[:it]Dopo l’incontro con Gesù, quale il segreto per non perderlo più?

13 Aug 2005 | Non categorizzato

Peoples and religions living together as brothers and sisters

11 Aug 2005 | Non categorizzato

Is it possible to live together peacefully in our society that is ever more multicultural, multiethnic, with multi-religions? A dialogue among religions will be at the centre of the “Festival for a united world”. Thursday, August 18th, at 8 p.m., at Friedenspark, Cologne’s “Park of Peace”, young people from various countries – Israel, Egypt, Belgium, Syria, Lebanon, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Madagascar, Germany, Austria and Belgium – will give witness to brotherhood lived in situations that are often characterized by social and political tensions, by indifference and individualism. This will take place at the “Colourdome”, one of Youth for a United World, of the Focolare Movement’s contributions for World Youth Day 2005. Some anticipations: Ossama is Egyptian. He works in a transportation agency. Almost all of his co-workers are Muslim. … It’s a challenge. The first days at work a sense of insecurity began to bother him. He started trying to live as suggested by the “Golden Rule” that many religions share: “Do unto others as you would want them to do to you.” (Matt. 7,12) He started with small acts, such as preparing tea for the workers who came in tired after loading the trucks. Little by little every barrier fell and a true friendship began. Ages, from Southeast Asia. In Asia Christians are a minority among Buddhist, Hindus and Muslims. To know how to dialogue is certainly not taken for granted, it’s an art to be learned. That’s why Ages went to Tagaytay, a small city of the Focolare Movement in the Philippines. There they have courses from the “School of Oriental Religions”, where young people of various religions from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand participate. There are also concrete actions in politics which can contribute to an approach among religions Sylwin from Cebu tells us about it. Reacting to the widespread political apathy, the youth of the Focolare Movement in the Philippines are committed to promoting an active participation in the next presidential elections. The “White Forum” was started a year ago. It uses all means of communication: TV, radio, the press, parish and school contacts, with the involvement of various youth organizations. And youth from other religions take part in their projects.

[:it]«Abbiamo ricominciato a pregare»[:es]«Hemos empezado a rezar»

4 Aug 2005 | Non categorizzato

“Sow seeds of fraternity and peace for a deeper understanding of mutual gifts”

4 Aug 2005 | Non categorizzato

Chiara Lubich on dialogue with Islam

Miss Lubich: If I’ve understood correctly, 6.000 muslims, participate in the activities of or rather, are directly involved in the Focolare Movement. Aren’t you afraid that your Movement will be subject to an uncontrollable influence by Islam?

I don’t think so. Participating in the activities of the Movement and above all being part of it in various ways, is not so simple.
It requires demanding training in living , a sustained, attentive, active sharing of objectives. This gives origin to a profound spiritual unity that surpasses all differences among the members of the Movement; a unity which is rooted on great, real and sincerely shared values. The unity achieved does not cancel out the differences, on the contrary, it makes of them elements of mutual enrichment, an opening to a deeper understanding of each other’s gifts.

Judging by the number of muslims involved in your initiatives, one might think that Islam is the Movement’s chief partner when compared to the other religions

I don’t think so. We have warm, profound, fruitful contacts with many Jewish people, with Hindus in India and with Buddhists, mainly in Thailand and in Japan. One need only think of the enduring spiritual friendship built with members of the vast Rissho Kosei-kai movement in Japan. I want to also mention the numerous participants who belong to the traditional religions in Africa who share our spirit and participate in the activities of the Movement. Entire tribes in the Cameroon are involved with the Focolare.
Contact with these spiritual and cultural realities takes place at different levels: from sharing in the joys and sufferings of everyday life to sharing one’s spiritual and material goods. There are meetings between experts in these religions so as to delve into the truth each one professes in order to get to know each other better and to acknowledge the riches that God has sown in humanity’s vast range of cultures. Just recently we held symposiums with Hindu intellectuals (the second such symposium), with Buddhists and in May with Jews at our International Mariapolis Center in Castelgandolfo (Rome)..

The spirit that animates the Focolare Movement seems to be so meek, perhaps one of the most meek of spirits to appear in the vast Catholic family: why do you suppose the most meek of all has chosen to address the most aggressive possible partner?

With regard to the meekness of the Movement’s spirit I should stress the fact that it does not imply surrendering nor passive acceptance, rather, total adherence to one of the Gospel’s beatitudes. Meekness is not a defense, it is an expression of love, therefore it is a force. On the other hand, we have not chosen our partners. We believe God brought us together. As for aggressiveness, generally speaking, we cannot forget the violence we Christians have inflicted on others and for which Pope John Paul II asked forgiveness. We cannot generalize when speaking of the aggressiveness of Islam. We know muslims who have great love for peace, who have a profound, vigorous spiritual life , who want to dialogue. They are the ones, in fact, who help us see Islam in a different light than the very often superficial way it is perceived. Besides, we should bear in mind that meekness authentically lived out by of one of two partners sooner or later leads the other to do the same.

In a letter to the focolarini in 1980 you gave them a directive: “ If in your cities there is a mosque or a synagogue or any other non Christian place of worship, that is your place…” After having heard violent words uttered in mosques would you still give that directive?

I feel it is more relevant than ever. It is the response to Jesus’ invitation to “ make ourselves one” with everyone. Besides, violent words are not preached in every mosque. As a matter of fact experience shows that if those violent words are spoken to people who love peace, those very words often can take on a different dimension and be echoed back to the persons who uttered them in a way that transforms them.

I know that in Pakistan you have established an islamic-christian center at Dalwal, between Lahore and Islamabad. Will it survive the anti-christian sentiment that rages in that country?

I hope so. The future, at any rate, is in God’s hands. Our main concern is to live the present moment planting seeds of fraternity and peace. If at times these seeds perish, that is part of Gospel teachings as well, and for this very reason they will bring about fruits of life that will never pass away, just as Jesus taught..

Have you undergone outside criticism and internal dissent after September 11th because of the monthly newsletter in Arabic written by an Iranian theologian who quotes passages from the Koran and from the Gospel?”

As far as I know there has been neither dissension nor criticism. There is instead an increase in the number of requests for the newsletter and an increase in the number of persons volunteering to help with this work, particularly other muslim scholars.
Luigi Accattoli

An interview published by Corriere della Sera (Italy)

What future lies ahead for a multicultural, multiethnic and multifaith society after the terrorist attempts?

20 Jul 2005 | Non categorizzato

 “What future lies ahead for a multicultural, multiethnic and multifaith society?” This is the disquieting question not only of England but of the whole Europe and beyond, after the tragedy that struck the heart of London, the most cosmopolitan city of the Old World on July 7, and Sharm el Sheik in Egypt on July 23.

The question is also the title of the Mariapolis, the summer meeting offered by the Focolare in various parts of the world. That of England started on July 24 at Lake District Windermere, northern England; the participants were about 600, including a group of Muslims.

Just last year, on June 19, 2004, Chiara Lubich gave an answer – which is very timely in these days – to the question about a multicultural society. The occasion was a meeting at Westminster Central Hall, attended by over 2,000 people, including leading Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu personalities. Her message is now being shown through videotape in the various Mariapolis.

Not a clash of civilizations, but the birth of a united world. In front of fears for the future, Chiara Lubich presents St. Augustine’s opinion about the migration of peoples occurring during his times. She indicates dialogue as a preventive measure against terrorism, and the “golden rule,” common to many religions, as the way to achieve it: “Do not do unto others what you wouldn’t want others to do unto you.” In other words: a love that knows how to be one with the other, to the point of “getting into the other’s skin… understanding what it means for the other to be Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu.” This is the way to practice reciprocal inculturation and build a society where “cultures are open to one another … in a profound dialogue of reciprocal love. “ She invites the religions to take the strategy of fraternity in order to heal the gap between rich and poor and effect a turning point in international relations.

A large number of echoes have arrived via e-mail from different countries, from Christians, Muslims and faithful of other religions who participated in the Mariapolis held during the summer months. Here is what they write from Los Angeles, where a group of Muslim friends (followers of W.D. Mohammed, leader of The Mosque Cares) were present at the Mariapolis: “Listening to this message of universal brotherhood together, right after hearing the news of the London terrorist attack, was really a sign of hope. Everyone was strongly impressed to see that among us, universal brotherhood was already a reality.” From the Mariapolis of St. Vith (Belgium), where18 different nationalities were represented, they wrote: “What struck the Muslims most was the experience of God’s presence in the midst of the community through mutual love.” The same experience was made in Amman (Jordan), where a group from Iraq was also present, and in Istanbul. A Muslim ex-military man, now a professor, commented: “Here I have seen brotherhood assume another dimension. All that we’ve heard reminds me of the thoughts of Mevlana (a noted Turkish Muslim mystic).” A Muslim woman remarked: “Here diversity has been transformed into unity. We have experienced the rainbow of peace, coloured by love.”

The Cross and the Synagogue – Jews and Christians in Confrontation

17 Jul 2005 | Non categorizzato

The history of Jewish-Christian relationships is a painful one, made up of centuries of violence and defamation. Only a few decades ago have “elder” and “younger” brothers started to look at each other in the eye and speak to one another. While supporters of dialogue are growing in number among the Jews, Christians are recognizing the Jewish roots of their faith with growing conviction. In Brunori’s book, leading exponents of Judaism and Catholicism share their views with readers as they answer a reporter’s questions about such pressing issues as the role of Pius XII during the Jewish persecution, the figure of John Paul II (considered by the Jews as the best Pope in 20 centuries of Christianity), and the legacy he has left in the hands of his successor Benedict XVI. Other topics dealt with are: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the spread of terrorism and the resurgence of antisemitism, as well as the initiatives and hopes of those who are committed to dialogue and who believe that, finally, open relationships, free of prejudice, are possible. Exponents: Jack Bemporad, Riccardo Di Segni, Xavier Echevarria, Rino Fisichella, Innocenzo Gargano, Ada Janes, Leone Jehuda Kalon, Giuseppe Laras, Chiara Lubich, Amos Luzzatto, David Meghnagi, Jorge Maria Mejía, David Rosen, Manuela Sadun Paggi, Joseph Sievers, Ambrogio Spreafico, Elio Toaff, Maria Vingiani. La Croce e la Sinagoga Ebrei e cristiani a confronto edited by Giovan Battista Brunori Franco Angeli Editore

[:it]Chiara Lubich, i Focolari e gli ebrei

17 Jul 2005 | Non categorizzato

The strength to overcome every difficulty

3 Jul 2005 | Non categorizzato

I’ve been in Turkey for some years now because of my work. I have a lot of free time, so I spend it translating some books of spirituality from Italian to Turkish. I spend hours and days in front of the computer, sweating it out to be able to translate materials of Christian spirituality into the Turkish language – a country without Christian roots. At times I would ask myself if what I was doing wasn’t useless, but then I would entrust all my difficulties to the Father. The work I was doing did have a meaning – that of giving Him my time and efforts.

A change of life
I was about to leave for vacation, when the typographer who printed those books phoned me. “I found out that you’re leaving,” he said, “I need to speak to you urgently.” When he came to see me the next morning, I could hardly recognize him. He had lost weight, he looked run down and his eyes were red, as if he had been crying. I let him in and offered him a cup of coffee. “I’m sorry if I have to disturb you,” he started at once, ”but I feel I cannot but tell you what happened to me. Do you know that the book you asked me to print has changed my whole life? I read it over and over again, and it gave me an unimaginable strength, so much so that I was able to start life all over again. My wife left me a month and a half ago. I couldn’t believe it could happen after 26 years of marriage, but our family has been ruined by witchcraft, the evil eye … By the way, do you believe in these things?”

A strength greater than any difficulty
I answered no, and that I believed instead in the Almighty God who guides our lives. He then said, “This is what I understood, as I read that book. How I wish my wife would read it, too. You know,” he continued, “I got to the point of wanting to commit suicide. I’ve actually tried it twice, without success. I used to be on psychiatric treatment, but now I’ve stopped going and have also stopped taking medicines. I understood that within me I have a greater strength which enables me to overcome all difficulties. The central idea I found in that book is like a treasure that I will always keep close to my heart.”
My friend, the typographer, was slowly discovering a God who is living, who is near and helps those who are in need. I promised him that I would pray for his wife’s return. When he left, he seemed changed, younger and lighter.

R.M. – Turkey

Translated from Quando Dio interviene – Esperienze da tutto il mondo Città Nuova Editrice 2004

‘Offer to the Lord the gold of your lives’

1 Jul 2005 | Non categorizzato

My dear young people! 1. This year we have celebrated the 19th World Youth Day, meditating on the desire expressed by some Greeks who had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover: “We wish to see Jesus” (Jn 12:21). And here we are now, making our way to Cologne where, in August 2005, the 20th World Youth Day is to be celebrated. “We have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2): this is the theme of the next World Youth Day. It is a theme that enables young people from every continent to follow in spirit the path taken by the Magi whose relics, according to a pious tradition, are venerated in this very city, and to meet, as they did, the Messiah of all nations. It is true to say that the light of Christ had already opened the minds and the hearts of the Magi. “They went their way” (Mt 2:9), says the Evangelist, setting out boldly along unknown paths on a long, and by no means easy, journey. They did not hesitate to leave everything behind in order to follow the star that they had seen in the East (cf Mt 2:2). Imitating the Magi, you young people are also making preparations to set out on a “journey” from every region of the world to go to Cologne. It is important for you not only to concern yourselves with the practical arrangements for World Youth Day, but first of all you must carefully prepare yourselves spiritually, in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the Word of God. 2. “And the star… went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was” (Mt 2:9). The Magi reached Bethlehem because they had obediently allowed themselves to be guided by the star. Indeed, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Mt 2:10). It is important, my dear friends, to learn to observe the signs with which God is calling us and guiding us. When we are conscious of being led by Him, our heart experiences authentic and deep joy as well as a powerful desire to meet Him and a persevering strength to follow Him obediently. “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother” (Mt 2:11). There is nothing extraordinary about this at first sight. Yet that Child was different from any other: He is the only Son of God, yet He emptied Himself of His glory (cf Phil 2:7) and came to earth to die on the Cross. He came down among us and became poor in order to reveal to us His divine glory, which we shall contemplate fully in heaven, our blessed home. Who could have invented a greater sign of love? We are left in awe before the mystery of a God who lowered himself to take on our human condition, to the point of giving His life for us on the Cross (cf Phil 2:6-8). In His poverty, – as Saint Paul reminds us – “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9), and came to offer salvation to sinners. How can we give thanks to God for such magnanimous goodness? 3. The Magi found Jesus at “Bêth-lehem” which means “house of bread”. In the humble stable in Bethlehem on some straw lay the “grain of wheat” who, by dying, would bring forth “much fruit” (cf Jn 12:24). When speaking of Himself and His saving mission in the course of His public life, Jesus would later use the image of bread. He would say “I am the bread of life”, “I am the bread which came down from heaven”, “the bread that I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh”. (Jn 6: 35.41.51). Faithfully pursuing the path of our Redeemer from the poverty of the Crib to His abandonment on the Cross we can better understand the mystery of His love which redeems humanity. The Child, laid by Mary in the manger, is the Man-God we shall see nailed to the Cross. The same Redeemer is present in the sacrament of the Eucharist. In the stable at Bethlehem He allowed himself to be worshipped under the humble outward appearances of a newborn baby, by Mary, by Joseph and by the shepherds; in the consecrated Host we adore Him sacramentally present in his body, blood, soul and godhead, and He offers himself to us as the food of eternal life. The Mass then becomes a truly loving encounter with the One who gave himself wholly for us. Do not hesitate, my dear young friends, to respond to Him when He invites you “to the wedding feast of the Lamb (cf Rev 19:9). Listen to him, prepare yourselves properly and draw close to the Sacrament of the Altar, particularly in this Year of the Eucharist (October 2004-2005) which I have proclaimed for the whole Church. 4. “They fell down and worshipped Him” (Mt 2:11). While the Magi acknowledged and worshipped the baby that Mary cradled in her arms as the One awaited by the nations and foretold by prophets, today we can also worship Him in the Eucharist, and acknowledge Him as our Creator, our only Lord and Saviour. “Opening their treasures they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11). The gifts that the Magi offered the Messiah symbolised true worship. With gold, they emphasised His Royal Godhead; with incense, they acknowledged Him as the priest of the New Covenant; by offering Him myrrh, they celebrated the prophet who would shed His own blood to reconcile humanity with the Father. My dear young people, you too offer to the Lord the gold of your lives, namely, your freedom to follow Him out of love, responding faithfully to His call; let the incense of your fervent prayer rise up to him, in praise of His glory; offer Him your myrrh, that is your affection of total gratitude to Him, true Man, who loved us to the point of dying as a criminal on Golgotha. 5. Be worshippers of the only true God, giving Him pride of place in your lives! Idolatry is an ever-present temptation. Sadly, there are those who seek the solution to their problems in religious practices that are incompatible with the Christian faith. There is a strong urge to believe in the facile myths of success and power; it is dangerous to accept the fleeting ideas of the sacred which present God in the form of cosmic energy, or in any other manner that is inconsistent with Catholic teaching. My dear young people, do not yield to false illusions and passing fads which so frequently leave behind a tragic spiritual vacuum! Reject the seduction of wealth, consumerism and the subtle violence sometimes used by the mass media. Worshipping the true God is an authentic act of resistance to all forms of idolatry. Worship Christ: He is the Rock on which to build your future and a world of greater justice and solidarity. Jesus is the Prince of peace: the source of forgiveness and reconciliation, who can make brothers and sisters of all the members of the human family. 6. “And they departed to their own country by another way” (Mt 2:12). The Gospel tells us that after their meeting with Christ, the Magi returned home “by another way”. This change of route can symbolise the conversion to which all those who encounter Jesus are called, in order to become the true worshippers that He desires (cf Jn 4: 23-24). This entails imitating the way He acted by becoming, as the apostle Paul writes, “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”. The apostle then adds that we must not be conformed to the mentality of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our minds, to “prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (cf Rm 12: 1-2). Listening to Christ and worshipping Him leads us to make courageous choices, to take what are sometimes heroic decisions. Jesus is demanding, because He wishes our genuine happiness. He calls some to give up everything to follow Him in the priestly or consecrated life. Those who hear this invitation must not be afraid to say “yes” and to generously set about following Him as His disciples. But in addition to vocations to special forms of consecration there is also the specific vocation of all baptised Christians: that is also a vocation to that “high standard” of ordinary Christian living which is expressed in holiness (cf Novo Millennio Ineunte, 31). When we meet Christ and accept His Gospel, life changes and we are driven to communicate our experience to others. There are so many of our contemporaries who do not yet know the love of God or who are seeking to fill their hearts with trifling substitutes. It is therefore urgently necessary for us to be witnesses to love contemplated in Christ. The invitation to take part in World Youth Day is also extended to you, dear friends, who are not baptised or who do not identify with the Church. Are you not perhaps yearning for the Absolute and in search of “something” to give a meaning to your lives? Turn to Christ and you will not be let down. 7. Dear young people, the Church needs genuine witnesses for the new evangelisation: men and women whose lives have been transformed by meeting with Jesus, men and women who are capable of communicating this experience to others. The Church needs saints. All are called to holiness, and holy people alone can renew humanity. Many have gone before us along this path of Gospel heroism, and I urge you to turn often to them to pray for their intercession. By meeting in Cologne you will learn to become better acquainted with some of them, such as St Boniface, the apostle of Germany, the Saints of Cologne, and in particular Ursula, Albert the Great, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and Blessed Adolph Kolping. Of these I would like to specifically mention St Albert and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross who, with the same interior attitude as the Magi, were passionate seekers after the truth. They had no hesitation in placing their intellectual abilities at the service of the faith, thereby demonstrating that faith and reason are linked and seek each other. My dear young people as you move forward in spirit towards Cologne, the pope will accompany you with his prayers. May Mary, “Eucharistic woman” and Mother of Wisdom, support you along the way, enlighten your decisions, and teach you to love what is true, good and beautiful. May she lead you all to her Son, who alone can satisfy the innermost yearnings of the human mind and heart. Go with my blessing! Castel Gandolfo, 6 August 2004 JOHN PAUL II

COLOURDOME

1 Jul 2005 | Non categorizzato

The Focolare’s youth, coming from various continents, will communicate their experiences and present some artistic numbers which compliment the catechisms scheduled in Cologne on August 17-18-19, during the World Youth Day, as a preparation for the conclusive day with the Holy Father. “Colourdome” is the name of the initiative of the Youth for a United World, as their contribution to WYD 2005 in Cologne. “Colourdome” aims to express and communicate how the love of the Gospel can colour life, transforming its various aspects. From Tuesday, August 16th to Friday August 19th, the Friedenspark, Park of Peace, in South Central Cologne, along Oberländer Wall, will be transformed into a colourful festival with a central stage, which will be surrounded by 7 areas, each marked by a different colour of the rainbow. With the language of music, theatre, and dance, young people will be invited to meet and exchange reflections and experiences, to celebrate and pray, to relax and participate in sports. Each area will offer a program with various themes: that of the “culture of giving”, dialogue with other religions, the search for the meaning of pain, just to name a few. One of the areas will be dedicated to sports, such as volleyball, street-soccer and various games whose aim is to get to know youth from all over the world. There will be concerts on the center stage every day. A concert by the international band, Gen Rosso, entitled Give Peace a Hand is scheduled for Wednesday evening, August 17th. On Wednesday afternoon, August 17th and Friday afternoon, August 19th , there will be two round table discussions on aid for Tsunami and global solidarity, given by the German Episcopal Conference and the Public Protection (Technisches Hilfswerk).

Interactive areas Red: Time to share for a culture of giving – economy, work, consumerism Orange: Face the world 360� dialogue – dialogue, ethnics, religions Yellow: To be with You suffering has a place – pain, suffering, illness Green: Get the feeling living life to the fullest – sports and leisure time Blue: Discover His Beauty God in culture – art, music, culture Indigo: Think about life vision and planning – society, politics and much more Violet: Hold the line communication and mass media – entertainment, mass media, pubblicity Form more information, email to: sgmu@focolare.org wjt2005@geeintewelt.de

[:it]L’esperienza dell’Eucaristia nel Movimento dei Focolari

30 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]L’Eucaristia: il sacramento dell’unità[:fr]L’Eucharistie, sacrement d’unité

30 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

“Sent out,” even from a hospital bed

29 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

  When my illness became worse, I had to be confined to the hospital again. I was quite weak and everything I did demanded almost unbearable effort. The continual check-ups and treatments were attempts at a cure, so I had to make a leap in the dark again and again, and put myself in God’s hands as I followed the doctors’ instructions each time they had a new idea for me. One weekend, I found myself alone in the ward: I could finally rest and take a breather! I knew that the next Tuesday, the room would be full again. So I prepared myself, promising Jesus to see and love Him alone in the new patients, whoever they might be. I wanted to immerse myself in the Word of God, since to be able to proclaim the Gospel I first had to be evangelized myself. And God did take me at my word! The ward filled up. At the beginning I panicked; it was worse than I expected. There was never a single moment of silence and I went through sleepless nights. Had I not known the value of the present moment, I would never have made it! I felt like someone “sent out”: even from my hospital bed, I could let God’s love reach the doctors and patients around me. Slowly, I learned to discover their positive side, the values they possessed, beyond their intimidating appearance which used to be so hard for me to take. Out of the blue, one of them remarked how important it was for her to have good relationships with her roommates, and then she said to me, “But we do get along very well, don’t we?” She had no inkling therefore that I was having a hard time, and she felt at ease with me. I realized how important it is not to stop at one’s personal limitations, but take courage and love, trusting that God will take care of the rest. I experienced how much one grows and gets stronger spiritually. My three – week experience had its fruits. My physiotherapist was amazed at seeing me so cheerful. The doctors appreciated me because they felt free to prescribe the treatments they deemed useful for me. An ex-roommate came to bring me a gift and told me she had gone to church to pray that I might not have to undergo chemotherapy, as was forewarned. Now I’m back home, experiencing a new peace and serenity. (M. – Germany) Translated from “Quando Dio interviene. Esperienze da tutto il mondo” – Città Nuova 2004

[:it]Messaggio di Chiara Lubich

24 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Introduzione del prof. Giuseppe M. Zanghì

24 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

“Love of God and neighbour in the Jewish and Christian traditions”

24 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

  Not a conflict of cultures but “a harmonious composition of differences” where the inexhaustible and infinite richness of God are brought to light, and greater commitment to dialogue and to getting to know one another more deeply is pledged.” This was the message read at the first international Jewish-Christian symposium promoted by the Focolare Movement, from May 23-26. The participants met at Castelgandolfo, on the theme “Love of God and neighbour in the Jewish and Christian traditions.” Addressing the symposium, Cardinal Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, defined the developments in Jewish-Christian dialogue as “amazing.” After recalling the gestures of John Paul II, he mentioned how, immediately after his election, Pope Benedict XVI declared his intention to continue to pursue this dialogue. “I’ve known Pope Ratzinger for 40 years now,” Kasper said. “He has written much about Jewish-Christian relationships and made many important theological contributions. He has this dialogue very much at heart.” For the future, Pope Ratzinger pointed out three challenges to be faced: “We must do all we can to know each other,” deepen theological research, each on the other’s faith, and ‘collaborate’ in efforts to alleviate poverty, and uphold human values and the family.” All that has been accomplished needs to be transmitted to the new generations. The symposium started on May 23 with Chiara Lubich’s welcoming message. The Focolare foundress related her personal experience. “I assure you,” she said, “that to me, it seems the Holy Spirit hovers over such meetings; and even more so in this one for Jews and Christians!” Giuseppe Zanghì, co-director of the Focolare Center for Interreligious Dialogue – observed that the “tone” of the symposium is one of “reciprocal openness in a listening attitude which leads to knowing one another at the very source of love,” that love among us where “the prophets’ promises of peace find their fulfilment.” On the Jewish side, Ibraham Skorka, rector of the Latin American Rabbinic Seminary of Buenos Aires (Argentina), elaborated on “The concept of the human being.” Jack Bemporad, director of the Center for Interreligious Understanding of New York, and Gerard Rossé, biblical theologian, dealt on the theme “God’s presence and God’s silence.” Among the Catholic exponents were Piero Coda and Jesús Castellano. The Focolare Movement’s dialogue with the faithful of the Jewish religion began several decades ago. Particularly important was the meeting of 1998 in Buenos Aires between Chiara Lubich and one of the largest Jewish communities of Latin America. The participants of the symposium attended the General Audience at St. Peter’s Square. Fabrizio Mastrofini – Avvenire – May 25, 2005

[:it]Un dono immenso l’annuncio dell’immediato inizio della causa di beatificazione di Papa Wojtyla

19 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Una famiglia di popoli fratelli[:es]Tiempo de fraternidad

15 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Vite vissute all’insegna di un mondo più unito[:es]Vida vivida tras un mundo más unido

15 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Un e-mail per risalire la china

14 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

“Flying high is possible” with the sharing factor in business

3 May 2005 | Non categorizzato

“Flying high is possible”
A group of young people experienced this when they met together to exchange ideas with seasoned entrepreneurs in several fruitful workshops. The entrepreneurs shared their past experiences in the business world, even the painful ones, and the youth with enthusiasm and curiosity encouraged them to live the ideals of the Economy of Communion (EoC) in an even more radical way. “From the youth we received more than what we gave,” was the comment of one of the entrepreneurs.

Fraternity is the “plus” of the EoC manager
The workshops were based on the talks delivered by Cecilia Cantone Manzo, president of EoC s.p.a., the society that manages the Lionello Business Park, and by Prof. Luigino Bruni, who described the ideal EoC manager, pointing out that fostering fraternity should be one of his or her positive traits along with all the other qualities required of an entrepreneur, namely the ability to risk, to innovate, and to carry out a project.

A push to do business innovatively
A group of experts presented the typical problems that can arise, considering them from the point of view of the “culture of giving.” The subject proved to be of great interest to the young participants, who were struck by the novelty of such an entrepreneurship. A student from Naples remarked, “Coming here reinforced our will to do business, to do something new.” The youth expressed the request that a similar appointment at Loppiano be repeated every 6 months.

Unexpected progress in business management
On April 24, the meeting opened its doors to other entrepreneurs. One of them, a native of Piedmont, Italy [a province known for its business-minded population] shared his experience saying, “In spite of the difficulties and the general economic crisis, we have seen a continuous and notable increase in sales. It’s been my experience that the Gospel’s ‘hundredfold’ never comes in a big, cumbersome package (the kind that winning a lottery would mean, for example), which can also ruin the harmony of normal daily life. The ‘hundredfold’ arrives in a very discreet way. Many times our financial officer – at about mid-year, for example – would warn us of a borderline situation. We would just go on working, with renewed sprint, and at year-end, to our real surprise, he would announce that beyond our every expectation, our business had made progress.”

The experience of Islamo-Christian dialogue in the Focolare Movement

26 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

This experience began around 40 years ago in Tlemcen, Algeria, where the focolarini received the gift of an abbey built in Arabian style by the Benedictine fathers with the intention of making it into a center of dialogue with the Muslim world. From the initial contacts, both Christians and Muslims were impressed by the affinity between the two religions which have their origins in Abraham, for example on such points as believing in only one God, most clement and merciful, total dedication to the will of God, high esteem for Jesus and for Mary, his mother.

In close contact with the focolare centers are over a thousand Muslims in many countries of the world. Among them are Imams, practicing believers and other Muslims who, due to their meeting with the Movement and in sharing its spirit of unity, have gone back to the practice of the five pillars of Islam. In fact, the effect of dialogue is not syncretism, but the rediscovery of one’s own religious roots, of that which unites us.

Pope John Paul II once said at Madras in 1986: “Through dialogue, we let God be present in our midst, because while we open ourselves to dialogue with each other, we also open ourselves to God. The fruit of union among human beings is union with God.” Dialogue also strengthens the commitment to bring unity and peace especially wherever violence and racial and religious intolerance try to create a breach among the components of society.

[:it]Chi è Dio per noi "Ma’ Arifatu Allahi Bialnisbati Lana"

26 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Familyfest 2005… al Papa della famiglia[:es]Familyfest 2005… al Papa de la familia[:pt]Mensagem de Chiara Lubich às famílias

25 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

Familyfest 2005 … to the Pope for the family Family  11/05/2005

Dearest families gathered in Rome and in many parts of the world for FAMILYFEST! After a long absence, through this brief message I want to be present with you all today. Thank you for your generosity and your active participation in this event, which you want to be a tribute to our unforgettable Pope John Paul II, who, in our mind, is already a saint. Our meeting today is also an opportunity, among other things, to give maximum visibility to the model of the family that John Paul II envisioned and taught us to live, that is, a family based on values drawn from the Christian faith. The source of these values is authentic love, which comes from the very heart of God. It is therefore a love that never ends, is the first to love everyone, knows how to forgive, is fruitful and is open to life, to those who are the weakest, to the full sharing of goods and to solidarity with all. These values can also be found in the major world religions and cultures, and therefore, reflect the deepest aspirations of every man and woman on earth. Thus the family, which is called to live mutual love in all cultures and in every environment, becomes the source of social relationships, promoting basic human values and universal brotherhood. My hope is that you may all be like this, that you may always and everywhere be witnesses to the love that builds peace. In this way, we will draw closer to the day when “all will be one” on earth. Let’s live for this great Ideal together! Dearest families all over the world, I hope to see you very soon

[:it]Familyfest 2005… al Papa della famiglia

25 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

Familyfest 2005 … to the Pope for the family

25 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

“Love builds peace,” the guideline of John Paul II’s pontificate, was the leitmotif of the Familyfest 2005. At Campidoglio, two mothers from Jerusalem shared their experience of how friendship is possible between opposing factions such as Israelis and Palestinians. Along this theme, one of the 9 link-ups during the broadcast was dedicated to the Soweto district of Johannesburg, South Africa, where Nelson Mandela’s struggle against apartheid was launched, and another link-up to Zagreb, in Southeastern Europe, a flash point which the Pope twice visited. The Familyfest audience of 4,000 in Zagreb consisted not only of Croatian Catholics but also of Muslims from Bosnia. When love burns out – The Familyfest was not only a festive international event which also focused on solidarity. It also dealt with the winter of crisis, one of the sorrowful “seasons” that many families are going through. “Through marriage a man and a woman are no longer two but one. To divide after having been so united means to make each other bleed to death. It means death.” These are the words of Igino Giordani, writer, journalist, politician, father of four, and first director of New Families, which resounded in the square. “To conserve married love, there is no more cohesive force than love, the kind of love that comes from the love of God, which is superior to nature’s vicissitudes and human moods… Spouses who lose time not loving each other are two persons who lose time dying.” A Spanish couple shared their struggle towards rebirth after the drama of division.

The experience of suffering – A couple of journalists – the husband an Italian, and the wife an American – shared their precious experience of a relentless illness from which their life now draws a new fullness, as John Paul II wrote in his testament. “To live life to the full,” the woman said, “one must be constantly aware of death…. We have learned to look suffering in the face, and that face has a name for us: Jesus who accepts being nailed to the cross and feeling abandoned by God, in order to unleash his gifts onto the world.” Gifts that turn into a living experience of “light, joy, and serenity, into a quality of life superior to the quantity of time I may have left in my life.” “We do not want our marriage to be a closed door to the rest of the world; we want to share happiness with the less fortunate.” This was the witness shared by a young couple (ages 21 and 24), who spent their honeymoon among the orphans of AIDS in Tanzania, who were the beneficiaries of the sum of money which represented the wedding gifts the couple would have received.

Solidarity – No, it’s not a sporadic fact. For 25 years now, New Families has facilitated 14,000 adoptions-at-a-distance. Another solidarity project was now launched at Familyfest 2005: “One family, one house project,” which aims to give a home to needy families in the Philippines, as well as to tsunami victims in Thailand and Sri Lanka. The project was an idea which came from the poor families themselves. Contributions can be sent through Bank Account no. 888885 under the name of Associazione Azione per Famiglie Nuove, Banca Intesa: CIN T ABI 03069 CAB 05092. Chiara Lubich’s message – The last word of the Familyfest was reserved for Chiara Lubich’s message: “Indeed, the spring of true love wells up from God’s love, which in turn makes of the family a source of social life, a seedbed of universal brotherhood.” Chiara’s wish for all is “to be witnesses of this love everywhere, so that the time when ‘that all may be one’ may soon come.”

[:it]La gioia di Chiara Lubich e del Movimento dei Focolari per l’elezione del nuovo Papa

20 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

Igino Giordani: the wellspring of love

19 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

 Igino Giordani, writer and journalist, politician, husband and father of 4 children, was also the first director of New Families and is considered a co-founder of the Focolare Movement. His cause for beatification began last year. Two commissions were set up to examine his writings (over a hundred books and four thousand articles): a historical commission and a theological one. We want to remember him today, 25 years after the end of his earthly life, with one of his prose works, which was recited during the live broadcast of Familyfest 2005 by RAI International last April 16. The wellspring of love – Igino Giordani “Through marriage a man and a woman are no longer two but one. To divide after having been so united means to make each other bleed to death. It means death. To conserve married love, there is no cohesive force other than love, but the kind of love that comes from the love of God, which is superior to nature’s vicissitudes and human moods.

Looking at my own life, I have to conclude that the success of marriage depends on the measure in which this kind of love is achieved. The value of marriage lies primarily in this, and not in a bank account, not in well-being or success, and not even in physical attractiveness. Marriage becomes love’s tomb when the physical attractions exchanged out of love are exhausted and its vivifying spirit is lacking.

To love each other more and more each day, to ignore each other’s defects, to ignore the wrongs one has been subjected to, to forgive always, to love each other over and over again… Then life becomes a joy. What purpose do indifference and selfishness serve? They only create hell on earth. Spouses who lose time not loving each other are two persons who lose time dying. Instead, if they love one another, then God passes between them. It is then that the home becomes a dwelling place of happiness, even in the midst of the greatest trials.

Ecumenical dialogue: one of the priorities of Pope John Paul II’s pontificate

13 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

Since the death of John Paul II, Christians of different traditions who are in contact with the Focolare Movement have continued to express deep feelings for him. Ecumenical dialogue was indeed one of the priorities of his pontificate. Orthodox ITALY “He was a charismatic person, a man of inestimable worth who was loved by all. The Holy Spirit enlightened him and us as well, in following the will of God along the same line: “That all may be one.” (Metropolite Gennadios Zervos, Orthodox Archbishop of Italy, ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople) SLOVENIA “He was an extraordinary person. The Serbian Church is in mourning, too.” (Protoierei Boskovic) ARGENTINA “Torch of living light, tireless traveler in his search for visible unity among Christians … As a Greek-Orthodox, I have met him and loved him: a saintly man, a Pope, “elder brother” of His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I – as the Patriarch himself said.” (Lic. Elias Crisostomo Abramides, Buenos Aires, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople) Armenians UNITED STATES “All Christians can be proud of him.” (Fr. Khatchadourian, parish priest, Los Angeles) Evangelical Lutherans GERMANY “In his speeches and Apostolic Letters, John Paul II always based himself in Sacred Scriptures, and this made him closer to us. Also the Pope’s openness towards the Movements and new ecclesial communities is admirable.” (Pastor Gottlob Hess, Common Life Fraternity) “With growing evidence we could see that Pope John Paul II wanted to accelerate the ecumenical process. Ecumenism for him was not a secondary issue; and to this he had borne a convincing witness.” (Walter Pollmer, Fraternity of the Cross) “I am grateful to John Paul II for his profoundly Biblical anthropology, which gave justice to the human person.” (Günter Rattey, Fraternity of the Cross) “After the historic encounter with the Pope in 1998, his affirmation that the charismatic dimension (which is significantly expressed by the movements) and the institutional dimension are co-essential to the constitution of the Church has given an impulse to spiritual ecumenism. When some of the leaders of Evangelical movements in Germany were informed of this, they exclaimed, “So the Pope understands us!” (Konrad Herdegen, YMCA of Nuremberg) “It is with immense gratitude that we remember the past years with appreciation for the initiatives of the Holy Father, which has led to the marvelous witness of the Stuttgart event, “Together for Europe,” on May 8, 2005.” (Helmut Nicklas and Gerhard Pross) GUATEMALA “This man is really a saint.” (Edna Cardona de Morales) Swedish Lutherans SWEDEN “Perhaps his most significant testimony is that of these last years and weeks, when he bore his physical weakness with unceasing love for his people and his Church. Thus he set an example… With great gratitude Christendom can bear witness to the fact that the Pope had truly lived for God’s glory with his faith, his conviction and his piety.” (Archbishop emeritus, Gunnar Weman) Christians of the Reformed Church SWITZERLAND “In his unique vocation he was brother and father also for us, a model of courage in speaking and acting according to God, and nothing else. Thus he became a crystal-clear incarnation of our Christian conscience in society.” (Atty. Kathrin Reusser, Zurich) RUMANIA “I was fortunate enough to meet him personally, even if only for a few moments. The audience at St. Peter’s at least 20 years ago was unforgettable. We were a group of participants in a meeting organized by the Centro Uno (the ecumenical center of the Focolare Movement) and we were in the front row when the Pope passed. He recognized our group. “We believe the unity of the Church will come about,” I said. The Pope answered, “I hope so, too.” He went on walking, and with a louder voice I said, “We firmly believe it!” He stopped, he turned again, looked at us and said, “You have to be the ones to do it.” You have to be the ones to do it. The Church’s unity was certainly one of his most impassioned aspirations. The way of unity needs the impetus of the Holy Spirit at the grassroots, among the people. This is what I felt beneath his words. It is a task he entrusted to many people in many ways. (Prof. Stefan Tobler, Sibiu). Anglicans USA “He was truly a fascinating leader. He faced topics which nobody else wanted to face. It’s not that I agreed with him all the time, but I have never doubted his good faith, his desire to reach out to others and seek what is good, going beyond doctrinal differences. He leaves us with a most precious legacy.” (Rev. Chuck Kramer, President of the Clergy’s Ecumenical Association, Hyde Park, New York) “He has encouraged me to live a better life.” (Dr. Shirley Jones, Albany, New York) URUGUAY “We live these moments with you with prayer in our hearts for this great Pope who worked so hard for unity,” (Bishop Miguel Tamayo) GREAT BRITAIN “The Pope had a very important role in ecumenism as well. He brought about a big change: he lived the Papacy as a world authority. When he gathered the leaders of different religions, we saw in him the universal Pastor. This image is more acceptable than the image given in the past. (Rev. Callan Slipper, ecumenical delegate of the Anglican diocese of northwest London) Methodist SOUTH AFRICA “I feel a great gratitude for the Pope in a special way for all he did for ecumenism. Some years ago I had the chance to greet him in Rome. From then on, I felt that John Paul II did not belong only to the Catholic Church, but that he belonged to all of us. I think he has fulfilled God’s plan on him completely.” (Em Beardal, volunteer) “After attending the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, my wife and I began to see the Pope in a positive, new light. We began to pray for him. During these last days we accompanied him by reciting the “Our Father,” the prayer of unity. (Dr. Welile Shasha – director of the World Health Association for South Africa) USA “I cannot find the words… certainly, he is in our thoughts. One of the legacies he has left, worth remembering, and which I particularly appreciate, is his constant effort to build bridges of dialogue with other Christians and with members of other religions.” (Pastor Jim Moore, Hyde Park, New York) Presbyterians BRAZIL “What a great man! I admire him for the way he worked for peace.” (Pastor Marcio Moreira, Sao Paulo) Mennonites GUATEMALA “Let us thank God for John Paul II’s life, his vision of how to strengthen ecumenical dialogue in order to cancel the scandal of division and insist on the urgent need for Christian unity.” (Prof. Mario Higueros)

John Paul II: a great Pope, a great saint!

2 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

John Paul II: a great Pope, a great saint!

The charism of the Pope

03/04/2005

A great Pope, a great saint has truly left us! Oh how I long for the return of a time when sanctity was proclaimed by popular demand. The young people would be first in line!

His holiness. I too can testify to this from personal experience. Often, after an audience with him, I felt that heaven had opened up. I felt that I was directly linked up to God in the most profound union with Him and without any intermediary. And this is because the Pope is a mediator but when he has joined you to God he disappears. He uses the keys to open up heaven for us not just through cancelling our sins but also through facilitating our union with God.

How else can you perhaps explain that joy, that enthusiasm, that appeal that the Pope has always exerted on young people, on the millions of men and women of every race, culture, religion and creed that he has met all over the world? How else can you explain the complete turnabouts in history for which he has been instrumental over the last 27 years? This Pope communicated God and He “makes all things new”. As he became more and more burdened by suffering, this communication of God’s presence became stronger and stronger right to the last moment of his life.

However in this moment I have to also express my deepest thanks for the many other doors opened by those keys: the Pope has always thrown the doors wide open to the novelties of the Spirit which he has recognised too in our Movement, by giving his continuous encouragement and support and by acknowledging the Movement as a gift of God and hope for humanity.

[:it]Infinita gratitudine

2 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

Gratitude and great warmth towards John Paul II from Jews, Muslims and Buddhists

2 Apr 2005 | Non categorizzato

 Following the Pope’s death, reflections about him continue to arrive from the Focolares all over the world. The way in which our Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist friends have shared closely in this moment, expressing their gratitude towards John Paul II, has been particularly significant. Below are some extracts: The Jewish world Thoughts from our Jewish friends in Argentina and Uruguay – “The Pope’s approach built bridges” (Rabbi Daniel Goldman – Buenos Aires) – “There will be a “before and after” in history thanks to John Paul II” (Rabbi Arian Herbst – Buenos Aires) – “The Pope was the one who most worked for Judaeo-Christian dialogue. His greatness lays in asking forgiveness for the errors committed in the past and since he defined us “older brothers”, today we can say that “our older brother John Paul II is dying” (Abraham Kaul, the President of AIMA, the Mutual Jewish Argentinean Association) – “The Jewish people have never had such strong feelings for a Pope and for what he has done for us” (a Jewish friend from the Commission of Women Jewish Associations, Uruguay). The Muslim world Thoughts from Turkey, Algeria and the United States Our Muslim friends were the first ones to contact the focolare of Istanbul in Turkey. – A woman who was very moved said: “It seems that my soul, part of me, has left”. – A student: “I pray to God not to leave us bereft of people like Him…Like all the people in the world I too am close to you in this suffering and I pray with all my Christian friends”. From Algeria: A Muslim couple remembered that the Pope had been to Morocco and that he had struck people because of his openness in front of 10,000 young people in Casablanca. This morning they said to us: “The Pope is a saint! He has done so much for the world and he had so much courage. He did what God wanted. He was against divisions and wars. He has been a Father to us”. Reflections have reached us from some Imams in the United States with whom the local focolares are in contact: – “The “essence” of Christ lived in John Paul II. He served all people, not only Catholics, extending his hand to all so that they could live a better life. He knocked on the doors of the consciences of world leaders so that they could acknowledge their duty to do more for people suffering in every part of the globe. This really appealed to me and I have communicated it to my followers” (Imam W.D. Mohammed – leader of 2 million Afro-American Muslims. – “I felt that I had a personal relationship with this Pope. I especially appreciated his words to the world after September 11th when he said that what had happened had nothing to do with religion. This was very encouraging and moving. I looked on him as a brother, a friend, a member of the family. I will miss him, but I know that what he has started will live forever”. (Imam Sultan Salahuddin, Chicago) – “I cannot think of a person in recent history who was so great and made such an impact on society and the world. He worked to draw the best out of humanity”. (Imam Bilal Muhammed, Kansas City) – “His life, what he accomplished and his actions have changed the way that the world looks on the different ethnic groups. I have been observing him for years and I have seen the changes that occurred have been like a chain reaction in the whole of humanity. I appreciated the fact that he embraced Islam during a time when it was not very acceptable to approach us”. (Ijlal Munir, a Muslim and manager of a firm of W.D. Mohammed, Chicago) – “John Paul had a spiritual strength which went beyond religious barriers. He had a phenomenal, spiritual influence which touched everyone” (Dr Imam Mikal Ramadam, Chicago) – “Pope John Paul II is one of the great marvellous signs in history of the love for humanity of the Great Merciful, Great Benefactor. With his courageous defence of liberty, justice and equality among the members of the human family, John Paul II helped us recall our individual and collective responsibility to use the resources which God has given us for the service of humanity”. (Imam Malik Shabazz, Imam of the Beacon mosque – New York): The Buddhist world Thoughts from Japan and Thailand: From the focolare of Tokyo: “Our Buddhist friends are living this experience with us in such a warm and intense way”. – “Now the whole world is praying for John Paul II, a very great figure in history, an exceptional leader for peace because in him they see God” (Rev. Nissho Takeuchi, of Nichirensu, Myokenkakuji Temple – Osaka) – A Buddhist who has been to Rome and met the Pope: “My little girl is 9 years old now and when she was tiny the Pope caressed her head. I can still see before my eyes the figure of John Paul II who made us feel his warmth even if we were not Christians. As a man, me too I want to live my life following the heart of the Pope. The only words that come to me are “thank you”. And may he rest in peace.” (Koichi Kawamoto, of the Risso Kosei Kai Movement) – “The figure of the Pope has been a model of life for me. I saw the Pope during a public audience in St Peter’s Square. He greeted the sick people first or those in wheelchairs and he seemed to have all the time in the world for them. I saw that he did this with such love that I realised the existence of these people was something “precious” for the Pope. When I got back to Japan I wanted to do the same thing and follow his example: I called the disabled or sick people of the Buddhist temples who were entrusted to me to greet them and get to know them”. (Rev. Yasuo Koike – responsible of the Rissho Kosei Kai of Chiba, near Tokyo) Our Buddhist friends of the Focolare Movement in Thailand are united to the Christian world in praying for the Pope with affection and deep respect and they make us aware of their spiritual closeness. – In the hall of the Grand Master Ajhan Thong, in Chiang Mai, there is a huge photograph of him together with the Holy Father during an audience in the Vatican. Since that moment he has often spoken to his followers of the spiritual greatness of the Pope for the whole world. He prayed for the Pope in a special way over the last few days. – In a telephone call, the monk Phramaha Thongrat said to us: “The Pope is not just a big brother, he is my Father!” (The Thai Buddhists call people of great spirituality who are important guides for their lives “father” or mother”). And he wanted to dedicate a poem to him: My father left for Paradise

During the long years when my father dwelled in the Vatican Beauty shone and joy reigned. Today without him the city is empty. Dismay, pain and tears: everything speaks of his immense love. Yes, love is the word, which he proclaimed to the whole world. His message has changed the course of every man. His inheritance will endure for all time, reaching the ends of the earth: The foundation for true peace, for a world, which will never know evil again. Today my father left for Paradise; he finished his earthly journey and he has gone away. But his heart will always be full of overflowing joy. My father has shown us the way of the wise that leads to eternal wisdom. Phramaha Thongrat, Buddhist monk

[:it]Chiara Lubich e tutto il Movimento dei Focolari nel mondo in queste ore si stringono intorno al Papa

31 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Le nuove barche dei pescatori

24 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

Happy Easter of the Resurrection

23 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

Each year, a special atmosphere seems to envelop us. And it cannot be otherwise, because in the space of just a few days we recall and re-live many of the mysteries of our faith. In fact during these days, that which we call to mind is all love. Holy Thursday The priesthood is love; it possesses a ministerial character – which means service – and is therefore concrete love. The Eucharist is love; here, Jesus gives all of Himself to us. Unity, which Jesus asked of the Father with the priestly prayer, “That all may be one as you and I are one,” is love, an effect of love. Love is the commandment which Jesus kept in his heart through his whole life, only to reveal it the day before his death: “Love one another as I love you. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We cannot let this day pass without remembering to tell Jesus of our desire to adhere completely to “his” and the “new” commandment; a commandment which did not remain unexplained, because he added: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Good Friday It is with his death on the cross on Good Friday that Jesus teaches the most sublime, divine, heroic lesson of what love is. He had given up everything: a life lived beside Mary amidst discomfort and in obedience; three years of preaching in which he revealed the Truth, gave witness to the Father, promised the Holy Spirit, and did all sorts of miracles of love; three hours on the cross from which he pardoned his executioners, opened Paradise to the Good Thief, gave his mother to us and, lastly, his Body and Blood which he had already given to us mystically in the Eucharist. All that remained to him was his divinity. He ceased feeling his union with the Father, which had made him so powerful on earth as the Son of God and so regal on the cross; he had to be disunited, in a way, from the one who, he said, was one with him: “The Father and I are one.” (Jn 10,30). In him love was annihilated, light was darkened, wisdom was silenced. We were detached from the Father. It was necessary that the Son, in whom we all were present, experience detachment from the Father. He had to experience being abandoned by God, so that we may never be abandoned again. Jesus was able to overcome such an immense trial by re-abandoning himself to the Father: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23, 46). In this way, he recomposed the broken unity between God and humanity and men and women among themselves. He was now manifesting himself to be the remedy to every disunity, the key to unity. Now it is our turn to cooperate with this grace and do our part. Since Jesus assumed all that is negative, behind each suffering, each separation, we can discover Jesus himself, one of the “faces” of his abandonment. We can embrace him in those sufferings and divisions, say “yes” to him just as he did when he completely accepted the Father’s will. Then he will live in us – even though we may be in pain – as the Risen Jesus; the peace we regain will be the proof. Easter of the Resurrection Jesus is faithful to his promise: “… where two or three are gathered together in my name [that is, in my love], there am I in the midst of them.” Yes, where two or more are united in his name, the Risen Jesus is present, and he brings with him the gifts of the Spirit: light, joy, peace, love. This was the awesome experience made with my first companions during the Movement’s beginnings in Trent, during World War II, when we made the commandment, “Love one another as I love you,” our own, and formulated a pact among ourselves: “I am ready to die for you, I for you…” The Risen Jesus is just what the world is waiting for! It is waiting for witnesses who can truly say: we have seen him with the senses of our soul, we have discovered him in the light with which he enlightened us, we have touched him in the peace he gave us, we have heard his voice in the depths of our hearts, we have tasted his unmistakable joy. In this way we can assure everyone that he is the fullness of happiness and we can make the world hope again.

[:it]Scienza & Vita

22 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Familyfest 2005 … al Papa della famiglia

21 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

90 bishops, friends of the Focolare, pray for the Pope

5 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

 A solemn Eucharistic concelebration to pray for the Pope’s complete recovery was said by 90 bishops coming from 47 different countries, gathered at Castelgandolfo for their annual meeting. The news of the Pope’s unexpected additional confinement reached them just before the conclusion of their meeting which began on February 19. Before leaving for their respective dioceses, they sent the Pope a message of gratitude, assuring him of their prayers for his prompt recovery: “United with the whole Church, we ask for extraordinary graces for you.” The bishops expressed their deep gratitude to the Pope “for your luminous example of faith and love in facing this new trial and for your ministry which is wholly a gift!” Indeed, the outstanding characteristic of those days was the exchange of messages with the Pope. An unexpected letter from the Pope, addressed to Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, arrived right before the Congress started. In reply, the bishops wrote: “Holy Father, truly you are the one who ‘loves most’ and ‘confirms his brothers’.”

John Paul II in his message made special mention of Chiara Lubich, expressing his “gratitude for the evangelical witness which the Movement gives in many parts of the world.” With reference to the theme of the meeting he encouraged the bishops “to give witness in today’s society to the presence of the Risen Christ, the center of the Church” and “vital principle” which cannot but give rise to a “renewed apostolic vitality” and “missionary audacity” responsive to the challenges of our times. He therefore invited the participants to be “eloquent signs” of the love of the crucified and risen Lord, present in the Eucharist and “artifices of his peace everywhere.”

Chiara Lubich, in her message read by Natalia Dallapiccola, one of her first companions, underscored that “The Risen Jesus is not a static presence;” but he is a “‘unifying principle,’ and is therefore active: love.” She went on to say, “This, however, requires the response of the human being.” “Every division in the community … alters the profound identity of the Church… This is why, at times, the Church is not loved.” “It is reciprocity, communion, which renders the Lord ‘visible’.” A number of bishops from different countries shared moving experiences of fruitful initiatives in the area of evangelization, of establishing peace between different ethnic groups and among politicians in nations suffering from conflict, such as Burundi, or in regions of Central America. There were also experiences of bishops, priests and lay people on “renewed apostolic vitality,” fruit of the presence of the Risen Jesus, in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue as well as in political and social fields.

Solemn concelebration for the Pope

5 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

Surprise and trepidation was the reaction of the Bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement, at the news of the Pope’s additional confinement in the hospital. They received the news just before the conclusion of their meeting held from Feb. 19-25, 2005 at the Mariapolis Center of Castelgandolfo (Rome). Before leaving for their respective dioceses, they sent the Pope this message: “Dearest Holy Father, before leaving Castelgandolfo, we are sending you our warmest greetings together with our heartfelt wishes for your prompt recovery. United with the whole Church in unceasing prayer, together with Mary Most Holy, we ask for extraordinary graces and comfort from the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, for you. Thank you, Holy Father, for your luminous example of faith and love in facing this new trial. Thank you for your ministry which is wholly a gift!” Indeed, the outstanding characteristic of those days was the exchange of messages with the Pope. A letter from the Pope to Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, promoter of the meeting – a completely unexpected gift during these days of the Pope’s infirmity – gave a powerful and incisive tone to the days together. In reply, the bishops wrote: “Holy Father, truly you are the one who ‘loves most’ and ‘confirms his brothers’.” John Paul II in his message made special mention of Chiara Lubich, expressing his “gratitude for the evangelical witness which the Movement gives in many parts of the world.” With reference to the theme of the meeting – “The presence of the Risen Jesus in the midst of his people: a vital principle for the Church of the 3rd millenium” – the Pope encouraged the bishops “to give witness in today’s society to the presence of the Risen Christ, the center of the Church.” He also said that a “renewed apostolic vitality and missionary audacity,” responsive to the challenges of our times cannot but spring forth from a gathering based on this “vital principle.” He therefore invited the participants to be “eloquent signs” of the love of the crucified and risen Lord, present in the Eucharist, and “artifices of his peace everywhere.” The presentations offered throughout those days marked by the warmth of brotherhood among all, reiterated the Pope’s appeal, as they presented the numerous sufferings of humanity: wars, hunger, sickness, precarious political and economic situations. At the same time, they transmitted an even greater faith in God’s intervention, inspiring firm and enlightened action. For example, Bishop Simon Ntamwana of Burundi spoke of the efforts done by his country’s episcopate to create a culture of peace and reconciliation after these difficult recent years. A bishop from Central America related how, strengthened by the experience he had made in last year’s meeting, to his surprise, he was able to act as a peacemaker among politicians. Bishop Desiderius Rwoma of Tanzania spoke of the spreading of the spreading of the Gospel as a result of constituting small spiritually formed Christian communities which are now attracting even a large number of non-Christians. Chiara Lubich, in her message read by Natalia Dallapiccola, one of her first companions, dealt in depth on Jesus’ promise to be present there “where two or more are united” in his name (see Mt 18,20). She underlined that “The Risen Jesus is not a static presence; rather he is a ‘unifying principle,’ and is therefore active: love.” She went on to say, “This, however, requires the response of the human being.” “Every division in the community, therefore, is against nature,” rather, “it creates an alteration in the profound identity of the community, which is Christ present there… This is why, at times, the Church is not loved.” It is, therefore, necessary to lead the believers’ interrelationships ever more closely towards “reciprocity, towards communion, which renders the Lord ‘visible’.” Conscious of the current world situation, the bishops manifested a deep sensitivity to these concepts, which were elaborated on in the succeeding days through a series of cultural reflections. These were offered by philosopher, Giuseppe Maria Zanghì, who spoke on the turnabout of this epoch and on the developments of academic dialogue with the Hindus and the Buddhists; by Hubertus Blaumeiser and Brendan Leahy – two theologians – who dealt on how the comprehension of the presence of the Risen Jesus and giving him the central place can affect various aspects of the life of the Church; Brazilian sociologist, Vera Araujo, who spoke on the human person in the context of a global society. These reflections were reinforced by the experiences shared by bishops, priests and lay people on the “renewed apostolic vitality” that comes from the presence of the Risen Jesus. The ecumenical aspect was presented through experiences on the dialogue of life, offered by bishops of different Churches. They also spoke of the growth in communion among movements and communities, made manifest in the great meeting at Stuttgart last May, entitled “Together for Europe”. Evangelical Pastor Friedrich Ashoff elaborated on this meeting. The political dimension was illustrated by Lucia Crepaz, president of the “Political Movement for Unity”. Tracing the ten-year experience of this Movement, she explained the characteristics of a political action that aims at being service to society, whose method is dialogue, and is therefore able to create “a network made up of different elements.” The planned “Familyfest” of April 16, 2005, announced by Annamaria and Danilo Zanzucchi, directors of the New Families Movement of the Focolare, drew the special interest of the bishops. At a time when the family as an institution is undergoing a serious crisis, the event hopes to put into light the family according to God’s plan in the context of today’s challenges. A large number of bishops expressed their desire to cooperate in making the Familyfest a reality in their respective countries. There are in fact 120 spots all over the world, which will be linked with Rome on live by television. “Here I experienced the freshness of the Gospel,” remarked Bishop Jean Ntagwarara from Burundi, one of the 20 bishops from Africa present. Expressing the conviction shared by many of his co-bishops, he said: “The spirituality put into practice is the remedy that can heal the many wounds of our people.” Bishop Giovanni Dettori from Sardinia (Italy), had this to say: “Unity gives me strength: one can feel that we are all one heart and one soul.” The most frequent observation of the participants was, in fact, that of having experienced “the living Jesus” throughout the time together, Jesus who today continues to touch the hearts of people and to move minds and arms to act in accordance with his Gospel and to express the gift of his love among people. In the context of this year dedicated to the Eucharist, particularly meaningful was the concelebration presided over by Bishops grouped according to different continents, who used elements typical of their respective cultures.

The therapeutic community of Mario Giostra

4 Mar 2005 | Non categorizzato

 For almost twenty years I have been working as a social worker in the area of drug addiction. At the moment I am working with clients with double diagnoses and I am also collaborating on a research project to establish criteria for the empirical revision of results for therapeutic communities. My involvement in this profession happened almost by chance, since I had been majoring in mathematics. The fact is that I was working as a volunteer, and tried to apply in a very simple way some of the intuitions that Chiara Lubich had on the way to love one’s neighbor. In doing so, I was able to establish a profound relationship with these young people and I was amazed to experience that their therapeutic and educational development was enriched by this approach. A few years ago, the results produced by this approach were beginning to merit attention and I gradually became convinced that this was not just an isolated experience of my own. Rather there had to be a precise relationship of cause and effect that brought about those results. I had the impression that I had hit on something new which would have significant potential in this field. Therefore, I felt the need to study what was happening and try to express it in a theory, in a model with a certain structure, and then to formulate appropriate strategies of intervention. Over these years I have reflected a lot on these ideas, but perhaps the sociological concept that has been most useful in this research is that of empathy. The sociologist Achille Ardigo’, for example, describes empathy as the capacity of a person who intentionally puts himself in front of another human being with the purpose of creating a relationship, a rapport. Therefore, this person has to become deeply aware of what the other person is living, not comparing it on his or her own experience and not reducing it to one’s own frame of reference, but rather recognizing it from the other’s point of view. Empathy, therefore, is not seen as a mental act, but rather as an experience through which a social being goes beyond his or her own daily experience and opens up to other experiences, including the relationship with other people. Carl Rogers is the person who has contributed the most to the understanding of this term. He describes empathy as “the capacity of living the life of the other person at the moment.” In 1959 he states that this means “to perceive the inner frame of reference of the other person with accuracy, and with the emotional components and meanings which pertain thereto, as if one were the other person.” It’s almost impossible not to see the evident similarities between empathy, as described here, and what Chiara Lubich expresses in her spiritual expression, “make yourself one,” which is a fundamental idea in the relationship of reciprocity that she has understood. It is an expression that is already present in several authors, especially those of the school of phenomenology and yet, in this context, it is enriched by new significance. Among the many talks in which Chiara Lubich explains this concept and the technique for living it effectively, I have chosen a few quotes: “To love the other person ‘as yourself.’ The other person is me. And so I love the other as myself. The other is hungry, I am hungry. The other is thirsty, I am the one who is thirsty. The other needs advice, I am the one that needs advice.” Another quote: “You need to stop and feel with your neighbor: to become one with him or her until you take on their painful burden or experience together the joyful event… This making yourself one demands a continual death of ourselves.” And another: “To make yourself one with every person that we meet: to share their feelings, to carry their burdens; to feel in us his or her problems and resolve them as if it were our own, made one out of love…” “To make yourself one it’s necessary to be totally detached from yourself, for the whole time you are with the other. In fact, we know that there are those who don’t listen right to the end, because they are attached to themselves or to something else. This person does not die totally in the neighbor and instead wants to give answers as soon as they come into their head… In this way, it is easier to explain what Carl Rogers and his school of thought call the “techniques of empathic understanding,” which to date are still very widely used in counseling and applied by many social workers. It would take a great deal of time to describe them adequately, and so I will only underline some of the essential characteristics. Empathic understanding is based on three fundamental suppositions, which are empathy, congruence (the therapist is congruent in the relationship) and positive regard toward the other. These assumptions are not only very present, but even indispensable for whoever wants to make themselves one with another person. The approach of Rogers also considers a whole range of nonverbal attitudes that serve to put the other person at ease, to make him or her feel relaxed, to make them “feel important.” These gestures include one’s posture, one’s facial expressions, and even the interior silence that makes room for the other. These nonverbal expressions, as we said, are indispensable, and are especially evident in someone who is “making themselves one” with another. We could go on at length about this…. However, we need to emphasize a fundamental and profound difference [between Rogers and Lubich] and that is the need for the “death of one’s ego” which Chiara repeats every time, describing it as a necessary, obligatory passage. In this way she develops a vision that we can call “other-centered,” a vision for which it is not enough to merely put oneself in the shoes of the other, but requires instead a revolutionary operation of self-annulment. I believe that this is the first time that the relationship with the other is based on removing one’s ego from the first and primary place. Many modern approaches to social work insist on the idea of reciprocity, which can run the risk of being a bit inflated. However, I dare say that none of them come close to the purity and profundity of Chiara’s concept of reciprocity. However, in my opinion, we cannot fall into the error of considering these reflections solely from the speculative point of view, since these ideas can be applied in numerous ways in daily life, and even more so, therefore, in the professional activity of a social worker. In my case, for example, these ideas made me change totally my way of carrying out an interview with a client, helping me to develop techniques that are very effective and easy to apply. I experienced many times that the very act of removing my ego, as we just described, allows the individual in front of me to give of him or herself, because they find an emptiness in a person who is open to them, an emptiness waiting to be filled. In this way, the person who needs help loses, so to say, the feeling of being in an inferior position, with respect to the person who is helping them. He or she feels they are the protagonist of their life, and this can help them set aside their reticence and defense mechanisms and open themselves spontaneously and with greater depth. Very often, when people who are defensive and closed in on themselves meet with someone who is empty out of love, they seem to “melt” and manage to open up. I think it’s important to add that this process does not in any way diminish the role of the therapist as someone who supports the other, but actually, through this type of communicating that is so effective, the role is reinforced, since annulling one’s ego out of love is not a way to disappear, but rather a deep expression of “being.” Besides, I have experienced that it’s possible to draw a relationship between these methods, or to use a term that’s not quite exact, to “fuse” this new approach that we are describing with theories or techniques that already exist, and thus reach very interesting results with great value for the sociologist and the therapist. In this case, we cannot speak of one way being superior to the other, but rather of a fusion of two paradigms that gives rise to a “third way” so to speak, which includes both, enriching both with new beauty and new meaning… In our case, for example, “making yourself one” can enrich and facilitate the application of the techniques of empathic listening, which on the other hand, can offer very effective instruments to the act of “making yourself one.” Another aspect to be underlined, one at the basis of all we’ve said, is that these techniques and approaches, which before were the exclusive patrimony of a few experts can now be transformed, with due caution, into effective instruments in the hands of many. To explain myself better, I’ll tell you something that happened to me a couple of months ago. It had to do with the grandson of one of my friends, who had lost his father at an early age and had started to show signs of being a troubled child. He had left school, seemed totally indifferent to his future, was completely closed in on himself and was demonstrating the first symptoms of the use of “light” drugs. When the mother’s relatives, worried about how quickly the situation was deteriorating, tried to open her eyes to what was happening, the woman, as often happens in these cases, reacted violently against them, rejecting what they said. She accused them of passing false judgment on a situation they didn’t understand and of ordering her around. She insisted that the boy was just going through a normal crisis of adolescence and didn’t need anyone’s help. She accused them of being spiteful, devious, etc. More or less this is the picture I got of the situation. It seemed obvious that any intervention on my part or of any other social worker would run the risk of an even bigger explosion. What could I do at this point? My experience led me to think that probably the best way to reassure the woman would be to use the method that is often used in these cases, which would be to express one’s point of view not through an objective truth, which could sound like an accusation, (using phrases like “you son has a problem”), but rather from a very personal point of view (through expressions that are undoubtedly true but are subjective, like “you know, I’m worried and this worry is making me sick”). Having said this, I would still need to explain this technique to a person who normally doesn’t engage in this kind of counseling. And therefore, I thought it could be important to start by advising him about how to “make himself one” with his sister, and in this I was helped by the fact that he already knew what I was talking about when I said “make yourself one.” In doing so, he could say he was sorry for what had happened, have his heart open to receive her pain, and listen to her right to the end, without giving any advice. Only after doing all this could he eventually bring up the problem of the son, but presenting it as something that worried him, and not as an objective situation. Here, too, the fundamental passage had to be the act of “stripping oneself” of one’s ego so as to lose completely any attitude of a “wise and brave person” in order to present himself to her with great humility and give her the possibility of expressing herself freely. The result was amazing, because in front of this unexpected attitude of interior emptiness, his sister felt the impulse to fill this void with her own love and as a consequence she opened up, pouring out all her worries and her desperation as a mother, seeing the situation of her son slipping out of her control. I think that in this case what happened is exactly that dynamic that I spoke of a moment ago. The empathic approach was understood and effectively applied because the person who used it started off with the attitude of “making himself one.” At the same time, however, the person who wanted to make himself one right to the end was able to due so in the best way by applying intelligently the technique that was explained to him. The result was a new technique, which included the strengths of both approaches, and resolved the problem. One important element to emphasize is that this was the experience of a person who had no previous experience in helping other people in this kind of relationship. However, since he was an “expert” so to say, in the art of “making himself one” with others he was able to use this spiritual resource, and also (and in this case, above all) his educational background that helped him to understand a methodology which he was not familiar with, successfully applying it and creating a rapport of reciprocity, based on empathy. Encouraged by the first results, I decided to keep going along this way. The next step was to form groups, which would urge the participants to aim at an experience of sharing and mutual help, based on the success of what I just described. This project began with young people who have often lived for years in a state of total isolation, closed in on themselves, filtering every relationship with others through those forms of self -gratification that are typical of drug addiction. The literature and the various experiences that already exist in this area came to my help, furnishing me with particularly valid instruments. I am referring in particular to several groups that utilize interactive games proposed by the school of bio-energetics, and other groups that use the approach of Rogers, or those who follow what is commonly known as the socio-emotive approach. My idea was basically very simple: to choose several of these instruments and put them together in a socio-therapeutic course to propose to the youth I was following. However, the fundamental idea would be that of sharing, based on that particular interpersonal relationship of the empathic type we just described. Here, too, several of the ideas of Chiara Lubich helped me to enrich these methodologies with new content. I am referring in particular to some “passages” that she advises and that are particularly effective to help small groups of individuals who want to bring ahead a way of sharing and growth, towards a reciprocal relationship of brotherly love. The first phase of this course was to make a “pact,” which can be described as a “pact of solidarity and mutual aid.” This requires a fundamental passage, which has the purpose of helping the individuals who are involved in the process to cement interpersonal relationships with one another and to remove any egocentric attitudes, in order to be actively interested in the others. In this phase, which might take more than one meeting, it might be opportune to insert moments in which there is the use of classic instruments, such as sociograms or other interrelational activities, which are adapted and formulated into interactive games that help the participants get to know one another better and enter into more profound relationships. Enriched by the spirit of reciprocity and mutual sharing, these activities acquire new life and new significance. To give an example, one idea that might appear very simplistic but which, however, has very interesting results is a “game” in which each one draws the name of someone else in the group and during the week tries to give special attention to this person, getting to know them better, being close to them and sustaining them in moments of difficulty… In this way, each one is transformed into a “tutor” so to say, a supervisor of the life of the other (or as a child would say, to be the “guardian angel” of the person). He or she is urged to go outside of his or her own world to leave space to the other. Besides, the name of the person is kept secret and so that contributes to creating a stimulating atmosphere of curiosity. It would be too long to describe in detail all the results obtained, but the amazement and enthusiasm often demonstrated by the participants, not to mention the way in which they managed to concretely help one another, to my mind merits great attention. One aspect to underline is that, no matter what techniques we decide to use, if the “pact” we talked about happens to become “shaky,” or for any other reason the will to help one another diminishes, these groups, and also subsequent meetings, will be almost totally emptied of significance and lose all its effectiveness. Proceeding in this way, it was then possible to structure other meetings, based on a very intense exchange of feelings and experiences of life. Here, too, the goal is to help these young people emerge from the prison made up of their egocentric attitudes and to urge them to share their interior world with others. This can be done in a variety of ways, on the condition that the exchange of experiences is not an end in itself, but rather a mutual gift between those who speak and those who listen. Here, too, I will limit myself to just one example. It is a technique that, among the many, has proven to be very effective. It consists in asking each member of the group to give as a gift to the others a “postcard on his or her life,” recounting an event that was emotionally significant. This creates an atmosphere of empathy that allows the others to re-live that experience together with the person. Normally these groups deal with strongly emotional topics. Sometimes, however, it can happen that the empathic atmosphere does not “take off.” In these cases, when we asked why, it was almost always because of unresolved conflicts among the youth themselves. This is just another confirmation of the therapeutic importance of having everyone in the group adhere fully and sincerely to the “pact” mentioned before… Finally, in the moment in which, through this process, the relationship among the people involved has matured sufficiently, it was possible to take a further step ahead, using more demanding techniques. I am referring in particular to a new type of group meeting in which the participants, urged by the will to help one another (which is obligatory), choose a person and under the guidance of a moderator, tell that person with respect, but very clearly, which are the person’s defects and those areas that need to be improved for the person to grow and progress, and then which are his or her good qualities and strong points. It is a moment (which we could call a “moment of truth”) to be done with great attention and care, since it is so delicate and because of the possible fragility of the people involved. Similar methodologies are present, with some differences, in various classical approaches, but what makes it different in this case, is exactly this effort to go out of oneself to concentrate on the characteristics and the problems of the other. I have to admit that I am often moved by the results of these groups. I could never have imagined developments of this type. These youth, who are hardened and corrupted by life circumstances, distrustful of others and reluctant to establish relationships with others, began to soften, creating this empathic atmosphere, which is so difficult to describe. The amazement and enthusiasm they showed facilitated communication with me and among themselves, in a way I have never experienced before, and was too obvious to be merely a random happening. I repeated this process various times, with different types of participants to be sure that the results do not depend on a particular component of persons, and yet the results were more or less identical. It’s clear that an experience repeated so many times with the same results cannot be the fruit of accidental circumstances. We are certainly considering a topic that needs further development, since we are dealing with instruments in the embryonic state. However, in my opinion, these first timid results show forcefully the effectiveness, and the revolutionary aspect, of the socio-cultural patrimony that comes from the experience of universal brotherhood proposed by Chiara Lubich.