open to the “signs of the times.” There are many reasons for thanking the Lord for the gift given to the Church of this woman of intrepid faith, humble messenger of hope and peace, founder of a vast spiritual family that embraces many fields of evangelization. I would like to above all thank God for the service that Chiara has rendered to the Church: a both silent and incisive service, always in harmony with the teaching of the Church. “The popes,” she commented, “have always understood us.” This is because Chiara and the Work of Mary have always tried to respond with gentle faithfulness to every request and desire. The uninterrupted bond between my venerable predecessors – Servant of God Pius XII, Blessed John XXIII, Servant of God Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II – give a concrete witness to this fact. The thought of the Pope was her source of direction and guidance. Moreover, looking at the iniatives that she gave rise to, one could affirm that she had an almost prophetic capacity to intuit and anticipate the thought of the Pope in her actions. Her legacyy now passes onto her spiritual family: the Virgin Mary, a constant model and reference point for Chiara, help each focolarino and focolarina to continue along the same path, contributing to make the Church, as our beloved John Paul II wrote on the eve of the Great Jubilee Year of 2000, always more home and school of communion. God of hope welcome the soul of our sister; comfort and sustain the commitment of those who have embraced her spiritual testament. For this, I assure you of a special remembrance in my prayers and send to all those present at the sacred rite my Apostolic Blessing». Vatican, March 18, 2008
Mar 17, 2008 | Non categorizzato
Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Authorities, Dear members of the Focolare Movement, Dear brothers and sisters, The first reading encouraged us to meditate again on the well-known verse from the book of Job. The just man, harshly tested, proclaims, in fact, almost cries out: “I know that my Redeemer lives…Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him” (Job 19: 25, 27). While we pay our last respects to Chiara Lubich, the words of the saintly Job evoke in us the memory of the burning desire to encounter Christ that marked her whole life, and even more intensely during her last months and days in which she was tested with the worsening of her condition that stripped her of all physical energy, in a gradual ascent to Calvary, culminating in the sweet return to the bosom of the Father. Chiara travelled the final leg of her earthly pilgrimage accompanied by the prayers and affection of her people who gathered around her in a wide and uninterrupted embrace. In the heart of the night, weak but decided was her final “yes” to the mystical spouse of her soul, Jesus “forsaken and risen.” Now everything has been truly completed: the dream of the beginning has become a reality, the passionate desire has been quenched. Chiara is meeting the One she loved without seeing and, filled with joy, she can exclaim: “Yes, my Redeemer lives!” The news of her death gave rise to a huge wave of condolences from every sphere, from thousands of men and women worldwide, believers and non-believers, the powerful and poor of the earth. Benedict XVI, who immediately sent his comforting blessing, is now through me renewing the assurance of his participation in the great suffering of her spiritual family. Exponents of other Christian Churches and different religions joined their voices to the choir of deep esteem and profound participation. Also the mass media highlighted the work she did to spread Gospel love among people of different cultures, faiths and formations. In effect – we could well say – Chiara Lubich’s life has been a song to the love of God, a God who is Love. “Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16). How many times Chiara meditated on these words and how many times she mentioned them in her writings; for example, in the “Words of Life” which hundreds of thousands of people draw from for their spiritual growth! There is no other way to know God and to give meaning and value to human existence. Only Love, divine Love makes us capable of “generating” love, to love even our enemies. This is the novelty of Christianity, and herein lies the entire Gospel. But how should we live Love? After the Last Supper, in his moving farewell to the apostles – we just heard it – Jesus prayed “so that all may be one.” Christ’s prayer therefore supports his friends’ journey in every age. It is his Spirit that brings to life living witnesses of the Gospel in the Church; and it is still him, the living God, to guide us in our times of sadness and doubt, of difficulty and suffering. Whoever trusts in him fears nothing, neither the effort of going through stormy seas, nor every type of obstacle or adversity. Whoever builds his house on Christ, builds on the rock of Love which supports all, overcomes all and conquers all. The XX century is constellated with the bright lights of this divine love. It should not only be remembered for the wonderful conquests made in the technical and scientific fields and for its economic progress, which however has not eliminated but at times exacerbated the unjust distribution of resources and goods among peoples; it will not remain in history only for the efforts made to build peace, which however have not deterred horrendous crimes against humanity and conflicts and wars that have bloodied vast regions of the globe. The last century, though filled with many contradictions, is the century in which God gave life to countless heroic men and women who, while caring for the wounds of the sick and suffering and sharing in the lot of the young, the poor and the least, distributed the bread of charity that heals hearts, opens minds to the truth, rebuilds trust and gives renewed thrust to lives that have been broken by violence, injustice, and sin. Some of these pioneers of charity have already been recognized as saints and blessed by the Church: Fr. Guanella, Fr. Orione, Fr. Calabria, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and still others. It was also the century where new ecclesial Movements came to life, and Chiara Lubich found her place in this constellation with a charism that is all hers and that is distinguished for its physiognomy and apostolic action. The foundress of the Focolare Movement, with a silent and humble style, did not create institutions at the service of humanity, but she dedicated herself to lighting the fire of the love of God in human hearts. She gave life to people who would themselves be love, who live the charism of unity and communion with God and neighbour; people who spread “love that is unity,” making of themselves, their homes, their work a “focolare” [hearth] where the burning fire becomes contagious and enflames all that surrounds it. This mission is possible for everyone because the Gospel is within everyone’s reach: Bishops and priests, children, youth and adults, consecrated and lay people, couples, families and communities, all called to live the ideal of unity: “That all may be one!” In the last interview that she gave, which came out in the very days of her agony, Chiara stated that “the wonder of mutual love is the life source of the Mystical Body of Christ.” The Focolare Movement is therefore committed to live the Gospel to the letter, “the most powerful and effective social revolution,” and from it were born the “New Families” and “New Humanity” movements, the Città Nuova Publishing House, the little town of Loppiano and other towns of witness in the different continents, and lay branches such as the “Volunteers of God.” In the climate of renewal brought about by the pontificate of blessed John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, it found fertile ground for its courageous ecumenical scope and its quest to dialogue with other faiths. During the years of the youth protests, the GEN movement catalyzed thousands and thousands of youth, fascinating them with the ideal of Gospel-based love, expanding its concrete reach with “Youth for a United World.” Chiara proposed the Gospel with no half measures also to children, to teenagers for whom the “Young for Unity” movement was founded. In Brazil, in order to meet the needs of the many who lived in poverty on the outskirts of cities, she launched the project for an “economy of communion in freedom,” giving rise to a new economic theory and praxis based on fraternity, for a sustainable development in favour of all. May the Lord grant that many scholars and economic experts take on the economy of communion as a viable resource to shape a new shared world order! And still, how many other meetings with representatives from different faiths, with political and cultural exponents! Mariapolis, city of Mary: this is how she wished to call the gatherings and the proposals for a society renewed by Gospel love. Why city of Mary? Because for Chiara the Virgin Mary “is the precious key for entering into the Gospel.” And perhaps, precisely for this reason, she was able to highlight in an effective and constructive way the “Marian profile” in the Church. She decided to entrust her Work to Mary, by giving it her name: the Work of Mary. The Movement, Chiara stated, “will remain on earth as another Mary: all Gospel, nothing other than the Gospel and, because it is the Gospel, it will not die.” And how can we not imagine that it was the Holy Virgin herself to accompany Chiara to the threshold of eternity? Dear brothers and sisters, let us continue our Eucharistic celebration by placing our thank you to the Lord on the altar for the witness given to us by this sister in Christ, for her prophetic intuitions which preceded and prepared the great changes in history and the extraordinary events lived by the Church in the XX century. Our thanks is joined to Chiara’s thank you. Considering the many gifts and graces she received, Chiara used to say that when she would be face to face with God, and the Lord would ask her name, she would simply respond: “My name is THANK YOU. Thank you, Lord, for everything and for ever.” It is now up to us, especially her spiritual children, to carry on the work of the mission which she began. From Heaven, where we like to think she is being welcomed by Jesus her spouse, she will continue to journey with us and to help us out. Today, while we say good-bye to her with affection, let us listen to her very words that she often loved to repeat: “I would like the Work of Mary, at the end of time, compact, while it awaits to appear before Jesus forsaken and risen, to be able to repeat – making its own the words that always move me by the Belgian theologian Jacques Leclercq: “… On your day, my God, I will come to You… I will come to You, my God … with my wildest dream: with the world in my arms.” This was Chiara’s dream, may it also be our unceasing desire: “Father, may they all be one, so that the world may believe.” Amen!
Mar 17, 2008 | Non categorizzato
I learned with deep emotion the news of Chiara’s death which has crowned a long and fruitful life. Chiara’s life has been marked by her tireless love for Jesus Forsaken.” This is the beginning of the telegram by Pope Benedict XVI which reached us this morning. “In this hour of painful detachment”, the Holy Father assures us his spiritual closeness “with affection”, “to her relatives and to whole Work of Mary – Focolare Movement founded by her.” He is also close “to all those who appreciated the Movement’s commitment to constant communion in the Church, in the ecumenical dialogue and in the brotherhood among all peoples.” The Pope thanked the Lord “for the witness of her life which has answered the yearnings of contemporary society in full fidelity to the Church and the Pope”. Benedict XVI expressed the hope that “those who have known and met her, admiring the wonders that God has done through her missionary zeal, will follow in her footsteps maintaining alive her charisma.” The Pope concludes by invoking “the maternal intercession of Mary” and giving his apostolic blessing to “all.” The last farewell to Chiara Lubich will take place on Tuesday 18th March at 3:00 pm in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The ceremony will be presided by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. It will be broadcast live via Internet and satellite. Throughout the whole morning there has been a constant flow of visitors to her home. The funeral parlour will be set up this afternoon at 4:00 pm and will continue up to Tuesday at 11am. It is located at the International Centre of the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa (via Frascati 306). She will be buried in the Chapel of the same International Centre of the Movement in Rocca di Papa. The Mayor of Trent Alberto Pacher has declared today a day of city mourning.
![Last farewell to W.D. Mohammed, the Imam of peace]()
Mar 15, 2008 | Non categorizzato
In a very intense, serene and prayerful atmosphere, thousands of people of all ages continue to pay homage to Chiara Lubich. The funeral parlour is set up in the meeting hall of the Focolare International Centre at Rocca di Papa. Chiara lies in the middle of the hall surrounded by many flowers. Behind her, there is an icon of Mary with the child Jesus, which had been donated to her by Pope John Paul II.
Among the visiting dignitaries, there was Professor Salvatore Valente, Head of the Pneumology Department, who took care of Chiara in the last 30-40 days of her life at the Gemelli Hospital. He said: “During this period, Chiara has endured and borne all sufferings with serenity and cooperative attitude that was really moving. Usually, suffering is for many people just a painful burden. Instead, for her it was different: she maintained all the while a serene gaze that struck me very much, right up till the moment of her passing away.”
Cardinal. Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity came to Rocca di Papa: “I have had several meetings with Chiara: the latest one was during the Christmas festivities. However, every meeting with her has been an event in my life that has left a very deep impression. Her enthusiasm for the things of God has been contagious to every person she came in contact with.” The cardinal wrote a message to her spiritual children: “carry on the flame of her charisma with great courage: it is an event in the Church, which is not about to finish, rather, it has just begun.” The Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council, Guzmán Carriquiry, has also paid a visit to her personally.
Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio expressed with the following words both, his personal impression as well as the one of his community: “Chiara has taught me the dignity of the charisma, its value, which is the most precious thing we have” and added “Chiara belongs to everyone: she belongs to the Church and to the faithful of other Religions. Chiara belongs to the world, because she belongs to Jesus. Now that she is silent we must learn to listen to her more closely and we can do this only if we are united among ourselves.”
Salvatore Martinez, national coordinator of the Renewal in the Spirit said: “Chiara’s legacy is a legacy of love. This love is marked by a spiritual motherhood to which all of us lay people are grateful.” He dwelt further on Chiara’s testimony “who did not hesitate in front of secularization and of cultural, ideological and religious challenges of today’s society.”
Brother Alois, Prior of the Community of Taizé, successor of Frer Roger, together with two brothers also paused in prayer before Chiara. “At Taizé – Fr. Alois said – we give thanks to God for Chiara’s life. She has been a light for us and this light will remain among us.” He recalled “the great esteem and the great love that Fr. Roger had for Chiara.”
In the meantime messages from political and religious dignitaries keep on coming from all over the world:
The President of Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano defines Chiara Lubich as “one of the most representative figures in the inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. She has been a powerful and clear voice in the contemporary debate. She succeeded to found – he wrote – one of the most widely spread Movements in the world, capable of confronting with an open spirit the secular world on the basis of the supremacy of human ideals of solidarity, justice and peace among peoples and nations.”
The telegram signed by the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Bagnasco and Secretary General, Msgr. Betori, speaks of Chiara’s experience as “an experience of communion which has enriched the life of the Church in Italy and in the world.” It also recalls “with gratitude her testimony’s particular strength that proposes a journey of faith founded on the principle of unity. This unity has been a source of life itineraries marked by the fullness of joy in the Church and in the world.”
Many are the testimonies coming from the founders and presidents of Movements with whom Chiara had been invited by John Paul II in 1998 to foster a spiritual communion among themselves. We would mention just two:
The community of Fr. Benzi in the words of his successor, Paul Ramonda, expresses gratitude “for the love to other movements, associations and new communities of which Chiara was a tireless leader in communion.”
Fr. Julian Carron, Fr. Giussani’s successor as head of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, in a letter “recalls the long years of friendship with Don Giussani.” He speaks of her charisma “born to give life to the Christian event as a light that gives hope.”
Mar 14, 2008 | Non categorizzato
“May they all be one” If you have had the adventure of travelling to the Holy Land in springtime, among the thousands of things that Jerusalem offers for your contemplation and meditation, there is one that strikes you in a unique way because of what it recalls in its utter simplicity. Having endured in time and cleansed by the inclement weather of two thousand years, a long stone stairway, dotted with bright red poppies – red like the blood of the Passion – unfolds almost like a crinkled ribbon, descending down limpid and solemn towards the Kidron Valley. Bare and in the open, with grass growing along its edges, one has the impression that no temple dome could replace the heavens that crown it. Jesus descended those steps – tradition recounts – on that last night, after the last supper, and “raising his eyes to heaven” filled with stars, he prayed: “Father, the hour has come….”. It is moving to place your feet where the feet of a God once stepped; your whole soul is mirrored in your eyes as you gaze on the heavenly vault looked upon by the eyes of a God. And you may be so struck that this meditation nails you in adoration. His was a unique prayer before dying. And the more God, this “Son of man” whom you adore, shines forth, the more you feel that he is man and you fall in love with him. His is a discourse which only the Father fully understood, and yet he prayed aloud, perhaps so that such a melodious echo would ring out to us. 1943. We do not know why, but it is certain that the first focolarine, gathered together in search of the love of God, read that passage almost every evening by the light of a candle – because often there was no electricity. It was the magna charta of a Christian. Those words, unfamiliar to them, shone forth like the sun in the night: the night of a time of war. For three years Jesus had often spoken to the throngs: he had pronounced Heavenly words, sowed among the hard-headed, announced a program of peace, but had offered his divine patrimony almost adapting it to the minds of his followers, and his parables bear witness to this. But now that he is not speaking to the earth, and his voice is directed to the Father, he no longer seems to hold back his ardour. That Man, who is God, is splendid as he pours out – like a flowing fountain of Eternal Life – Water that engulfs the soul of a Christian lost in him, in the boundless seas of the blessed Trinity. And that farewell discourse appeared to be beautiful like him: To be one as Jesus is one with the Father: but what did it mean? We didn’t understand very much, but we understood that it had to be something great. This is why one day we gathered around an altar, united in the name of Jesus, and we asked him to teach us to live this truth. He knew what it meant and he alone could disclose the secret to accomplishing it. “But now I am coming to you… so that they may share my joy completely.” Hadn’t we experienced a new joy in that brief experience of unity that we had lived? Was Jesus speaking perhaps of that? It is certain that a Christian must be clothed with joy, and Someone within us made us understand that for those who follow Christ, joy is a duty, because God loves a cheerful giver. “I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.” This life – at least for us – was fascinating and new: to live in the world, which everyone knows is in antithesis to God, and to live there for God in a heavenly adventure…. “Consecrate them in the truth. I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one.” What kind of Christianity had we lived before, if we had passed each other with indifference, if not with contempt and judgement, when our destiny was to be fused in that unity invoked by Christ? With these words, it seemed to us that Jesus was throwing down a rope to us from heaven to tie us dispersed members in unity – through him – with the Father, and in unity among us. And the mystical Body was revealed to us in all of its reality, truth and beauty. “As you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us.” As Jesus is one with the Father, so each one of us would have had to be one with Jesus and, consequently, one with the others: it was a way of living we had barely thought of before: a way of living “according to the Trinity”…. “So that the world may believe that you sent me.” The conversion of the world around us would have come as the consequence of our unity. This perhaps explains why, from the very dawning of the Movement, many people returned to God without our trying to convert them, but only by trying to keep unity among us and to love them in Christ. “I have given them the glory you gave me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me….” People would have believed in Christ if we were perfect in unity. Therefore, we had to perfect ourselves in this life. We would have to put aside everything for unity. 1943 was also the year of the Mystici Corporis: Christ in Pope Pius XII echoed His Testament. Could it be that Jesus, who lives in his Head and in his Body, urged us also to emphasize the need for unity and to give this gift to many? Unity, unity, all one! In times in which the fundamental idea of Christ was becoming deformed and depleted into the cornerstone of the atheist revolution, God wished perhaps to underline it for us in the Gospel. We do not know. We know only that the Focolare Movement had that unmistakable stamp and that nothing has more value for us than unity: – because it is the subject of the Testament of the One we want to love above all things; – because from the experience lived so far, it is very rich and very fruitful for the Kingdom of God, for his Church. “I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.” After saying these things Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley…. Published by “Città Nuova”, 15 December 1959
Mar 13, 2008 | Non categorizzato
Today, 14 March 2008, at 2 o’clock, Chiara Lubich at 88 years of age, has concluded her earthly journey in a serene and sacred atmosphere. She passed away in her home at Rocca di Papa (Rome), where she had returned after having been discharged from the Gemelli hospital the night before. This had been her desire during the last days of hospitalization. All day long, in the concluding hours of her life, hundreds of people – relatives, close collaborators and her spiritual sons and daughters – paid their last farewell in her room, and then stopped for a moment of meditation in the adjacent chapel. It was a constant and spontaneous prayerful procession. Afterwards, they lingered on around her house in recollection. Some of these people Chiara was able to recognize despite her extreme weakness. There is now an incoming flow of messages from all over the world expressing participation and sharing on behalf of religious, political, academic and civil leaders. These messages of love and unity are coming especially from her many spiritual children present in all continents.
Mar 12, 2008 | Non categorizzato
For a few days already, Chiara Lubich had expressed her desire to “return home”. This decision was taken yesterday evening. She has returned to her home at Rocca di Papa after being discharged from the Gemelli Hospital where she had developed serious respiratory problems. Professor Salvatore Valente, Head of the Pneumology Department of the University Hospital has declared: “In accordance with Chiara’s expressed desire, she has been discharged home.” He assures: “She will continue receiving all the necessary medication including the respiratory support. Unfortunately – he adds – her present condition shows no response to the treatment.” Up until yesterday afternoon, Chiara was able to be informed by her personal secretary, Eli Folonari, on all her incoming correspondence. This morning, Chiara wanted to greet the focolarine and focolarini who had started the Movement with her. She continues to inspire great serenity. Two days ago, she confided that she felt Mary’s spiritual presence near her. Chiara has lived all her life in profound communion with Mary. The Opera which she has founded is in fact called Work (Opera) of Mary, the name by which the Focolare Movement has been approved by the Church. These last few days have been characterized by an intense unity and constant prayer throughout the Movement spread all over the world. Andrea Riccardi and Salvatore Martinez have assured of their respective prayers from the St. Egidio’s Community and the Renewal in the Spirit.
Feb 28, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
These wonderful words of Jesus can be repeated, in a sense, by every Christian and, if put into practice, they are capable of leading him or her far ahead in the Holy Journey of life.
Jesus, seated at Jacob’s well in Samaria, was concluding his conversation with the Samaritan woman. The disciples, having returned from the near-by city where they had gone for supplies, were surprised to find the Master speaking with a woman, but none of them asked him why. When the Samaritan woman left, they urged him to eat. Jesus intuited their thoughts and explained the reason behind his actions: “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
The disciples didn’t understand: they were thinking of material food and they asked one another if someone had brought food to the Master during their absence. So then Jesus said openly:
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.”
We need food every day to keep us alive. Jesus does not deny this. In fact, he is speaking here of food, something natural and necessary, but he does so in order to affirm the existence and need for another kind of food, a food that is more important and that he cannot do without.
Jesus came down from heaven in order “to do the will of the one who sent [him] and to finish his work.” He did not have thoughts or an agenda of his own, but only those of his Father. The words he spoke and works he did were those of the Father; he didn’t do his own will but that “of the one who sent” him. This was the life of Jesus. Doing this satisfied his hunger; doing this nourished him.
Complete adherence to the Father’s will was characteristic of his whole life, right up to his death on the cross, where he truly finished the work that the Father had entrusted to him.
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.”
Jesus considered doing the will of the Father as his food, because by carrying it out, “assimilating it,” “eating it,” identifying with it, he received Life.
And what was the will of the Father, his work, that Jesus had to finish?
It was to give salvation to all people, to give them the Life that does not die.
Shortly before, Jesus had communicated a seed of this Life to the Samaritan woman through his conversation with her and through his love. In fact, the disciples soon saw this Life spring forth and go out to others because the richness the Samaritan woman had discovered and received she communicated to other Samaritans: “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” (Jn 4:29).
In speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus revealed the plan of God who is Father: that all people receive the gift of his life. This is the work that Jesus urgently wanted to finish, in order to entrust it then to his disciples, to the Church.
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.”
Can we also live this sentence of the Gospel which is so typical of Jesus that it reflects his being, his mission, his zeal in an altogether special way?
Certainly! We also will have to live out our being sons and daughters of the Father through the Life that Christ shared with us, and in this way nourish our lives by doing his will.
We can do so by carrying out moment by moment what he wants from us, accomplishing it in a perfect way, as if we had nothing else to do. In fact, God wants nothing else.
Let us feed on what God wants from us moment after moment and we will experience that it satisfies us: it gives us peace, joy, happiness, it gives us—it’s no exaggeration to say—a foretaste of heaven.
In this way, even we can cooperate with Jesus, day by day, in finishing the work of the Father.
It will be the best way to live Easter.
Chiara Lubich
Feb 28, 2008 | Non categorizzato
The gospel message can become a “transforming and humanizing force in crisis situations”. This was the witness of Bishops at the world-wide meeting at the Centro Mariapoli, Rocca di Papa, from Sunday February 24 until Friday February 29. Around 90 bishops and cardinals from 42 different countries took part in the thirty second international meeting of Bishops, Friends of the Focolare Movement, which had as its theme, “The Word is alive: people, environments and structures are transformed”. Last Wednesday, a widely representative group of Bishops spoke at a press conference at the headquarters of the Italian Press Association. In the words of Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, Archbishop of Florence, “we have seen in the many testimonies how the Word renews family life, young people, parishes, with a deep renewal in communion.” “We have been strengthened in our conviction that the witness of the Word of God, listened to, lived and incarnated in life, and the sharing of experiences based on the Word, is a very important method of evangelisation today.” “People do not want merely to hear about Jesus, they want to see him”, as John Paul II wrote in Novo Millennio Ineunte, “and the movements, in a way, enable people to see him, to come into contact with the presence of the Lord, and the power of his Word that creates new life”. The contribution of Mons Alberto Taveira Correa, Archbishop of Palmas (Brazil) emphasised the importance of dialogue and the sects, stressing that this, “requires a dual commitment: to form individual Christians in the life of the Gospel, and to build relationships with the people who belong to these groups, trying to start a dialogue”. The emeritus bishop of Bamenda (Cameroon), Mons Paul Verzekov, witnessed to the commitment of the Church in difficult reconciliation processes, where “in four countries (Togo, Benin, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo), at the request of the people, and with the approval of the Holy See, the national commissions for mediation and reconciliation are presided over by Catholic bishops, with no threat to the government’s role”. He mentioned the peacemaking actions of movements and communities, like the community of Saint Egidio in Mozambique, and the actions of the Focolare Movement throughout the continent, thanks to “their commitment to live the Gospel in daily life”. As an example he spoke about the huge evangelising action of the tribal chiefs in Fontem and other villages, the involvement of the people, and the fruits of reconciliation and peaceful life together that are evident in these parts of his country. Speaking about the serious political and religious situation in Lebanon, the Maronite bishop of Baalbek, Simon Atallah, said that “while previously young people believed that armed struggle was the only hope for our country, now both Christians and Muslims are finding strength above all in religion. They have seen that there is hope neither in arms nor in politics.”. “It is important”, he said, “to read events, with the people, in the light of the Word, and find in religion love for others, rather than hatred”. Then he spoke of the rediscovery of the Gospel and the Koran, of meetings of young people from both religions, and mentioned the “Expectations of youth” movement that brings Christians and Muslims together in gatherings of over 1000. “They read the words of the Gospel and the Koran about solidarity, fraternity, and love for others.” The Archbishop of Delhi, Mons Vincent Michael Concessao, spoke about the increasing persecution of Christians in India, particularly in Orissa, stating, “we must blame not the Hindus, but the violent factions that are present in all religions. Unfortunately the political parties are using religion and these groups for their own purposes”. “This is an obstacle to conversions, because people believe they result from force or from bribery”, he went on. ”We have discussed this problem in the Bishop’s conference and are studying how to respond”. “In this context, the participation in this meeting of Bishops has strengthened me in my belief that love is the answer to everything, it is the most powerful force, because it is a sharing in the life itself of God, which is love”. And “these atrocities committed against Christians are a new opportunity to witness Christian love, love for our enemies.” Cardinal Vlk, Arhbishop of Prague and moderator of the meeting, also spoke about hope. “For me, these meetings are a reinforcement of hope, they open up a world-wide vision where we can already glimpse the things spoken about in the book of Revelation, “Behold, I make all things new. The shoots are already appearing, can you not see them?” The Cardinal testified to this hope, by speaking of the years after 1952, when after secondary school all roads were closed to him because he did not belong to the Communist party. He was given light by the Word, “Submit to the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in good time”. After that, many doors opened for him. “The word of God is always fulfilled. This is my great hope, it is a certainty that has been with me all my life”, he concluded. (ZENIT February 28, 2008)
Feb 14, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
I work as an English teacher in a school in Cairo. The pupils are mostly Muslims, and from very well off families. I began my job just before Ramadan, and as a first activity with my new classes, I suggested putting up decorations suited to the season. The other teachers, mainly Muslim, were very struck because they knew I was a Christian. Through this small gesture a very nice atmosphere of friendship was created among us, and while we put up the decorations in the class, it became clear that the most important rule was to love one another. The best result in the class. In one class there was a child who suffered from autism. He was often distracted, and found it hard to join in. Although he was ten years old, he couldn’t write, and everything had to be repeated for him. His mother was very worried and didn’t know what else to do, not having found a school that could take him. I tried to spend time with him during break times, playing, talking and encouraging him to study more at home. He was normally very serious and reserved, but one day he came in to class and gave me a big hug, exclaiming, “I love you, Sir!”. During the end of term exam I saw him take up his pencil confidently, and write down the answers to all the questions quickly and correctly. His was the best result of all! Pupils, parents, colleagues, all involved in a “game”. Each pupil, feeling loved in a special way, responded by making more effort during the lessons, doing their homework as well as they could, and voluntarily taking more work home. In class, whenever anyone finished their exercise, he or she offered to help someone else, making a kind of “game” among them. I began to receive lots of letters and phone calls from parents, thanking me for the way I look after their children, and often sharing personal situations with me. At break times I get asked by other teachers for advice on my educational methods, and this leads to a deep sharing with each one. At the end of the school year, a big surprise. At the prize giving, I received “teacher of the year”, for “the new spirit that gave new light to teaching” that many teachers now ask me about and want to copy. My latest practice was to introduce a daily rule for my two classes using “the cube of love”. Each morning we throw it, and one of the pupils explains (in English) how to live the rule of the day. In their weekly test they have to write about their experience of putting into practice the different rules on the cube. One day I came into class and found 22 letters on my desk. Twenty two experiences which, on their own initiative, they wanted to share with me. Be the first to love, love everyone, love your enemy… during lessons, at break time, in the school bus… I took them to the school principal. At the end of the morning all the teachers were called together for a special meeting. “This school needs a new spirit”, said the principal, “and this cube is the way to obtain it. From next term onwards, education using the cube of love will be introduced into all the classes”. Now each morning the teachers arrive with the cube under their arm, presenting “the art of loving” to everyone. The atmosphere in the school is changing, not just among the pupils, but also among the teachers and the whole administrative and teaching staff. (B. S. – Egypt)
Jan 31, 2008 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Jesus, surrounded by crowds of people, went up the mountain to give his famous sermon. His first words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit … Blessed are the meek,” already signaled the novelty of the message he had come to bring.
They are words of life, words of light and hope that Jesus entrusted to his disciples to enlighten them and give their lives zest and meaning.
Transformed by this great message, they were invited to transmit to others the teachings they received and to put them into life.
“Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Today our society, more than ever before, needs to know the words of the Gospel and let itself to be transformed by them. Jesus must be able to repeat once again: do not become angry with your neighbors; forgive, and you will be forgiven; tell the truth, to the point of having no need to take an oath; love your enemies; recognize that we have only one Father and are all brothers and sisters; do to others as you would have them do to you. This is the sense of some of the many words from the Sermon on the Mount. If they were lived out, it would be enough to change the world.
Jesus invites us to proclaim his Gospel. But before we “teach” his words, he asks us to “obey” them. In order to be credible, we should become experts in the Gospel, a living Gospel. Only then will we be able to witness to it with our lives and teach it with our words.
“Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
How can we live these words? The best way is to allow Jesus himself to teach us, drawing him to us and among us through our reciprocal love. He will suggest the right words to use when approaching people; he will show us how to open passageways into our neighbor’s heart, so that we can witness to him wherever we are, even in the most difficult environments and in the most complicated situations. We will see the world change: that small part of the world where we live will be so transformed that we will find harmony, understanding and peace.
What is important is to maintain his presence among us through our mutual love, to be docile in listening to his voice—the voice of our conscience that always speaks to us if we know how to silence other voices.
He will teach us to obey even the smallest laws with joy and creativity, so as to polish our life of unity to perfection. May it be said of us one day as it was of the first Christians: “Look how they love one another and how they are ready to die for one another.” As our relationships are renewed by love, the Gospel will be seen as capable of generating a new society.
We cannot keep the gift we received for ourselves. We are called to repeat with Paul: “Woe to me if I do not preach [the Gospel]!” (1 Cor 9:16). If we let ourselves be guided by our inner voice, we will discover ever-new possibilities to communicate, speak, write and dialogue. May the Gospel shine forth again, through us personally, in our homes, cities and nations. New life will flourish in us; joy will expand in our hearts; the risen Lord will shine forth with greater beauty; and he will consider us among the “greatest in the kingdom.”
The life of Ginetta Calliari demonstrates this in an outstanding way. When she arrived in Brazil in 1959 with the first group of focolarini, she was shocked at seeing the results of the country’s deep inequalities. She was determined to put reciprocal love before all else and the words of Jesus into practice. She said, “He will open the way for us.” As time passed, a community came to life and grew, a community that now numbers hundreds of thousands of people of every social class and age, inhabitants of the shanty towns and members of the well-to-do classes, people who put themselves at the service of those most in need. They have become a small and united people who continue to show that the Gospel message is true. This is the dowry that Ginetta brought with her when she left for heaven.
Chiara Lubich
(1) Tertullian, Apology, 39:7
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Jan 25, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
In a society experiencing the limitations of science and technology, there is a thirst for “wisdom”, on the part of academics and people in general. This is the background to the future collaboration between Liverpool Hope University and the Focolare Movement, and especially with its embryonic “Sophia University” at Loppiano, near Florence, which will open its doors for the first time next Autumn.
Professor Gerald John Pillay, Anglican vice-chancellor of this English University, spoke about this recently in an interview with New City. It was an immediate response to the challenge issued by Chiara Lubich in her message written for the award ceremony of the Honorary Doctorate in Divinity (Theology). The University wanted to recognise the contribution of Chiara Lubich “to the life of the Church, to peace and harmony in society, to the unity of Christians of different denominations, and to dialogue and understanding between religions”. The award was the opportunity for the University and the Focolare Movement to get to know one another better. In her message, read on January 23 in a ceremony in Liverpool, Chiara Lubich said how “deeply struck” she was by the sharing of ideals rooted in unity, and looked forward to a collaboration that promised great hope for the future. Liverpool Hope University, with over 7000 students from many parts of the world, aims to be “an academic community”, inspired by Christian values, “ a sign of hope” open to the other faiths and belief systems, with a commitment to religious and social harmony, in “education, and religious, cultural and economic life”. The collaboration anticipated by Prof. Pillay – who at the beginning of January travelled with a delegation from the University to Rocca di Papa (Rome) to give the award to Chiara in person – is still being worked on. Some early ideas, Prof Pillay told New City, emerged at that meeting. “Already in Chiara’s writings, which I studied because of this award, I found that sense of unity and the centrality of faith in a very stimulating and interior way. When we met in Rome, I was very struck by the great synergy between Focolare’s vision and that of Hope University. We would like to establish ways of collaboration between teachers, and for the students, so that they can easily have access to the programmes of both Hope and of Sophia. This is a really fascinating opportunity.” Representatives of Hope University will be present at the inauguration of the Sophia University Institute, which will be an opportunity to further this project. An economist from the Focolare Movement has already been invited to take part next June in “The Big Hope”, a week-long conference for young people, future leaders, from many different countries, promoted by the University to mark Liverpool “European Capital of Culture 2008”. Liverpool Hope University is an academic institution that offers a wide range of disciplines. It has 7000 students from Great Britain and other countries. It is one of the newer universities, but its tradition in the sphere of higher education goes back over 150 years. It began with the coming together of two existing colleges, one Anglican and one Catholic, and later a second Catholic college. These formed an ecumenical federation in 1980 with the support of the Liverpool Bishops, Archbishop Derek Worlock (Catholic) and Bishop David Sheppard (Anglican). Both of these were actively involved in ecumenical dialogue, and their motto was, “better together”. They saw in this new cultural initiative a “sign of hope”. On that basis Liverpool Hope University was founded in 2005.
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Jan 18, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
The “Sophia” University Institute, born from an intuition of Chiara Lubich, founder and president of the Focolare Movement (Work of Mary), and developed together with an international group of academics, was officially set up by the Holy See with a decree on December 7 2007. Campus – The Institute’s campus will be in Loppiano, the Movement’s little town near Incisa Valdarno (Florence). Beginning with the 2008/9 academic year, the Institute will offer a two-year Master’s programme in “Foundations and perspectives of a culture of unity”. Initially it is expected that there will be fifty students per year, and in time there will be a corresponding doctorate programme. What is offered – In the first year of the Master’s there will be courses in four principle areas: theology, philosophy, social sciences, and scientific and logical reasoning. In the second year the student can specialise in either the philosophy/theology or politics/economics track. 
Main features – the Institute will be like an academic laboratory, combining formation, study and research, and deeply rooted in Gospel relationships. It will be an original opportunity for human and cultural growth, bringing study and experience together in a community of life and thought, in which the relationship between people is the basis for the relationship between the various disciplines. The study, research and lessons aim to establish a constant dialogue between the teachers, and between the students and teachers. The result will therefore be harmony in what is taught by the teachers, and active and personal involvement in common research on the part of the students. The theoretical lessons will be integrated with practical exercises, guided visits, meetings with people of relevant experience, and periods of training or stages in various environments, especially professional cultural or social situations that express the “culture of unity”, like the businesses of the “Economy of Communion”. There will also be encounters with the civil and ecclesial world, with communities of various Christian traditions, with experts in the major religions and with representatives of the contemporary cultural world. Objective – The course aims to equip those who take part with a solid cultural base, with a humanistic and anthropological emphasis, building on the university education that they have previously acquired in different disciplines. They will be expected to integrate this with new specific skills of an interdisciplinary, intercultural and relational kind. The teaching staff – The President of the Institute is Piero Coda, who is presently Ordinary Professor of Systematic Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome and president of the Italian Theological Association. Among the teachers in residence who will also lead research in the main disciplines, are: Antonio Maria Baggio, Associate Professor of Social Ethics at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; Luigino Bruni Associate Professor in Political Economics at the University of Milan-Bicocca; Judith Povilus, former mathematics lecturer in De Paul University, Chicago and coordinator of the international research group “Mathzero” in the field of formal logic; Sergio Rondinara, lecturer in Philosophy of Science in the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome and Environmental Ethics at the Pontifical Gregorian University; and Gerard Rossé, Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the Istituto Mystici Corporis in Loppiano and at the École di Foi at Fribourg (Switzerland). Pontifical decree – The decree was signed by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. In his accompanying letter to Chiara Lubich, he underlines the novelty of the Institute that “is rooted in the Spirituality of unity and in the wealth of experiences of the Movement” and extends his good wishes for “this important project, well rooted in the academic tradition while at the same time courageous and forward looking” The Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, also spoke about this new academic Institute at a meeting with the diocesan priest focolarini (Centro Mariapoli, Castelgandolfo Rome January 15, 2008), calling it “a gift for the Church and for contemporary society”. He emphasised its “objectives of communion”, its markedly interdisciplinary nature, the consequences for “formation of leaders”, and its possibilities of influence in the “political and economic, scientific and philosophical” field. for more information: e-mail: info@iu-sophia.org
![Last farewell to W.D. Mohammed, the Imam of peace]()
Jan 15, 2008 | Non categorizzato
When Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone met over 600 diocesan priest focolarini, from 54 countries at the Centro Mariapoli at Castelgandolfo, the atmosphere was of intense, spontaneous and profound dialogue. It was the first time that he had visited the Focolare at its international centre since becoming Secretary of State. He had been invited for a dialogue with the priests who had come together for their annual meeting. The Cardinal listened to the testimonies of some “priest focolares” and heard of the effects that the “charism of unity” can have in various ecclesial and social-cultural situations. In Ireland, where there is a growing atmosphere of secularisation, he heard of a new relationship with the bishop and with other priests, a serious involvement in the universities, in the ecumenical and inter-religious field, and an effective presence in the media. In Switzerland, vocations have come to life through the witness of unity, the common life of the priests has become a reference point for other priests and an antidote to the crisis in vocations, and people are coming back Church on Sundays. In Italy (Ascoli Piceno) collaboration between priests and lay people animated by the spirituality of communion has brought new life to towns and cities. In October during an event organised by the young members of the Focolare Movement, civil institutions and the local residents became involved. Six questions were put to the Secretary of State, by priests from all over the world. They asked about the implementation of Benedict XVI’s teaching, the challenges of the Church today, about shortcomings in church communities, and about priorities in pastoral choices. Then they asked about the role of Ecclesial Movements, how to make the Church a Communion, formation in seminaries, and about help for priests in difficulty. And finally they asked about his personal daily rapport with the Pope. 
“The irrelevance of the faith” and “isolation and loneliness”. These are the two major challenges for Christians today, the Cardinal said, and recalling a reflection by the then Cardinal Ratzinger, published recently, where he says that “hell is the extreme trial of incommunicable loneliness”. “This tells us that loneliness is something that can begin here, and therefore hell can begin here”. He cited two quotes, one from Sartre, “Hell for me is the others”, and one from Gabriel Marcel, “The others are heaven for me”. “Therefore, he said, heaven, paradise, can start now with the spirituality of communion, with the charism of communion. This is the opposite of loneliness” On relativism, he said, “We must never tire of searching for truth, and witnesses of the truth” A personal question: “You are a well known ‘child’ of Saint John Bosco. How does this ‘charismatic childhood’ help you in your present ministry?” “The Salesian charism has always helped me form the time I was a boy” he answered. “Then I entered the congregation, I assimilated this spirit of family, the willingness to listen, and to welcome others, the atmosphere of intimacy…” 
On the Ecclesial Movements: “The movements have full citizenship in the Church. Their lively, effective, transforming presence, arouses interest also in non Christians.” Speaking about new and ancient charisms, he said, “The Lord continues to be creative, the creation is happening in the universe, in the cosmos… it is happening above all through the action of the Spirit”. And he invited everyone to “strengthen the spirit and practice of communion between new charisms and historical institutions”. Cardinal Bertone addressed a “very warm greeting” to Chiara Lubich, after referring to the fundamental role of the founders in the live of the Church.
![Last farewell to W.D. Mohammed, the Imam of peace]()
Jan 11, 2008 | Non categorizzato
It is a tough programme: to “win over” a city. For some years now, “Ragazzi per l’unità”, (Teens for Unity), have been working in thei
r own cities, wherever the local community faces challenges. Their motto joins together two words in one: Colori (= colours) and Amo (= I love). (The two words together give Coloriamo = Let’s colour!). All over the world, they try to choose the drabbest areas of their towns and cities. With imaginations inspired by love, their aim is to colour them, with the think globally, act locally vision that society needs today. In Milan the choice of the young people is a Romany gypsy campsite. In Rwanda they have chosen an orphanage, the children’s ward in a hospital, and Aids sufferers. In California, in a school were racism is a problem, they have started a club to spread a culture of respect for diversity. In India, Christian and Hindu young people go to help their disabled peers. 
Let’s hear from a group of young people from Africa, who have started to visit prisoners in Iringa, Tanzania. “The first challenge was to convince the guards to let us in. The next one was how to bring the gifts that we had put together in common: fruit, salt, soap….also the “Word of Life” leaflet, our experiences and our songs. We walked for three kilometres before we reached the entrance, which was guarded by police. ‘You can’t all come in’, they said, ‘and whoever you choose, they can’t sing in there’. They did however let us take our gifts in.” “We read the Word of Life with them and told them how it had changed our lives. While we were speaking about the love of God, which is for everyone and that we can love too, the guards were silent and listened. At the end, the prisoners showed their joy with songs and dances, it was their way of thanking us. The guards were left speechless and they asked themselves who we were. We went home happy and with new resolve to continue the colouring of our city” From Città Nuova n. 1- 2008
Jan 6, 2008 | Non categorizzato
When God created human kind he formed a family. When the Sacred writers wished to demonstrate the ardour and the fidelity of God’s love for his chosen people, they used symbols and analogies related to the family. When Jesus became incarnate, he gathered around him a family, and when he began his mission at Cana, he was celebrating the start of a new family. These simple ideas reveal just how important and precious the family is in the mind of God. Not only did he give it great dignity, he wanted it to be “in his image”, intermingling it with the mystery of his own life, which is both Unity and Trinity of Love. A great plan therefore lies behind the family, following on the path of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The family, a place where love is given and received, a place of communion, of fertility and tenderness, is a sign, a symbol and a model for every other kind of human association. It is not mere rhetoric to affirm that the family is the prime social good. Through the daily, freely given love, that gives meaning and value to its task of generation and education, the family brings to the fabric of society the irreplaceable good of human capital, thus becoming an effective resource for humanity. Furthermore, it opens its home and heart to the problems of society, and brings the warmth of the family to places where structures and institutions, in spite of all their good will, cannot reach. This is a great plan, and the commitment to follow it must be great too. Today more than ever, the family appears to the world in its fragility. Spouses faced with the first difficulties of married life begin to doubt their love for one another. Children deprived of a close relationship with united parents, find it difficult to undertake future commitments. And older people, separated from their immediate families, find themselves without rights or identity. More than ever the family must be loved, protected, and supported. We must always go back to its original plan, where in lasting unity, it is consolidated and fulfilled. We have to fill the meaning family of life with a spirituality of communion, making it more itself, a little community of love. And public opinion must support family values and sensible family policies. I place this, my wish for the family, in the hands of Mary Most Holy, seat of wisdom and mother at home, for the good of the family today and for the fulfilment of the whole human family. Chiara Lubich
![Last farewell to W.D. Mohammed, the Imam of peace]()
Jan 6, 2008 | Focolare Worldwide
“These last few days greatly exceeded all our expectations. The whole celebration was marked by an atmosphere of deep communion and joy. Each contribution demonstrated the real difficulties faced by families today, while at the same time witnessing to the hope and the strength that the life of “Christian families” can bring to the Church and society” This was how it was described by members of the Focolare Movement in Madrid who, together with members of Neocatechumenal Way, Saint Egidio, Charismatic Renewal, Communion and Liberation, and other movements, had taken an active part in the preparation of this event, in communion with the dioceses of Spain. Beyond all expectations, it attracted a million and a half people. Talks by five of the leaders of founders of these ecclesial movements and communities, including a message from Chiara Lubich, and the witness of families, acclaimed the beauty of united families, where each generation has its own essential and specific contribution. There were numerous children, young people and adults of all vocations, all the way to grandparents testifying to the value of fidelity. A moving moment was the direct linkup with the Pope during the Angelus in St Peter’s Square. His was a strong encouragement for “families, inspired by the love of Christ for all people, to be witnesses for the world to the beauty of human love, of marriage and of the family”.
Dec 31, 2007 | Non categorizzato, Word of
This year the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” celebrates its centennial. The “Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity” was first celebrated from January 18-25 in 1908. Sixty years later, in 1968, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was jointly prepared by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches and by the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity of the Catholic Church. From that time on, it has become common practice for them to meet together annually to compile the pamphlet using material with suggestions for the celebration of the Week of Prayer prepared by Christians from different Churches in a particular country.
The words of Scripture chosen this year by a large ecumenical group in the United States are taken from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, in Greece. They were a small young community, and Paul felt that the unity among them had to become more and more solid. That was why he urged them: “Be at peace among yourselves. … be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good both for each other and for all. … Pray without ceasing..” He wanted to stress that the life of unity of the Christian community is possible only through a life of prayer. Jesus himself prayed to the Father for the unity of his disciples: “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21).
“Pray without ceasing”
Why should we “pray without ceasing”? Because prayer is essential to being human. We were created in the image of God, as a “you” of God, capable of establishing a relationship of communion with him. Friendship with him, spontaneous conversation with him, conversation that is simple and true – this is prayer. It is part of our very being, allowing us to become authentic persons with the full dignity of sons and daughters of God.
Created as a “you” of God, we can live in constant rapport with him, with our hearts filled with love by the Holy Spirit and with the trust that one has towards one’s own father. This is a trust that draws us to speak with God often, to tell him openly about ourselves, our thoughts, our plans. This is a trust that makes us yearn for those moments we dedicate to prayer – moments set aside in days filled with other duties at work and in the family – in order to enter into a profound connection with the One who we know loves us.
We need to “pray without ceasing” not only for our own needs, but also for our contributions to building up the Body of Christ, and our contributions to building the full and visible communion of the Church of Christ. We can understand something of this mystery if we think of a series of communicating vessels. When we pour water into one of them, the liquid level in all the others is raised as well. The same thing happens when we pray and raise our souls to God to adore and thank him. When one of us is elevated in prayer, the others are elevated as well.
“Pray without ceasing”
How can we “pray without ceasing,” especially when we are in the whirlpool of daily living?
To “pray without ceasing” does not mean multiplying our prayers. Rather, it means directing our hearts and lives towards God, living out God’s will for us, whether it be studying, working, suffering, resting or even dying for him. We will reach the point where we will no longer be able to live our daily lives without doing everything in agreement with him.
In this way our actions will be transformed into sacred actions and the whole day will become a prayer.
It may be helpful to offer to God everything we do by saying, “For you, Jesus,” and, in moments of difficulties, “What really matters? To love you is what matters.” In this way each thing we do is transformed into an act of love.
And thus prayer will be unceasing because love will be unceasing.
Chiara Lubich
