The Egyptian Churches are now celebrating – and not from 18 to 25 January as in many other countries – their Week of Prayer for the unity of Christians. Fadiah and Philippe of the Focolare Movement in Egypt tell of their participation in the various initiatives of the local Churches and how their prayer invoking the Lord’s protection over the entire Egyptian nation is central to the prayer week especially in this delicate moment. . “Receptive Ecumenism” means overturning our mentality which often conceals itself behind the way the members of the different churches deal with one another. Rev. Dr. Callan Slipper, from the Focolare Movement’s International Study Centre explained this during the ecumenical meeting at Welwyn Garden City (London) last 4 February. Slipper, who is also Regional Delegate for all the Churches in Hertfordshire County, in his speech (Chiara Lubich and convivial ecumenism: how the spirituality facilitates unity between Christians) expounded on how “instead of thinking that all would be better if the others tried to be more similar to us, and that therefore we have something to teach, we should instead, approach others to learn from them.» By going towards the others with this attitude, he said, «we would discover that we have nothing to hide, but can only admit our weaknesses and the need to be healed. This opens up a new relationship and leads us to a new conversion and deeper bond with Christ, in whom we can fully discover our true ecclesiastic identity.” Among the audience was a number of highly qualified people: 14 Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran and Coptic Orthodox Bishops coming from different parts of England together with the Secretary General of Churches Together in England, the national ecumenical organisation of the Churches of England. For them, the meeting was a “taste” of a new ecumenical methodology and a way of sharing experiences in their respective churches. During the same week, in Germany, at the Ecumenical Centre of Ottmaring, all remembered the importance of authentic Christian life that can counter the violent and liberticidal phenomena we have recently witnessed, as in the attacks in Paris. Gérard Testard, French, and member of the Executive Committee of the “Together for Europe ” network and founder of the interreligious “Efesia” initiative, was guest of honour: “Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well – he said, referring to the phrase chosen for the Week of Prayer “Will you give me a drink? ” (John 4,7) – points out the way for this situation: Jesus breaks down all the barriers men have built and manifests himself as the Saviour of the world. The present-day events oblige us as Christians to work for unity, while the mission of unity goes beyond the Christian world to face the perils of unacceptable terrorism, violence, fanaticism.” Testard presented the positive experience of dialogue promoted also by the Council of Muslims of France and the French Bishops’ Conference, and “Efesia” created in 2007 in Lebanon. Christians and Muslims regularly meet on 25 March, feast of the Annunciation, since Mary is highly venerated also by Muslims. After four years the Lebanese authorities declared 25 March as a national Christian-Muslim holiday. It is historically the country’s first common feast day.»
Father Mychayl is a Ukranian Greek Catholic priest from Kiev, who lives the Focolare spirituality. From the pages of Città Nuova magazine he helps us to follow the events that are taking place in his beloved and devastated country. A year after the outbreak of the conflict we asked him to give us his read on what has happened. “Nearly a year has gone by since the revolt on Maidan Square and up until now there have been 5000 deaths and over a million refugees. The war in Donbass has lasted for months. People are dying, the infrastructure is at the point of collapse, and hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing. Inside the patchwork of territories controlled by Ukrainians and by separatists, chaos of the gangs, the commanders who are at war with one another, the poorly-armed and even more poorly trained military may all have the side effect of becoming a war of everyone against everyone. According to Father Mychayl this is why now more than ever Ukraine needs an education on peace with everyone actively involved: young and old, teachers and children, parents and children: “A simple but engaging education on peace, based on the connection between theory and practice, values and experience. An education to affirm the culture of Peace, the only one able to respect and respond to everyone’s real and honest questions on the difficult road toward universal brotherhood in Ukraine.” When asked what steps would be necessary, he said: “Allow me to answer with something Chiara Lubich said in London in 2004: ‘(. . .) it would almost be necessary to propose to all those acting in politics to formulate a pact of brotherhood for their country, which places the good of the country well above any partial interest, be it individual, group, class or party. Because brotherhood offers surprising possibilities: it allows you to hold together and appreciate needs that might otherwise develop into irreconcilable conflict. For example, the experiences of local autonomies could be joined to a sense of common history; awareness of the importance of international bodies and of all the processes that tend to overcome barriers and allow important steps in the direction of unity in the human family.’” But the Ukraineian crisis has triggered the largest wave of refugees, since the Balkan wars: over 900,000 internally displaced persons. “It is no longer possible to live a normal life in the besieged city of Donetsk. The elderly – second-time witnesses of the horrors of war – are dying for lack of medical care, or have had to leave their homes. Many are not receiving the summer pension. In areas controlled by separatists there is everything in the shops and pharmacies, but no money. Banks and post offices have been shut down.” How can houses, roads and bridges be rebuilt, which are not only structural connections, but a means of healing invisible wounds? “It’s not an easy thing. Giving psychological help to the affected populations is less easy than building roads or sending humanitarian aid. For several years now Sophia University Institute in cooperation with UkraineIustitia et Pax, have been offering training courses that prepare young people to be contributing citizens for the common good of Ukraine.” “After the wave of protests and wars, the country is in need of these “Schools of involvement” that form students in civil and social involvement, rooted in the urban fabric; places where there is experience in political action founded on the values of sharing and nourished on the ideal of ‘universal brotherhood’. Thanks to the Maidan Square protests Ukraine has become a true nation, a people that wishes to build its life upon Christian values. Now it’s a matter of translating those values that were lived out during the protests at the square into the concrete facts in daily life; to take on the expectations and the deepest needs of the country so as not to fall into apathy definitively.” The schools of involvement do in fact provide interpretative models and operative proposals focused on spreading the culture of peace: “One of Ukraine’s principle challenges is the situation of internal immigrants, their integration in other regions of Ukraine, and the consequences of the hostility. The formation of flexible skills, therefore, to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, human rights, mediation, acceptance, mutual respect and reconciliation – these are the objectives we want to place at the centre of the pedagogy of the future.”
During the General Audience of February 4, 2015 Pope Francis stated: “Brothers and sisters, when I hear the words “victory” or “defeat” I feel great sorrow, great sadness in my heart. They are not just words; the only just word is “peace”. This is the only just word. I am thinking of you, Ukrainian brothers and sisters …. Think, this is a war among Christians! You all share one baptism! You are fighting with Christians. Think about this scandal. And let us all pray, for prayer is our protest before God in times of war.”
While world diplomacy is mobilised, the facts seem to belie any prospects of peace. Yet there are people and institutions who work with courage to safeguard it, even at the risk of their own lives.
We ask Vera Fediva from the Focolare Movement and resident of Ukraine: How are the ordinary people living through this situation?
“This is a very difficult tiime for our country, filled with frustration and suffering. Nearly 5,000 civilian deaths, very many wounded and disabled, thousands of refugees and, unfortunately, we can’t foresee what the end will be. We often remember how our Movement was begun in the midst of the Second World War when everything crumbled. . . but we never would have imagined that it could happen in the twenty first century, nearly in the very heart of Europe and in such a tranquil country like Ukraine. Our community resides at Mukacevo on the western side of the country where there are no armed clashes. But psychologically it is difficult to hold up, also because many have relatives, friends, neighbours and even children who are fighting. Many have lost loved ones. We’re living in the midst of a situation in which nothing is stable. It’s difficult to plan anything. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. Perhaps a husband or an only son will leave for the war. We can only count on God who is Love. Just as when the Movement began. . . We do feel that it is important in such circumstances not to allow hatred into our heart, so that we can be able to forgive and even to pray for our enemies.”
As the Pope says, prayer is our protest. A year away from the beginning of the conflict, what did you do as a Focolare community and with other Christians so that this “protest” could be felt?
“For several years we have been working in defense of life at all of its stages; this allowed us to build relationships with people from several Christian Churches in our city. We held a few events together like the “March for Life” and “Family Fest”. We were encouraged by the “Ecumena” group from Kosice, Slovak Republic, which follows the spirituality of unity. Last year we organised a large “Prayer for Peace in Ukraine” event in the centre of the city, together with ten different Churches, which was largely attended by the general population. Then we continued to meet, and we shared three great moments of “Prayer for Peace” since the war began. We feel that the unity among us is particularly important now as Christians are fighting and killing one another in a war that is completely senseless. That’s our small and silent response to the Pope’s prayer, to overcome the scandal of the division and make a contribution to peace and reconciliation in our land.”
“If at the basis of laws or social projects we place a mentality lacking in respect for the suffering, the disabled and the elderly, then little by little we create a false society. We give importance only to a few values like physical well-being, strength, exaggerated productivity and power, while we distort the purpose for which a nation lives; that is, for the good of the human person and society.
Health, as we know, is a precious gift which should be protected. Thus we should do all we can so that our bodies and everyone else’s, too, receive nourishment and rest, and are not exposed to sicknesses, accidents or an exaggerated amount of sports.
The body is also important for a Christian. But if there is a loss of health, we must remember that there is a Life which is not conditioned by the state of our health, but by the supernatural love that burns in our hearts.
And it is this superior Life which gives value to our physical life even when we are sick. If we consider illnesses merely from a human point of view, we can only affirm that they are misfortunes. But, if we look at illnesses from a Christian point of view, we can see that they are trials in which we must train ourselves for the great trial which awaits all of us, when we will have to face the passage to the next Life.
Didn’t the Holy Father just recently say that illnesses are spiritual exercises, sermons that God Himself preaches to us? People who are sick have a richness that others do not have; a richness of another kind. In speaking of asceticism and mysticism, the Church refers to illnesses not only in reference to the field of medicine, but as purifications that God sends, therefore as small steps towards union with God.
In addition, our faith tells us that in sickness a person participates in the sufferings of Christ. In this light, the sick person is another Christ crucified who can offer his or her suffering for what is of most value, the eternal salvation of all people.
In the frenzy of work and daily life we are tempted at times to see people who suffer only as marginal cases to help so that they can quickly recover and return to their activities. It doesn’t occur to us that they are the ones who even now can do the most, who can contribute the most.
People who are ill can positively carry out their role on behalf of humanity only if they are understood and loved. Love can help them to give meaning to their condition and to be aware of what they represent. And what holds true for the sick, holds true also for the disabled. People with a disability need love. They need to be recognized for the value that their life has: it is sacred, as every other life is sacred, with all the consequent dignity. They need to be considered as persons and, as much as possible, live normal lives among other people.
What should we say about the elderly? Every life calls for love, and the elderly are no exception. Today even the elderly constitute a problem because of the increased number of people in this age category due to the higher average life expectancy.
Thus we are aware of a tendency in society to isolate the elderly, to consider them as a social burden because they are no longer productive. We speak of the elderly as a category apart, almost as if we were not speaking of human beings. Besides the inevitable physical decline they experience, the elderly can become discouraged considering themselves as useless.
We must give new hope to the elderly. Advanced age is nothing other than the third season of life. Life that is born, develops, and declines, these are nothing other than three aspects of the one mystery of all life which derives from God-Love.
In certain Asian and African countries, the elderly are highly respected because they possess wisdom. In fact, the elderly person emphasizes which is essential, what is most important.
We remember what was said about St. John the Evangelist. At the age of eighty, while visiting the Christian communities, he was asked about the message of Jesus. He always replied: “Love one another,” as if he had nothing more to add. With this phrase he had truly focused on the central thought of Christ.
To distance ourselves from the elderly is to deprive ourselves of a patrimony. We must value them by loving them. And we must value them even when they are sick and seriously ill, when there is no more hope humanly speaking, and their need for assistance is pressing.
Before God, there is no life, no part of life, that is not worthy of being lived.
“If at the basis of laws or social projects we place a mentality lacking in respect for the suffering, the disabled and the elderly, then little by little we create a false society. We give importance only to a few values like physical well-being, strength, exaggerated productivity and power, while we distort the purpose for which a nation lives; that is, for the good of the human person and society.
Health, as we know, is a precious gift which should be protected.
Thus we should do all we can so that our bodies and everyone else’s, too, receive nourishment and rest, and are not exposed to sicknesses, accidents or an exaggerated amount of sports.
The body is also important for a Christian.
But if there is a loss of health, we must remember that there is a Life which is not conditioned by the state of our health, but by the supernatural love that burns in our hearts.
And it is this superior Life which gives value to our physical life even when we are sick.
If we consider illnesses merely from a human point of view, we can only affirm that they are misfortunes.
But, if we look at illnesses from a Christian point of view, we can see that they are trials in which we must train ourselves for the great trial which awaits all of us, when we will have to face the passage to the next Life.
Didn’t the Holy Father just recently say that illnesses are spiritual exercises, sermons that God Himself preaches to us?
People who are sick have a richness that others do not have; a richness of another kind.
In speaking of asceticism and mysticism, the Church refers to illnesses not only in reference to the field of medicine, but as purifications that God sends, therefore as small steps towards union with God.
In addition, our faith tells us that in sickness a person participates in the sufferings of Christ. In this light, the sick person is another Christ crucified who can offer his or her suffering for what is of most value, the eternal salvation of all people.
In the frenzy of work and daily life we are tempted at times to see people who suffer only as marginal cases to help so that they can quickly recover and return to their activities. It doesn’t occur to us that they are the ones who even now can do the most, who can contribute the most.
People who are ill can positively carry out their role on behalf of humanity only if they are understood and loved. Love can help them to give meaning to their condition and to be aware of what they represent.
And what holds true for the sick, holds true also for the disabled. People with a disability need love.
They need to be recognized for the value that their life has: it is sacred, as every other life is sacred, with all the consequent dignity. They need to be considered as persons and, as much as possible, live normal lives among other people.
What should we say about the elderly?
Every life calls for love, and the elderly are no exception.
Today even the elderly constitute a problem because of the increased number of people in this age category due to the higher average life expectancy.
Thus we are aware of a tendency in society to isolate the elderly, to consider them as a social burden because they are no longer productive. We speak of the elderly as a category apart, almost as if we were not speaking of human beings.
Besides the inevitable physical decline they experience, the elderly can become discouraged considering themselves as useless.
We must give new hope to the elderly.
Advanced age is nothing other than the third season of life.
Life that is born, develops, and declines, these are nothing other than three aspects of the one mystery of all life which derives from God-Love.
In certain Asian and African countries, the elderly are highly respected because they possess wisdom.
In fact, the elderly person emphasizes which is essential, what is most important.
We remember what was said about St. John the Evangelist. At the age of eighty, while visiting the Christian communities, he was asked about the message of Jesus. He always replied: “Love one another,” as if he had nothing more to add. With this phrase he had truly focused on the central thought of Christ.
To distance ourselves from the elderly is to deprive ourselves of a patrimony.
We must value them by loving them.
And we must value them even when they are sick and seriously ill, when there is no more hope humanly speaking, and their need for assistance is pressing.
Before God, there is no life, no part of life, that is not worthy of being lived.
An educational agreement to be built in harmony between the families, civil and cultural institutions. This is the idea on which the project of Scholas Occurrentes (schools that respond to the needs of the population) is based, created in Argentina launched by former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, J.M. Bergoglio and relaunched today at international levels. The aim of the «Scholas is to integrate in some way, the educational efforts of all, and rebuild the educational agreement in harmony, since only with the harmonization of all those in charge of educating our youth and our children, can education bring about change. This is why Scholas seeks to integrate education with culture, sports, science; this is why Scholas tries to build bridges, to move out of the “small-scale” and seek these aspects further beyond. Today this interaction of knowledge is being actualized in all continents, » Pope Francis stressed at the end of the 4th World Congress held in the Vatican from 2-5 February. The climax of the congress, was the video link up with some disabled adolescents who participated in the inclusive scholastic programme of the 400,000 schools participating in the project. Among them was a 13 year old visually-impaired girl, Isabel, who loves athletics and asked the Pope to tell all those who suffer impairments «not to give up, because with some effort, they can achieve their goals.» Yes, because «all of you have a treasure chest inside », Pope Francis said in his video message, «a great treasure. Your task is to open the chest, bring out that treasure, nurture it, share it with others, and also receive the treasure of others.» More than 250 participants, among which, the major experts in the field of education and social responsibility, those professing different creeds and cultures, and delegations of sports organisations, as well as representatives of the world of art, show biz and culture, ITC companies that, through the most advanced technologies, help to «create a classroom where all are welcome,» as José María del Corral, Scholas Director declared. And therefore rediscover, the educational itinerary game, education in beauty, rediscovery of harmony between the “language of the brain ” and the “language of the heart” which are the educational programmes the Pope outlined in his speech. It was the spark that lit up in the hearts of the players in the game, presented at the Scholas convention, and who in the previous days had share their experiences, research studies and educational projects in which learning and solidarity merge in a pedagogical strategy open to all: students with particular educational needs, dependence, poverty, care of the environment. To this regard, amongst others, were also some projects of the Focolare, such as the Udisha project in India, mobilization against gambling, with the Slot Mob project in Itay, the Living Peace project in Egypt. Furthermore, two morning sessions were dedicated to deepening the pedagogy of Learning and Solidary Service, developed in the United States in the 60s and promoted over the last twenty years by Maria Nieves Tapia of the Focolare together will many others of the many networks and ogranisations. The CLAYSS (Latina American Centre for learning and Solidary Service,) undertakes to integrate this with dialogue and research studies on fraternity and pro-social activities. The main pedagogical theories were presented at the Congress by Carina Rossa, of Education towards Encounter and Solidarity (EIS) LUMSA and Education and Unity (EDU), theories which the Scholas network is trying to implement. «The youth are the ones who will benefit», concluded Pope Francis, underlining the importance of this work which builds bridges between the youth of all nations and creeds, educating them towards peace and fraternity. He then affirmed: «We will not change the world if we do not change education ». This is a real «rescue plan» put into action, as he had said on other occasions, to limit the reject culture which leaves no room in society for a generation of children and adolescents, and continue believing that «life is a great treasure, but which is meaningful only if shared with others. » To participate in the project, consult: www.scholasoccurrentes.orgThe Pope’s entire speech
Sister Tina Ventimiglia, a Franciscan Sister of the Poor, and Resi and Alessandra, volunteers of the Randi Association, find unimagined ways to contact and accompany victims of human trafficking, and to rescue them. Prevention plays an important role, through the creation of opportunity for development in the southern hemisphere of the world.
Yesterday, February 8, 2015, coincided with the liturgical feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese woman who, as a child, had a dramatic experience of slavery. This was the day chosen as the day for the first International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. It was meant to break the silence on this “shameful wound that has no place in civil society.” That is how Pope Francis defined the phenomenon during the Angelus, with his heart full of sorrow for the multitude of “men, women and children,” “who are enslaved, exploited, abused, used as instruments of work or pleasure, and often tortured and humiliated.” He called on governments to eradicate the causes.
It is significant that the first to raise the voices against this ‘modern’ and unacceptable form of slavery were the Religious men and women who are spread across the world, and often the first and only ‘Good Samaritans’ who are able to reach out to those whose personal freedom has been violently robbed from them by those who have taken taking full possession of their lives and made them slaves.
The experience of Tina Ventimiglia, a Franciscan Sister of the Poor was particularly meaningful. For twelve years she and her community have taken on the task of reaching out to girls living on the streets in Pistoia, Italy. “Illegal immigration and forced labour,” she says, “often has the countenance of a woman, the victim of so-called ‘protectors’. These fearful, suspicious or dismissive faces of those who no longer trust anyone strongly challenge us. In the light of what our founder taught and the charism of Chiara Lubich, we don’t see them as something to run away from, to cast off, throw away or, even worse, to condemn – we see them as ‘wounds’ of Christ in need of healing. You don’t need to ‘fight’ evil, but ‘pass over it’ by exercising ‘emptiness’, accepting the person just as she or he is, worthy of love, regardless of the situation they are in. Love never counts the cost, but loves without measure and continues to love even when it is not accepted or understood. And love also makes us understand which concrete steps we can take, like the path of health care, or legal assistance in order to restore someone’s identity by obtaining legal documents for them. We also offer support in processing their experiences and discovering inner resources for carrying on with their lives, making them feel that they are both worthy of love and capable of loving. We never neglect to help them find a network of people with whom they can have healthy relationships that will allow them to insert in local community, workplace and independent living.
Alessandra: “Randi is the baby girl who was born to Rebecca twenty two years ago in the hospital where I was working. She immigrated illegally to Livorno, Italy, and didn’t speak any Italian. But her anguish was apparent since, not having a Visitor Visa, she feared baby would be taken away from her. Welcoming her without judgement or prejudice, we were able to work out a solution for her. After a very short time more than seventy girls in similar or worse situations knew they could count on our association, which we named ‘Randi’.”
“What do we do?” Resi asks. “We often find ourselves in front of situations of slavery for economic gain. This is a business that moves a market of 24 billion euros and involves between 27 and 50 million human beings across the globe, most of them women and children. It is a real and very frightening trafficking that creates fear, isolation, and the inability to defend oneself against it in any way. Around half of the trafficking involves young women forced into prostitution. It really is not easy to draw near to these enslaved individuals who are carefully prevented from contact with the outside world. Sometimes we meet them by accident, when they come for treatment at hospital, or when we meet on a train. When they do come into contact with us, the spirituality of unity helps us to convey to them that they finally have someone they can trust. And this is where the miracle occurs, because perhaps for the first time they aren’t being asked for anything in return.”
Healing wounds is the great challenge of the Gospel. But we should also prevent them whenever possible. And this is the side that has been taken by crowds of men and women Religious who travel with the Good News to foreign lands where they promote the dignity of the person. The Focolare is doing the same in 53 countries on 4 continents, they are operating more than 100 development interventions that allow 15,000 children and their families to create concrete development opportunities that are spent in their own lands, in freedom.
“The couple, married for 28 years and with four children, three of which remained in Lubumbashi (Congo) for their University studies, had discovered God as Love and had placed Him as their first priority as a couple and this was the spiritual basis of their decision to leave everything to follow Christ’s calling.
For some time now the Movement’s community in Gabon had been asking for a new focolare in Libreville. And this was why in 2011, we were sent as a “focolare-family.”
We decided to place ourselves at the service of the movement, leaving our jobs and moving to a new land. We had never been separated from our children for such a long time. It was not easy but the whole family agreed to our decision. Of course, there were unknown aspects we would have had to face… but we put our trust in God who is Love.
Upon our arrival in Gabon our first and foremost task was to strengthen our mutual love as a couple. And due to this, our love grew stronger and helped us to start anew in loving each other and all those we met along the way.
Here we found a really warm community, and with such helpful and generous people, despite the poverty. We travelled a lot across the country to also meet the farthest communities, and were welcomed with enthusiasm everywhere. In some villages we even found people lined up along the road, waving branches of the trees growing along the road, as a sign of their joy. The Christian families here, as in the rest of Africa, have suffered the setbacks of socio-cultural changes, which called for our positive reaction. We are helping many couples accomplish their journey of faith, and as of today, many have received the sacrament of marriage and others are still preparing to do so.
We have strongly experienced God’s providence, starting from the house for the movement’s activities which was a gift from the Archbishop of Libreville. To refurbish it, each one in the community brought what they could: a bed, mattress, pair of bed sheets, stove, fork, plate… At the same time, all the communities of Gabon went all out to concretely help us with our daily needs. Regularly, they sent us cassava, rice, bananas… often the doorbell would ring and to our surprise, we would find what we needed at our doorstep. Unity, love, and faith in the words of the Gospel helped us to overcome the unending difficulties we encountered: unemployment, illnesses, misunderstandings….
After three years we returned to Lubumbashi. Our children had all grown, also in terms of maturity. Also under this aspect, we saw that the Gospel is true. It was a great joy to see them again and we felt a deep unity with each of them.
When we left once again, they renewed their willingness to “send us out” again on a mission which consists in helping people to meet God, also through our mutual love, the warmth of the family and our unity, and the great desire of the community of Gabon to have a real focolare.”
“Because of my professional military training and also because of my overly rigid personality, it was very difficult for me to relate with my children. I was aware that I had to correct my attitude, but I didn’t know where to begin from. The words of the Gospel invited me to place love at the basis of my child-raising, and therefore to make a change in my relationship with them, a major breakthrough, not halfway, but radical. Beginning, constantly beginning again, little by little, the path of communication was opened. I tried to enter into their world, to be more interested in their aspirations and concerns. I came to know their problems, we suffered and rejoiced together and, in that way, the distance between us disappeared even with the one with whom it was most difficult. My role as a father took on a new dimension: now I’m also their counsellor, friend and brother. (F. U. – Perù) “I’m 29 years old, and I come from Sri Lanka. In my country I was a cook and fought for greater justice among social classes, but that was looked upon with suspicion and I was obliged to leave my country and go to Europe where everything is quite different for me. As soon as I arrived I felt tremendously alone and filled with rancour towards everyone. Then, someone in the refugee camp told me about some young Christians with the same ideal as mine: to make the world a better place. Amazed at the thought that others could share my dream, I felt heartened and began to look at the people around me, to be more cordial with others, to greet people. A lot of human relationships were begun among the people, to the social worker’s great surprise. I’m a Buddhist and through my relationship with Christians and with the West my own faith has grown.” (S. – Sri Lanka) “I thought that by deciding to go to Lourdes as a stretcher bearer for the UNITALSI Lourdes Association in service to the sick, it would make me really experience a pilgrimage filled with surprises, with ‘special effects’. Actually, accepting my good will and this not-so-disinterested intention, God used my circumstances to make me understand what He wanted; that is, that my service to the sick , yes, is important for them, but also and especially for me. I am the one in need of them. Because – I share this as the synthesis of my experience at Lourdes – if I am fortunate enough to give away what I have freely received from God, the sick repay with the maximum that they have to give: a smile, a gesture of gratitude, a warm greeting. . .” (M.G. – Italy) Source: Il Vangelo del giorno, febbraio 2015 – Città Nuova Editrice
A school of the Gospel:an appointment that takes place every two months and involves the entire village, including the parish priest and the Fon, the royal authority of the place. The subjects? Studies on phrases of the Gospel, from various perspectives mostly in relation to their application to daily life. A phrase is chosen as the motto for the week, up to the next meeting during which, in a spirit of communion, all will share their efforts to put it into practice, to encourage one another to continue the experiment. This experience which started in Fontem – the Focolare town of Cameroon – was an idea of the Fon and was also launched in Akum, another village in Cameroon. Initially, those who attended were mostly women. But as time passed, there was also an increased participation of men, struck (though they did not admit it publicly) by the changes they saw in their wives. Here are some of their stories.
“My name is Suh Nadia,” a girl said, “Some of my schoolmates and I agreed to meet for the world prayer of the youth of the Focolare called Time-out. At first, there were six of us, and then 12. At a certain point, the Headmaster found out about it and called me to his office. I thought that we were out for a punishment since we would interrupt our studies for a few minutes to pray. I tried to be brave and to explain the importance of this moment of prayer. In fact, even if Cameroon is a peaceful place, there are many countries around us beset by war, and we have to pray for them. After listening to me, the Headmaster thanked me and said that he would change the schedule of the lessons so that all the students could join us.”
Then Evangeline speaks up: “While on my way to my aunt’s house, I noticed that the neighbours were maltreating a girl who had gone to sleep in Church to escape. On accompanying her home the parish priest tried to convince her family to treat her well. But the moment the parish priest left, they started to scold her again. She cried so much. I approached her, tried to listen to her with love, and decided to go and speak with her family. Even if my aunt tried to dissuade me from doing so, remembering what the Gospel says, the next day I went just the same. The lady said that the girl was not their daughter, but one who worked for them as a nurse. “Precisely because she helps you,” I said, “you should treat her like a daughter.” The woman did not seem to be paying attention to my words, but her husband was listening: “Who are you?” he asked, “Who sent you?” When he found out that I had gone there on my own initiative, he thanked me and promised that they would not maltreat her any more. Seeing that the girl had almost nothing to wear, I brought her some of my clothes.”
Veronica usually also cooks for her mother-in-law. One day the woman told her that she had a problem with her eyes and could hardly see what she was eating, and that perhaps, it was best she stopped bringing her food. Veronica made an appointment at the hospital and on the evening prior to which, went to sleep in her house. Two sons of the woman live in that city, but they did not show any interest. The doctors decided to operate on her immediately, and so Veronica, despite her job commitments, remained with her in the hospital for a week. On returning home, not even her other sons cared for their mother, so Veronica continued to go to take care of her and bring her food, dismissing the fact that her children would go to visit only when she was there, to take advantage of the food she brought. “It is the fourth time I am participating in these ‘new evangelisation’ meetings,” Veronica concluded. “I am only trying to put into practice what I learn here.”
“Only 2000 Cameroon francs remained (circa 3,00 Euros) and I still had to buy some things,” Marie says, referring to the phrase of the Gospel ‘Give and you will be given’. “In order to save I went to the market which was six miles away, with the 700 frs. I still had. On my return I noticed that I had forgotten to buy oil, and decided to do so near the house: my 700 frs were just enough. I was about to cross the street when a girl patted my shoulder: help me to buy some spices, she asked. A voice inside me said: give! So I paid for her spices: 250 frs. With what remained I could only buy half a litre of oil. A man I knew, asked me to buy him some salt: it cost 100 frs. Lastly, a boy approached me and also asked if I could pay for some spices too: another 200 frs. With the money that remained I could no longer buy any oil. When I got home I asked the children to heat the tins to see if any oil still remained, but they were completely empty. So I sent them to the shop dealer to ask if we could have some oil on credit, but he didn’t have any. Not even my next-door neighbour had any. How would I manage to cook for my kids? At that instant, my close friend’s son arrived with a basket on his head. “I’m here,” he said, “because my mother couldn’t come for your mother’s death and now she wanted to send you this basket.” When I opened it, there were some coconuts, dried fish and… five litres of oil!”
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Catholic Church’s year dedicated to the Consecrated Life. Two happy coincidences in which the vocation of German Evangelical Lutheran focolarina, Heike Vesper, becomes even more meaningful.
Heike recounts: “I was sixteen years old when my mentally handicapped twin brother died. That very sorrowful event gave birth to my desire for a life with true meaning. But I was certanily never thinking of a life of consecration to God… That monsastic lifestyle had practically disappeard in the Reformed Church. For Luther, every baptised Christian already had within them the call to follow Jesus in a total way and, essentially, this was lived out in work and in family. Luther didn’t see the consecrated state as a higher state, since all are called to a perfection that becomes attainable only through God’s love, through his mercy. Consecration to God was a totally foreign concept for me, therefore; foreign also because of the atheistic environment that surrounded me in East Germany.
A few months later, in the spring of 1977, I got acquainted with young people from the Focolare, a movement that had begun in the Catholic Church and was open to dialogue with the faithful of other Churches, religions and people of non-religious convictions. I felt strongly drawn by their evangelical choice and even became invovled in their many foramtive and social activities that were offered to us, or that we ourselves produced. Our animators were a bit older than us, the men and women focolarini. They had made a total choice of God and lived in community. Their way of life greatly fascinated me, but I saw it to be too high a calling for me, and unreachable.
At one point a misunderstanding arose between the Focolare and my pastor because of a personal decision one of us had made. It was nothing serious but enough to make me realize that it only takes a small thing to reawaken ancient prejudices and reopen wounds that had seemed to be on the mend. It was a very strong experience in which I perceived God to be calling me to offer my life as an example, and that I could do this through the focolare. I felt both happiness and shock in front of this call. I didn’t feel up to to facing up to the diversity between our churches for 24 hours a day. For two years I tried to to silence God’s invitation, but every once in a while it would forcefully resurface.
Once, when i Chiara Lubich was visiting Germany, a group of Evangelical Lutherans posed questions to her. Her answers loosened the knots within me. Her words made me realise that entering the focolare would mean living the Gospel with the help of sisters who were animated by the same radical intention: trying to live Catholics and Evangelical Lutherans together; that meant choosing as our model Jesus in the moment of his abandonment by the Father when crying out a ‘why’ which, left unanswered for him, has recomposed unity between God and men, between the peoples, between the different Churches, between us.
Then and there I didn’t think that all of this meant consecrating myself to God, but only responding to God’s call to witness with my life that unity is possible. That passion for unity marked me in heart and soul, and gave me wings even in moments of darkness and trial.
When I found myself living in the focolare in Leipzig, I often attended the Lord’s Supper at my brothers and sisters of the Christusbruderschaft. One day, one of them asked me how we could stay faithful to our churches and live such an intense spirituality with the Catholics. That’s when I understood the great value of Chiara’s great mandate: Jesus forsaken. By loving him, who became division for us, not only do we find the strength to no longer feel divided within ourselves, but to be unity for the others. In Him we discover the importance of living with Jesus spiritually present in our midst, drawn by our mutual love. This presence is not linked to any sacrament, but to the life of the Word.”
“Chiara Lubich’s spirituality invites us to be open to communion first of all in our own families and, once there’s unity in our own families, to open ourselves to other families. No family is an island. We all feel the need to share our spiritual and material possessions, our time and our abilities, so that a network is built that is doing something that helps the world that is waiting for a love won’t give up, and always begin again.”
Anna and Alberto Friso sounded quite delighted as they remarked on the opening of the Cause of Beatification of Chiara Lubich last January 27, 2015 in Frascati, Italy. They knew the foundress of the Focolare Movement personally and for twelve years were in charge of the New Families Movement, one of the Movement’s first family associations. They took on that role just after marrying and travelling from Padua to Rocca di Papa to take part in a family conference with their first newborn son.
“We were very struck that a consecrated woman could have the family so much at heart and that her ideal could also be applied to our vocation as a married couple,” they recalled. Not only: “Chiara was a modern woman, pretty but not flashy, elegant but not affected, with an appealing and harmonious way of expressing herself,” the Frisos noted. “We were coming from the province, two simple working people, clumsy. With great simplicity and firm conviction she told us that Jesus was also counting on us, as individuals, but also as a family.” Lubich was indeed convinced that her spirituality was especially suited for families, because in its original design, it was a small community of people united by love.”
Currently, Alberto and Anna take care of the non-profit “Action for new families” group, which provides adoption at a distance in the world’s southern hemishpere. When they were in charge of the New Families they would meet with the foundress regularly: “She listened to the problems and the projects, but mostly she gave us the courage without which it would have proven difficult for two poor creatures like us to carry ahead a movement made of so many families, and on the global level. She offered guidelines, affirmed and dreamt with us. But most often she expressed her trust and confidence in us married people.”
Members of the Pontifical Council for the Family the Friso’s had also been invited by Chiara to give attention to separated couples, divorced and remarried people, which she described as “the face of Jesus crucified and forsaken.” Chiara’s charism continues to announce God’s divine love for each and everyone,“a conviction not only found in Scripture, but in the proofs of personal experience, from our own lives. It’s an announcement that turns out to be efficacious also for those who have perhaps lost hope or faith, or think that separation is already inevitable. If God loves me, if he gave his life for me, then I should – I can! – respond to that love by loving the person next to me. And who are more next to one another than a married couple, their children and other family members?”Alberto and Anna argued: “If we sincerely place ourselves on a ray of love that draws on the Absolute, then everything becomes possible: acceptance, service, listening, disinterested love, free-giving and forgiveness. . .”
Two voices intertwine in a crescendo of suffering and of hope, of deep emotion and of wonder. They lead us to discover the secret which has brought them to recompose that unity which seemed to be irreparably broken. It is Fili who begins their story: “Nacho and I have been married for 24 years and we have two children. I am the sixth of eleven siblings. There were many sufferings in my family, like that of discovering that my father had another wife and other children and this made me suffer a lot.” “Me, too, as a child,” Nacho continued, “I suffered due to the absence of my father and the lack of attention from my mother. It was my maternal grandmother who took care of me. With Fili we were in love when we got married, but there was a great existential emptiness wherein each one of us identified with the other. We united our solitude, but we didn’t know each other deeply and soon enough we realized that we didn’t know how to love and even what love means.” “Our problems started from the very beginning of our marriage – Fili continued. I was very jealous and possessive, up to the point that Nacho had to continuously change jobs». «Her attitude – Nacho followed – caused feelings of resentment, anger and frustration in me and the discussions between us were never-ending. Our children were born and grew up in this kind of unhospitable atmosphere. Both Fili and I loved them very much, but since there was no love between the two of us, we thought that we could fill this up by showering them with material goods, when instead we should have given them a listening ear, tenderness and affection. Thus 15 years passed. Disappointed by this situation, I left our home. I had already done this before, but every attept to come back and rebuild our relationship failed. What could I do, I asked myself, when a relationships is completely broken?” Fili continued: “In fact for me it was impossible to rebuild it, so much so that I allowed him to return only because I saw how the children suffered because they needed him. One Saturday evening,” Nacho said, “I was watching a boxing match on TV. It didn’t seem to be interesting so I changed the channel. I happened to see a religious program and out of curiosity I continued to watch it. There was a woman (later on I learned that it was Chiara Lubich) who was speaking about Love. Her word had such a strong impact on me. At the end of her talk, they showed some images of the little town of the Focolare Movement in Mexico, that is situated near our town, but which I didn’t know about». “So, the next day,” Fili continued, “we went to Mass at the El Diamante (this is the name of the little town) with the whole family. There I was struck by the way they welcomed us, it was as if they had known us from the beginning. The Mariapolis, a gathering which was going to be held precisely there, was just a week away but we decided to go. The proposal on the first day was the phrase from the Gospel: “Forgive seventy times seven times”. I asked myself: is it possible to forgive always? I found the answer when they spoke to us of Jesus Forsaken: He didn’t only forgive us but he gave his life for us. I realized that in front of such a love, my sufferings were very small. It was not easy to start again, but the Word “Forgive seventy times seven times” has always helped me to do it.” “For me too,” Nacho confided, “‘that Mariapolis turned my life upside down. I learned how to have faith in God for whom everything is possible. With Fili we have learned how to love each other in our diversity. Slowly we have fallen in love once again with one another. We discovered a fullness of love that we have never experienced before, not even when we were engaged, because now we love each other in freedom, in God.”
Teresa Ganzon and her husband bought a controlling interest inBangko Kabayan Inc.in 1989, when it had only one branch, and it now ranks as one of the biggest rural banks in the Philippines.The Ganzon have faced the usual array of developing country business risks, but in an unusual way, because she is also a leader in the Economy of Communion, an international network of more than 800 businesses committed to putting into practice the Catholic social doctrine behind Pope Francis’s controversial comments about business and the economy. In a press conference during his recent trip to the Philippines, the Pope condemned corruption, and even spoke of kicking corrupt officials “where the sun doesn’t shine.” Ms. Ganzon discussed with Risk & Compliance Journal how Bangko Kabayan has grown while doing business in a manner consistent with that doctrine, in one of the world’s more corrupt countries. What are the main points of friction for a business managed in accordance with Catholic social doctrine in the Philippines? Ms. Ganzon: Compliance is the biggest problem we talk about. For example, people excuse their noncompliance by saying we have corrupt politicians that just steal from public coffers, or we don’t see commensurate benefits getting down to us as citizens so, why should we support the government with our taxes? Paying the right amount of taxes is a sign of contradiction, especially among small and medium-size companies. Bribery is rampant and unfortunately is embedded in certain government offices so that a businessman feels the only way his business can survive is to do as everyone does and simply input the bribe or grease money as a “normal cost” of doing business. This contradicts the Catholic social doctrine and Pope Francis. How do you deal with such embedded corruption?Ms. Ganzon: An Economy of Communion business upholds adherence to ethical standards and is conscious that it has a vocation to change the way things are done, to be more aligned with Christian values. For example, some years ago we were all set to offer a certain loan product we were sure would have a big demand and good margins, easy collection, etc. But when we faced a government bureaucrat whose signature and cooperation were indispensable to the collection process, he asked for a percentage of each collection to be paid to him. We could find no way around this obstacle and eventually, we had to think of another loan product. Also, in the Philippines, tax compliance for enterprises big and small has been almost nonexistent. We received an award certifying us as one of the top five tax payers in a region where there are some large manufacturing firms – much larger than our bank. You walked away from a business opportunity rather than engage in corruption?Ms. Ganzon: Yes, but then we learned about microfinance. It addressed financing needs of a segment of society considered “unbankable” then by many formal financing institutions. We developed a microfinance program instead, and discovered we had a bigger segment to be served, albeit not as easily as that of the former, which was a simple salary loan to a government sector. Many times over, this hard choice is presented to us. Often, we have to give up an original idea or product that might have given us good margins, just because somewhere in the process, petty bribery (or not so petty bribery!) was necessary to get the loan collateral registered. But somehow, we get more original ideas about other products where no bribery is necessary and we end up serving a sector that would otherwise have remained underserved, just because we looked harder for alternatives. How Pope’s criticism of business and the economy affected your business?Ms. Ganzon: He talks about having more empathy for people at the bottom of society, and for us, in the microfinance area, it helps us to have greater resolve. This is very difficult business to do, because it entails a lot of field work and usually young people, when they apply for work in a bank, think they are going to be working in a very comfortable environment in an air conditioned bank branch. After six months or so they decide they don’t want to do this kind of demanding fieldwork job. So for us, recruiting the correct people who will stay and love what they are doing because of empathy towards the poor is very challenging. We don’t meet efficiency standards that easily and you cannot help but look at performance standards if you want to stay in business. But the Pope’s message is very clear that this is a business we cannot give up on, a vital service for the poor. Source: Wall Street Journalhttp://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2015/01/26/serving-god-and-the-law-at-a-philippine-bank/
The apostle Paul wanted to go to Rome on his way to Spain, and he sent a letter to the Romans before he arrived. Through their countless martyrs they were about to give witness to the sincerity and depth of their devotion to the Gospel, but among them, just as elsewhere, there was no lack of tensions, misunderstandings and even rivalries. In fact, the Christians in Rome came from a variety of social, cultural and religious backgrounds. There were some who came from Judaism and others from the Hellenic world and the ancient religion of Rome, perhaps from Stoicism or from other philosophies. They brought with them their traditions of thought and ethical convictions. Some were called ‘weak’, because they followed particular rules about eating, being, for instance, vegetarians or complying with calendars that indicated special days of fasting. Others were called ‘strong’ because, free from these kinds of conditioning, they were not bound by food taboos or specific rituals. To all of them Paul made the urgent invitation:
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Before this point in his letter he had already spoken about the issue, addressing first of all the ‘strong’ and inviting them to ‘welcome’ the ‘weak’, ‘without quarrelling over opinions’. Then he says that the ‘weak’ in turn should welcome the ‘strong’ without judging them, since they are ‘acceptable to God’.
Paul, indeed, is convinced that each one, even amid the diversity of opinions and ways of behaving, acts for the love of the Lord. There is no reason therefore to judge those who think differently, and even less to scandalize them by behaving arrogantly and with a sense of superiority. Instead, what is necessary is to aim at the good of all, at ‘mutual edification’, that is, the building up of the community, its unity (see Rom 14:1-23).
It is a matter of applying, in this case too, the great standard of Christian life that Paul had recalled shortly before in his letter: ‘love is the fulfilling of the law’ (Rom 13:10). No longer ‘walking in love’ (Rom 14:15), the Christians in Rome were lacking in the spirit of fraternity that ought to animate the members of every community.
As a model of mutual welcome, the apostle proposes Jesus dying on the cross when, instead of pleasing himself, he took upon himself our failings (see Rom 15:1-3). From the height of the cross he drew all to himself, and he welcomed the Jewish John together with the Roman centurion, Mary Magdalene together with the criminal crucified by his side.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
In our Christian communities too, even though we are all ‘God’s beloved’ and ‘called to be saints’ (Rom 1:7), there is no lack, just as in Rome, of disagreement and contrast between different cultures and ways of seeing things that are often poles apart. Often the clash is between traditionalists and innovators (to use language that is slightly simplistic but readily understandable), persons who are more open and others more closed, interested in a more social or a more spiritual form of Christianity. The divergences are fed by political conviction and by differences in social background. The current fact of immigration is present in our gatherings for worship and further in our various church groups, bringing diversity of culture and geographical origin.
The same dynamic can be seen in effect in the relations among Christians of different Churches, but also in families, in the workplace or in the political arena.
With it creeps in the temptation to judge those who don’t think like us and to feel ourselves superior, in a sterile conflict and mutual exclusion.
Paul’s model is not uniformity that flattens everything out, but a communion among contrasts that enriches. It is not by chance that two chapters earlier in this very letter he speaks of the unity of the body and diversity of its members, and of the variety of gifts that enrich and give life to the community (see Rom 12:3-13). His model is not, to use an image taken from Pope Francis, a sphere where every point is the same distance from the centre and where there are no differences between one point and another. The model is of something many-facetted with surfaces that are different from one another and not symmetrical, with particular characteristics that maintain their originality. ‘Even people who can be considered dubious on account of their errors have something to offer which must not be overlooked. It is the convergence of peoples who, within the universal order, maintain their own individuality; it is the sum total of persons within a society which pursues the common good, which truly has a place for everyone.’
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
This Word of Life is a pressing invitation to recognize the positive that exists in the other, at the very least because Christ gave his life also for that person you feel inclined to judge. It is an invitation to listen, letting go of your defence mechanisms, to stay open to change, to welcome diversity with respect and love, to manage to form a community that is both plural and united.
This word has been chosen by the Evangelical Church in Germany to be lived by its members and to be light for them throughout 2015. If, at least in this month, the members of various Churches were to share it, this would already be a sign of mutual welcome.
Like this we could give glory to God together with one voice (Rom 15:6), because as Chiara Lubich said in the Reformed cathedral of St Pierre in Geneva: ‘Our world today asks each one of us for love; it asks for unity, communion, solidarity. And it also calls upon the Churches to recompose the unity that has been torn for centuries. This is the reform of all reforms which heaven is asking of us. It is the first and necessary step towards universal fraternity with all men and women of the world. The world will believe, if we are united.’
Natalia Dallapiccola, Peppuccio Zanghì, Luce Ardente
«When Luce Ardente started to bear witness to the Ideal of unity among the Buddhist monks, Giuseppe Maria Zanghì, or Peppuccio as many called him, and who passed away a few days ago, said that he was “a new St. Paul for Buddhism”.
Knowing how difficult it is for a monk to take part in a Christian and foreign movement, I had doubts about how this affirmation could concretely come about. Now, after precisely 20 years, I must say that those words are coming true.
It all began in 1995, when a Buddhist monk set foot for the very first time in the centre of the Focolare Movement: his name then was, Phramaha Thongrattana Thavorn. He had arrived in Rome to accompany one of his disciples, Somjit, who, for a short period before his marriage, was living an experience of monastery life, in line with tradition of all Buddhist youths. On that occasion, Phramaha Thongrattana Thavorn, translated as ‘fine gold,’ met Chiara Lubich and was very impressed. She was also struck by him, and on his request, gave him a new name: Luce Ardente (Ardent Light).
In all those years of acquaintance I had never noted in him, such a impelling force and enthusiasm as in those days, in announcing universal brotherhood, “mother Chiara’s ideal” (as he still calls her today). Today, while participating in an important ceremony as Luce Ardente’s guest, before the 120 monks and the highest Buddhist authorities of the region, he took the floor to spontaneously but very clearly give a testimonial of his experience with Chiara Lubich and the Focolare, and openly declared that he is a member of Chiara’s huge family diffused in more than 120 counties with millions of members.
Unperturbed, the monks listened: some were amused, others interested, and a few were perplexed as would be expected in any “religious community.” Before, during and after the ceremony Luce Ardente, often breaking the rules, greeted those present one by one, manifesting great respect and affection towards the elderly monks.
Luce Ardente continues to repeat even now: “The time has come for me to tell everyone how much good Mother Chiara has done to my life as a monk. I feel that she continues to give me an interior impulse and strength to bring the ideal of brotherhood to all.”
The death of Peppuccio – who did so much for interreligious dialogue – and the opening of the cause for the beatification of Chiara, are strong and important moments not only for us Christians but for all the members of the Movement.
The day after Chiara passed from earthly life to heaven, on 14 March 2008, Luce Ardente remarked: “Chiara no longer pertains only to you Christians, but she and her ideal are now a legacy for all of humanity.” In these really special days, these facts testify that Peppuccio’s words are becoming a reality before our eyes.
Sister Mariella Giannini (second from left) at the Centre of the Religious of the Focolare Movement in Grottaferrata, Rome.
To defend human life in its condition of fragility: That’s what animates the Hospital Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the family of Sr. Mariella Giannini, a religious who lives the spirituality of the Focolare Movement and the protagonist of this story.”Through meeting the charism of unity of Chiara Lubich,” she relates, ” I was able to reconstruct my identity as a religious in the charism of hospitality of my Institute.” Philippines, Spain, Italy are the stopping places she has touched on her journey. The discovery that God loves us immensely, strongly impacts her. Nevertheless a time of trial soon arose, the kind that one would gladly avoid, especially after having chosen to give one’s life with commitment. “It was a strong moral suffering,” Sr Mariella goes on to say, “a moment of trial, perhaps also of temptation. Certainly it was a struggle with God. The darkness came suddenly. Night came over me together with the silence of a deep, black sea, as if I were crossing a murky river. Where will I end up, I asked. I don’t have a future.” With emotion she remembers that difficult time and confesses that, even in the darkness, she never stopped giving herself to others. “In an unexpected way I heard the cry of Jesus on the Cross. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He who ironically is unanswered, was the key to my suffering and to that of every human suffering.” A delicate passage was resolved not so much with will power but with a trusting abandonment to God. “Within every religious family,” Sr Mariella continues, “it is inevitable that there are problems, because selfishness is never fully eradicated. But certain things inside of one change. I experienced it especially with our lay partners whom I no longer saw as strangers or just employees, but our brothers and sisters with whom to share the charism and to embrace new projects together. Moreover God also gave me a new family with the Focolare Movement. My heart was enlarged. The charism of hospitality and the charism of unity have become for me a unique strength, a dynamite that renews the house of God, the Church.” She speaks knowledgeably because the duties she performed were different and delicate, not only as provincial superior, but also around the world. “Love always calls Love,” she confirms with conviction. “I was able to see and experience it because after the office of provincial in Italy for my Institute I was sent as a formation director to the junior sisters in the Philippines.The first formation is delicate, charming and engaging. With daily listening and mutual dialogue we come to an understanding. When I welcome the life of the other in a heart to heart relationship, then I become the recipient for all suffering, past and present. To live like this lets me overcome all barriers of language, culture and generation. ” From the Philippines she went to Spain to prepare the young sisters for perpetual vows. Since her return to Italy in Viterbo she is working with a group of mentally ill persons, alcoholics and people with behavioral disorders. She regularly visits incarcerated persons in the city’s maximum security prison.”Jesus grants much joy to these least of all people because He is the first who chose to be the least. When these two poles, “God and man” meet, in a mysterious way the relationship is illuminated and hearts are warmed.”
Amidst the festive atmosphere, there was also a solemn and prayerful tone. After the vespers prayer service and some songs, to the joyful surprise of all those present, the main celebrant announced the arrival of Pope Francis’ message. The Papal letter carries the signature of the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and is addressed to Msgr. Raffaello Martinelli, Bishop of Frascati, as person in charge to officially open the “Process on the life, virtue, fame of holiness and signs” of Chiara Lubich. In fact, the International Centre of the Focolare Movement is in the Diocese of Frascati, where Chiara lived most of her life until she passed away on 14 March 2008.
The Pope’s message states, «On the occasion of the Opening of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Chiara Lubich, that is taking place at the Cathedral of Frascati, His Holiness Pope Francis sends his cordial greetings, in the hope that the luminous exemplary life of the Founder of the Focolare Movement may inspire in those who conserve her precious spiritual legacy to renew their faithful adherence to Christ and their generous service to Church unity. The Holy Father invokes abundant gifts of the divine Spirit on all those who are committed in the Postulation and exhorts you to make known to the people of God her life and works. She welcomed the invitation of the Lord and enkindled a new light for the Church on the journey towards unity. The Holy Father asks for prayers to support his universal ministry as successor of the Apostle Peter through the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, and grants an Apostolic Blessing to your Excellency, the Postulation, the entire Work of Mary and to all those who participate in this joyful event. From the Vatican, 27 January 2015.»
Maria Voce,on behalf of the Focolare Movement throughout the world who followed the event via internet, expressed everyone’s gratitude: «First of all we would like to express our joy, emotion and surprise for this message of the Holy Father. We would like to thank him and assure him of our prayer, which he asked of us; as well as our commitment to continue spreading that “new light” that he indicated to us as Chiara’s gift to the Church and humanity.»
The applause of those present manifested the immense joy and gratitude of the whole “people of the Focolare”.
Card. João Braz De Aviz, Jesús Morán and Maria Voce Focolare President
The cathedral of Frascati was teeming with people, despite the weekday rush hour of 27 January, the day of remembrance, in which the entire world commemorates the tragedy of the Shoah along with all the other events that inflict sufferings and bloodshed on our planet. It was during these commemorations, established so that “humanity and history may register new peace developments” that Maria Voce expressed hopes for the recognition of Chiara Lubich’s example and because “her thoughts and her heart were driven by universal love, able to embrace all people beyond their differences, and aimed to fulfil the testament of Jesus, “That all may be one.”
With a long applause the Focolare members manifested its gratitude towards Pope Francis, who, in his message encouraged all “to spread to the entire people of God, the life and works of Chiara Lubich, who on answering the Lord’s call has become a new light on the road to unity.” On behalf of the movement, Maria Voce assured him of everyone’s “commitment to continue spreading that new light the Pope had referred to” on speaking of Chiara .
The event was transmitted via direct streaming, with simultaneous translations in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Over 18 thousand simultaneous link ups to the site were registered, connecting hundreds of people (as in the Mariapolis Ginetta in Brazil, or in the town of Loppiano in Tuscany-Italy).
Mons. Raffaello Martinelli, Bishop of Frascati
“The task we are undertaking is not an easy one,” declared the Bishop of Frascati, Raffaello Martinelli, “but it is a service we want to render to the Church to bear witness to faith, hope and charity through the work and life of one of her daughters. ”
Also many International figures were present, such as the Cardinals Tarcisio Bertone, Ennio Antonelli, Joao Braz De Aviz, Miloslav Vlk; and Bishops, Carlos Tissera from Argentina and Brendan Leahy from Ireland; and from the ecumenical world, in the person of Archimandrite Simeon Catsinas, of the Orthodox Church of Rome, who represented the ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and Fr. Gabriel, parish priest of the Romanian-Orthodox Church of Rocca di Papa, sent by Bishop Siluan of the Romanian-Orthodox of Italy.
Other friends of Chiara Lubich, founders and representatives of other movements were also present. The Muslim world did not fail to be present and testify to the determination to continue a dialogue in this critical moment, represented by the Director of the Cenap Tevere Mustafa Aydin Insitute of Turkey. From Japan, Dr. Mizumo came to represent the Buddhist Rissho Kosei-Kai Movement. Wearing their sash with the colours of Italy, various mayors of neighbouring municipalities attended, and among which was a delegation from Trent, Chiara’s native city, and a group of relatives of the new “Servant of God.”.
“Chiara spoke of living the Gospel and being faithful to God ,” João, a young Brazilian man said, and added: “I think we cannot be faithful without aiming to become saints, which is what God wants.” Francesca, 13 said: “I was struck by Chiara because of her great faith, which would seem difficult for kids to understand, instead she conveyed it with such simplicity.”
The ceremony. The cause for canonisation will start with a series of juridical acts, but, as the Bishop of Frascati underlined – “we want to transform it all into a meditation,” and because of this, the ceremony opened with the recital of the vespers. In a solemn atmosphere, the taking up of office of the tribunal, starting with the reading of the “supplice libello” with which the Focolare Movement, in December 2013 requested the opening of the cause. The document says – throughout the six years that followed Chiara Lubich’s death – «the common belief of the faithful regarding the purity and integrity of this Servant of God’s life, has grown in a continual and stable manner, and has spread more and more throughout the world, underlining the virtues she practiced to the point of heroism, not to mention the graces and blessings God has granted to many through her intercession. » The reading of the nulla osta of the Congregration for the Causes of Saints and constitution of the tribunal will follow .
Bishop Angelo Amati,Episcopal Delegate, will lead this phase of the diocesan investigation, and will be assisted by the Nigerian, Rev. Emmanuele Faweh Kazah, as the Promoter of Justice, and by notary Patrizia Sabatini, who had already worked in the previous months to gather the fifty testimonials, so as not to lose the testimony of those who «were allowed , from the very start, to bear witness to the beauty and possibility of tracing this path together in unity, towards an only goal,» Maria Voce said on recalling the first followers of Chiara, some of which attended the ceremony.
The postulation commission designated by the President of the Focolare is composed of the postulator, Fr. Silvestre Marques, Portuguese, and the Vice-Postulators, Lucia Abignente (Italian) and Waldery Hilgeman, (Dutch).The Tribunal has already set the next session for 12 February, to listen to the testimonial of Maria Voce, who tops a list of about 100 names.
It is with great joy, «multiplied by the joyful echo that arrived from the whole world» that Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, welcomed the news of the opening of the Cause of Beatification of Chiara. Msgr. Raffaello Martinelli, Bishop of Frascati, made the announcement, setting January 27, 2015 for the opening ceremony of the process in the cathedral of Frascati. It’s in his diocese that Chiara Lubich lived most of her life until she passed away in 2008.
This is how Maria Voce explained it to Vatican Radio: “I immediately communicated this joy and gratitude to everyone, and also to the Bishop who was very careful in trying to bring ahead all the necessary preparatory work until it reached this moment. An enormous gratitude also goes to the Church because She allows us to show the beauty of a committed life, the life of Chiara.”
Maria Voce continues in that interview, Chiara “always dreamt of the day when we could truly speak about a sanctity of the people, because she understood that we become saints by doing God’s will, and that it is something that God asks of each person. Thus her desire was not so much of becoming a saint herself – even if she also logically had in mind that the will of God is ‘your sanctification’, as the Gospel says. Her desire was that many, many people would enter this way of holiness.» Hence, for Maria Voce, to work so that the holiness of Chiara Lubich may be recognized means «to work so that this possibility for all to become saints may be recognized.”
How is the Focolare Movement involved in this journey? With «a renewed commitment, so that the Church may see in Chiara’s followers the living witness of that model Chiara had been and continues to be for us.»
“The testimony of love of many people for Chiara Lubich remains the same,” Vatican Radio commented.”It remains the same and continues to grow, I’d say: it’s a witness of affection that comes also from those who didn’t know her personally. Certainly those who knew her feel that this moment is a special moment of grace: I’m talking about authorities of the Church, presidents or founders of other Movements, as well as people of various religions and Churches.”
Those who will have to examine papers, speeches and videos will not have an easy task: “There is a great deal of documents and writings that have already been given for this examination. And then there are videos, there are reels of speeches that Chiara gave; letters that Chiara wrote… There is so much material and it will surely be a great commitment for the whole Court, and also our commitment in preparing these documents in the best way possible so that the Church may go ahead with its examination.”
In short, one word to explain Chiara’s holiness? “I’d say normality: we can become saints by leading an ordinary life. The extraordinary fruits of this ordinary life are fruits that come from God, from the relationship of Chiara with God and from the natural relationship of Chiara with her people. Living something extraordinary in a natural way: Chiara gave us the example of this, even if logically there were also extraordinary moments in her life, however she gave us the example of holiness in ordinary moments, not only in extraordinary moments.”
And about Chiara Lubich “woman of dialogue,” important than ever these days, Maria Voce affirmed:” think that in this field Chiara has still a lot to say in order to establish real, profound relationships between civilizations, ethnic groups and religions so as to counteract this wave of violence that seems to be invading the world. Thus it is a declaration of holiness for a person who made her life a symbol of dialogue. This could be a sign of this moment.”
“In reading about the lives of the saints, the idea of sanctity that seemed like a difficult uphill climb reserved only for a rare group of people, became a common heritage, and I began to understand why Jesus invited all his disciples to reach perfection, in the same way as the Father: the perfection of God himself!
It all seemed old but also totally new. It was a new method, a new spirit, like discovering the key to a mystery: one that opened out to love that had been locked up, but which now broke out like a flame and spread until it became a blazing fire.
The ascent towards that remote God now seemed easy and possible for all, since all could now find the way home together, as brothers. Those terrifying acts of penance (hair shirts, chains, dark nights of the soul, renunciation) became effortless since all was done together, with the help of our brothers, with love for Christ.
It was the dawning of a a “socialised” sanctity (terms used by the Second Vatican Council and which would become popular) no longer individualistic, where you think of sanctifying yourself and meticulously cultivate your own soul, instead of forgetting yourself. A religiosity, an interior life that issued from the ranks of religious institutes, from a sort of elitism of the privileged classes –at times so distant and even against society, in reality formed by the major part of the living Church. This sanctity now reaches out to the squares, workshops and offices, the houses and fields, as also to the convents and Catholic Action associations, since in every place, one meets people who are all candidates for perfection. In short, asceticism has turned out to be a universal adventure of divine love – love that generates light.»
«Life is a unique occasion to be lived on earth which is one with eternity. And we can make the earth a foretaste of heaven, and insert it into the life of God, to bring heaven on earth. Do not spoil it with ambition and greed and do not ruin it with wrath and hostility: deify it – extend it within the heart of the Eternal – with Love. And God is where love exists. And where every moment is used for love, giving God to others: which also means absorbing God for oneself and for the others.
This means experiencing the freedom of the sons of God, for whom the spirit is not immobilized by prejudice, divisions, oppositions, and barricades to the spirit of God. Those who live this way do not focus on sanctifying themselves but on sanctifying. They are not self-centered. They sanctify by sanctifying, given that we love through loving, and serve by serving. In this way, sanctification itself takes on a social dimension: a continual giving and giving of oneself brings about the sanctification of souls, which becomes a communitarian reality.
“Be perfect as my Father is perfect,” Jesus exhorted: and we become perfect in God’s will, united as one in order to be one with Him, through Christ.”
“We prepared ourselves for marriage certain that we would commit ourselves for the rest of our life. But already after the birth of our daughter, he started to go out alone and I, who was always exhausted due to work and maternity, aside from still being in love with him, I did not realize at once that something was wrong. What followed were 13 years of lies and quarrels, alternating with false clarifications which were followed by continuous delusions. I was exhausted and on the verge of a nervous breakdown (my weight dropped to 36 kilos) and so finally I surrendered, and gave my husband his freedom. After three years I met one of my former classmates, he too was a father and separated from his wife. Initially I tried to resist the sentiments that I felt were growing within me because, if on one hand the fact of feeling myself loved gave me much joy, on the other hand I had to face the problem of my Christian faith. They were very difficult moments. But then the doubts disappeared because, I told myself, it is true that when I got married I thought that it would be ‘forever’ but if love is no longer reciprocated, why can’t I continue with another person in that vocation of family life which I have always felt as mine? Certain of our love for one another we decided to join our two broken lives. After around two years of living together, we had a son, whom we had baptized and who we try to educate in a Christian way. For my partner – a person who is very honest and upright who considers himself as a non-believer – the problem of belonging to the Church does not exist. I, instead, continued to go to Sunday Mass and, even in suffering, I accepted the standpoint of the Church by abstaining from receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. I could have gone to a church were no one knew me, but out of obedience I didn’t do it. But after awhile, this self-exclusion began to weigh on me and so I stopped going to Mass and participating in the life of the community. In fact, I felt a strong discomfort in seeing the others going to the altar while I had to remain in my seat. I felt abandoned, rejected, guilty. After a few years, thanks to my closeness to theFocolare I started once again my journey of faith. ‘God loves you immensely’, they repeated to me. Together with them I understood that Jesus died for me too, and that He, in his infinite love, had already filled up that abyss into which I had fallen and all that he was waiting for was for me to follow Him for the rest of my life. And so I discovered that, aside from the Eucharist, there were other sources through which I could meet Jesus. He hides himself in every neighbour of mine, he speaks to me through His Gospel and is present in the community united in His name. Above all, I can find Him whenever I am able to transform the suffering of not being able to approach the Eucharist, into love. I remember when our son made his first Holy Communion. I was the only parent who did not go to the altar with him: it was a suffering that I cannot even describe. In exchange I can say that it was precisely when I lost the Eucharist that I discovered the great gift that it is, just like how you discover the value of good health when you lose it. On the day that I will present myself to the Father I hope that He will look not at my failures but rather at all my small efforts to love the others as Jesus had taught us.”
Giuseppe Maria Zanghi, one of Chiara Lubich’s first companions, passed away on 23 January 2015, after a brief illness, at the age of 85 years. Known simply as Peppuccio, he was for many years responsible for the Focolare’s Abba School cultural centre.
In conveying the news, president, Maria Voce remarked, “He often spoke to us about Heaven, and now he can fully enjoy it.”
We remember him with this excerpt from a 2009 interview in Città Nuova magazine.
You took part in the beginnings of theGen MovementwithChiara Lubich. What made her later decide to tell the new generations about those mystical experiences known as the“Paradise of ‘49”?
“When you get right down to it, what is this ‘Paradise of ‘49’? It’s the written account that Chiara gave to Igino Giordani of what happened to her during the summer of 1949 at Fiera di Primiero. This was a period of intense contemplation during which God marked her soul, as with a branding iron, with the whole design of the just-beginning Work of Mary. God does that with all the mystics who are to be great founders in the Church. The striking thing about ‘49 is that with Chiara others, the group of focolarinas and focolarinos who were vacationing with, her partook in the experience of intense contemplation (by participation). They were merged into one by God’s love: a merging, however, that left their respective individualities intact.
It was a highly original experience also in terms of culture, because it concerns what I like to call the ‘collective’ subject. In actuality every culture is born from a subject and, in my opinion, today’s world is in search of the subject for the culture that must be born now. For me this is the greatest – and yet to be discovered – contribution Chiara makes to the birth of the new culture. But leaving that aside for now because much examination and study is still needed, the reality through which God opened to Chiara the endless depths of His Divine life while making her simultaneously understand many things about the Work of Mary that was about to be born. For her it wasn’t something merely to be remembered; it was actual life. And you could feel this when you were with her. You could feel that following the ideal of unity was not so much a matter of knowing a doctrine or hearing stories about someone’s experiences. No, it was entering into the very reality that Chiara had lived in ’49, and which continued.
Well, in her mind the young people of the Movement, the Gen, also had to get into this experience which was human and divine, spiritual and cultural.They had to stay there, develop it and bring it forward. That’s why, at a certain point, she began to give them something of this ‘Paradise.’”
In line with the hopes of Vatican II for many new ecumenical initiatives, towards the end of the 1960s the German Bishops felt the need to strengthen relationships with the Orthodox Church. Bishop Graber of Regensburg – assigned to intensify this dialogue – knew he could count on a highly competent person to carry out this task successfully: Albert Rauch. Ordained as a priest, Albert Rausch completed his theological studies at the Gregorian University of Rome and due to his outstanding sensitivity towards the Greek Orthodox rites, Albert decided to also achieve a Doctorate at the Russicum College, where he took up– among others – Modern Greek and Russian. During his stay in Rome he met the Focolare Movement and embraced its spirituality, and discovered its deep ecumenical dimension . He soon asked to be a member as priest focolarino. To further deepen his knowledge of the Eastern countries, Albert travelled to Greece, Turkey, the Lebanon, Syria and Israel. And to also be part of an official delegation he went to Constantinople, Sophia and Belgrade: and these were the first and important steps that helped the sister Churches to get closer to one another. Patriarch Athenagoras underlined that it was also important for the Eastern youth to go to the West to enrich this mutual acquaintance. This made it possible for many young people of many Orthodox Churches to travel to Germany.. He was entrusted with the newborn Ostkirchliches Institut [Istitute of the Eastern Churches] in Regensburg, role which he accepted humbly and with love. The Bishop asked Chiara Lubich to open a women’s focolare also in Regensburg to help him carry out this task.
Centro Internazionale dei Focolari, Castel Gandolfo (Roma) 2003- Conduce una preghiera alla scuola ecumenica
Albert, together with another priest, launched a thousand initiatives, and wove important and fruitful pan-Orthodox relationships and between the Orthodox faithful and Catholics, a dialogue he was qualified to undertake and which he himself described as theological dialogue but also a “dialogue of life.” Keeping in mind Athenagoras’s encouragement, he often brought his students, of various Eastern Churches, to visit Rome, organizing the tours with the help of the Focolare’s Centro Uno. For more than 35 years, these students took part in the Ecumenical Week programmes at the Mariapolis Centre. Many among them would have later held key positions in their churches. In the summer, during their holidays near Rome, they never failed to visit the Centro Uno, to share their projects and get updates on the activities of the movement. With time, Albert, or rather, Dr. Albert Rauch, started to cooperate also with the Abba School and the Sophia University Institute. His overwhelming desire to see the return of unity had pushed him to sow the seed of unity in the hearts of many people from different countries. His passing is a great loss for the ecumenical world. His example and passion for unity among Christians are a stimulus for those who want to contribute to making the prayer of Jesus “That all be one” come true.
Live streaming from Loppiano, 26 October, 5.00pm (Italian time)IUS president Piero Coda explained the official reason for conferring the doctorate saying that the Patriarch is well known as a convincing and active protagonist of the ecumenical journey toward full unity among Christians, and in the dialogue with people of different religions and convictions. Moreover, he has distinguished himself in his promotion of peace and justice, respect for the natural environment, in conformity with the vision of humanity, history and the cosmos that is guarded and actualised by the spiritual and theological tradition of the Christian East. The historyof the fraternal relationship between the Focolare Movement and the Orthodox had its origin in the extraordinary encounter between Chiara Lubich and Patriarch of Constantinople Athenagoras I. “It was June 13, 1967,” Chiara recounted, “He welcomed me as if he had always known me. ‘I’ve been waiting for you!,’ he exclaimed, and he wanted me to tell him about the Movement’s contacts with Lutherans and Anglicans.” Chiara and Athenagoras had twenty-five meetings. The relationship continued with Patriarch Demetrius I, and the contact continues in the same spirit with the current Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Meanwhile the spirituality of the Movement was also welcomed by Christians of the Ancient Oriental Church, and dialogue was developed with Syro-Orthodox, Coptic Christians, Ethiopians, Armenians and Assyrians. The honorary doctorate adds another important piece to relationship of harmony and friendship with the Focolare Movement, and will be part of the events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Focolare town of Loppiano. download invitationwww.loppiano.it
Video of the recent trip to Mae Sot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_jVpNjD1-g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ye7Au–vIc&feature=youtu.be It all began with a simple snack thrown into a rubbish bin and the surprise of the children who discovered that there are people who do not even have anything to eat: “Teacher, what are poor children?” they asked. This was how, in 2013 the students of the kindergarten and first grade of the primary school “G. Giuliano” in Latina managed to gather a truckload of goods to send to their peers in the Mae Sot Orphanage, in the north of Thailand . Then in April 2014, other 30 boxes full of toys were sent. Those who built this bridge are children: the school children of Latina and those of Mae Sot. The bridge will endure and will not break! Also read: Thailand calls and Latina reaches outFrom Latina to Thailand, a dream comes true
The city of Cannes is the winner of the 7th Chiara Lubich Brotherhood Award, because of its Vivere insieme a Cannes Project (Living together in Cannes), which involves laity and Religious from different faiths in projects and initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence. The Mayor put his signature to the candidate application on January 7, the day of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris. Cistercian Abbot, Vladimir Gaudrat, member of the French delegation at the award ceremony, remarked: “There’s a symbol of hatred and there’s a symbol of peace, and we are here because we want to demonstrate the symbol of peace.” The ceremony was held in Rome, Italy, on January 17, 2015 during a conference on dialogue, community and brotherhood, which had been organised by the promoter of the award, the Associazione Città per la Fraternità (Cities for Brotherhood Association).Campidoglio was chosen as the venue for the award ceremony because of its connection to the person after whom the award was named. On January 22, 2000, her 80th birthday, Chiara Lubich was honoured by the citizens of Rome. Already in 1949, just arrived in the capital where she later lived for ten years, she wrote an article titled “Resurrection of Rome” in which she described the city that had been torn by war and misery. In that article she manifested her desire to bring light and love to its homes, streets, centres of learning, workplaces, Parliament and everywhere. She made those wishes again on January 22, 2000, indicating some paths that could incarnate her vision: the Art of Loving, so in line with the name of the capital city. In Italian, “Rome” is written “Roma.” By reversing the word you have “Amor,” which means “Love”. The Art of Loving emerges from values found in the Gospel. These few thoughts reveal Chiara’s vision of a city, and they inspire the Association that includes 140 Italian comunes. She sees the city as a place inhabited by a community which, in weaving relations between citizens and between citizens and its institutions, can widen its internal and external borders. “Cities,” explains Pasquale Ferrara, General Secretary of the European Institute of Florence, are forever places of pluralism and diversity, where diverse associations collaborate with local institutions for the solution of problems.” Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life, also offered his testimony on the importance of brotherhood in relation to cities, by recalling his experiences in Brazil. “I learned from the Focolare Movement,” the Cardinal recalled, “I learned openness to diversity, which I then experienced in Brasilia. Until I arrived in Rome, where, for me, brotherhood means open contact with everyone.” Lina Ciampi, Secretary of Città per la Fraternità said to the microphone of Vatican Radio: “In this moment that is seeing so many open conflicts – reflecting on brotherhood and dialogue in a community that is changing, with so many feelings, dedicating an entire afternoon to this topic and how to come up with a new cohesion, seems very important to me. Cannes has presented a multi-cultural and interreligious project, in which Buddhists, Jews and Muslims interface. . . It seems to me that it reflects very well what the Association proposes we should do.” Besides the French city of Cannes, awards were also given to the comunes of San Severino and Tolentinonelle Marche for their projects which were directed towards their most vulnerable citizens; Honorary Mention was given to the Comune of Trieste for its Educating For Peace project, which led to the installation of a Cube of Peace in one of its public parks.
The images of the recent trip of the Pope to Sri Lanka, first, and then to the Philippines, after, have circled the globe. His talks, gestures, phrases, were relaunched by many newspapers in numerous languages and by the social networks that have become powerful multipliers of his message of “mercy and compassion”, the central themes chosen by him for this historical trip.
«We made history again – they wrote us from Manila – surpassing the biggest gathering recorded in history in the inforgettable World Youth Day of 1995 with John Paul II. In fact, in the mass in Luneta Park, the almost 7 million present showed once more their faith in and love for the Holy Father».
On the second day, 40,000 participants at the meeting with the families at the Mall of Asia, along Manila Bay. Francis encouraged the Filipino families to “serve as sanctuaries where life is respected” and to proclaim the sacredness of life from birth to death.
«I expected a celebrity – Nidj, a youth of the Focolare said– instead, I saw a “servant”. I felt pure, simple, and authentic love as he spoke. He managed to stay humble and be himself in spite of all the attention directed towards him».
And Loli Funk: «There has been much wisdom like a blinding light with the novelty of the call to live an authentic Christian life but one does not even have to be a Catholic to appreciate his messages: they hit us right into the heart of where it hurts and touches us the most. If we are a family, a community that looks after one another, but each one integrally whole, we have better chances of making it».
Romé Vital: «When Pope Francis spoke to the young people yesterday at the University of Santo Tomas, he urged us to live in reciprocity not only to give and give but also to allow ourselves to receive love from God and from others. This is something new to highlight the value of reciprocity in our Christian life».
And still more, Jan Co Chua: «Reflecting on the events with Pope Francis these days, I feel like the apostles on the road to Emmaus… They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Lk 24,32)».
The most moving part of his trip was the visit to the survivors of the zones struck by typhoons, in Tacloban. «we are still in the euphoria of joy brought to us by the historical visit if our Holy Father Pope Francis», the members of the local community of the Focolare wrote to us.
«Francisc is the first Pope to come and visit Tacloban. His visit made us feel the maternal love of God through the Church. We felt understood, consoled, after having suffered so much in the past. We were surprised by his spontaneity in loving: his decision, inspite of the typhoon, to celebrate the mass out in the open with winds that blew strongly. We were touched by his homily, by his humility, when he said that he had no words to say in front of these sufferings and when he asked our forgiveness since he arrived a little bit late …».
The community of the Focolare was fully involved in the preparations: «The local Church entrusted to us the preparation of the venue where the mass would be celebrated: the vast open field that could contain 120 thousand people, In front of this very demanding task we asked the help of adherents, sympathizers, friends, relatives, also coming from the other provinces, and we organized a plan which we had prepared for the past three months».
Von, confessed that for many years now he had not been going to mass: «When I was invited to work for the event, I put all my efforts into it. I found my faith once again and also the family of the Focolare».
Some women Volunteers who were in charge of organizing the places for the people, wrote us: «We could have chosen the best places for us to be able to see the Pope. But we chose the farthest places so as to give way to the others. But in the end we were able to greet the Pope up close just the same!».
The young Genworked in the sector of crowd control: «We tried to make love reign above everything else: giving preference to the elderly, to those who had come from faraway (walking for many kilometers) … We were very moved by the words of the Holy Father. We greeted him up close and he smiled at us. What a great joy we felt at this encounter with him!».
«The visit of Pope Francis – they concluded – was a unique experience: to be there with all the people, working together for 24 hours under the rain, the strong wind and many other discomforts. His words and the experience we lived will never be erased from our heart!».
Her life was nurtured by the concept of sanctity rooted in the Gospel. Chiara Lubich had written: «We will find sanctity in Jesus, it will flourish in us because of love … If we aim to reach sanctity for its sake alone, we will never achieve it. We must Love, and nothing else. We must forego everything, even our attachment to sanctity, and aim only to love.».
The importance of this ecclesial event is underlined by the choice of the cathedral of Frascati (Rome), as the venue where Bishop Raffaello Martinelli chose to initiate the “Process of documenting the life, virtues, signs and renowned sanctity” of Chiara Lubich. The diocese of Frascati is the diocese where the International Center of the Focolare Movement is established, and where Chiara Lubich spent most of her life, and where she died. Her body lies in the Chapel of the Centre intself, in Rocca di Papa.
The opening ceremony for the “Cause of beatification and canonization,” also called the Prima Sessio or Postulation, will take place on Tuesday , 27 January, 2015; and will start at 4 p.m. with the recital of the Vespers. There will be a reading of the Introductory Decree of the Cause and the nulla osta or permission of the Holy See, the designation of the Relator by the Bishop and the appointment of the diocesan tribunal and those of the postulation commission. From this moment on Chiara Lubich may be called Servant of God.
The ceremony will be broadcasted live on the internet.
In a letter to the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce communicated the news with great joy, and wished all those who live the spirituality of unity to be «living witnesses » of what Chiara lived, announced and shared with all, in the common commitment to «become saints together.»
The procedure for the initialisation of the Cause began on 7 December 2013, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Focolare, when President Maria Voce announced the decision to present a formal request to the Bishop of Frascati, Martinelli, through which she also stated that this was also the desire of many members of the movement, and aimed at boosting their spiritual and moral commitment for the good of mankind. In the months that followed the documents needed to carry out the canonical proceedings were gathered.
The fact that Chiara Lubich continues to be a light in these 5 years after her death is proven by the constant flow of people, to visit the places where she lived and where she has been laid to rest: more than 120,000 people from different continents and religious faiths, Cardinals, Bishops, scholars, politicians, the youth, members of associations and movements, people of non-religious cultures, children, adolescents and adults in search of hope.
We will become saints, Chiara further explained «if we put our mutual charity at the base of our sanctity (above all else, even before sanctity itself) – as the premise or principle, as the means for our sanctification and as its objective.»
According to the United nations, there are 700 thousand people who are forced to leave their homes due to the violence in the northeastern states of Nigeria. Precisely during the days of the massacre in Paris, Nigeria was again in the news, with the criminal escalations in the State of Borno due to the actions of the extremist group of Boko Haram. They even spoke of kamikaze children who were made to explode in two markets of the Country. The population is defenseless, while contradicting politcal analyses are given and very few reveal the heavy economic interests linked to the exploitation of the petroleum resources of the country. There is great expectations for the presidential elections in February. In Nigeria the Focolare Movement is present with two centers, one in Onitsha (in the south of the Country) and one in Abuja, the capital: «After the first trip that we made to meet the people who were displaced by the internal warfare, we realized what the true situation is: the misery, diseases, hunger, lack of clothing, lack of shelter but especially the children with no hope for a future», George and Ruth, the persons responsible for the Movement in that African nation wrote to us. And so they organized a second trip, during the Christmas season inviting their friends, relatives, co-workers to join in: «We truly experienced the generosity of our people, in Focolare all kinds of God’s bounty arrived: money, food, clothes, medicines. We even received a car with a driver who was an expert and knew where to pass to avoid the dangerous areas». Three of us went on the trip: a focolarina who is a nurse, another person and the driver. Bearing many gifts «so as to bring the joy of Christmas to those people who more than anyone else resembled the Baby Jesus who did not even have a suitable place to be born». The situation was precarious: the medicines were not enough for their many needs: «I am a professional nurse – Imma shared – I treated hundreds and hundreds of sick people: malnutrition, anemia, malaria and various illnesses. Then we helped the bishop to distribute food to more than 5000 refugees. It is a very painful situation, and everyday other refugees arrive». «May this be the year of the Yes»,Maria Voce wished for us in 2015, «a yes that is repeated an infinite number of times: yes to God who asks us for something unforseen, yes to that neighbour who needs our concrete love , yes to an unexpected suffering, yes to Jesus who is waiting to be welcomed by us in humanity, transforming suffering into joy, into life and resurrection». But what does this mean in situations of darkness, that seem to be without hope, like in Nigeria? «For us this is the everyday reality – Ruth and George continue – in the difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves in our Country. There are so many sources of Evil. In front of this situation we cannot remain indifferent. When we arrived there, where the people are suffering the most, we touched concretely that which Jesus repeats to us even today: “you did it to me”». And, on behalf of the whole Focolare community of Nigeria, they would like to convey to us their gratitude for the prayers and support that has reached them in many ways, «above all in this moment, and also before and after the presidential and legislative elections».
20150119MariaVoceTG1TG1, 8:00 edition, January 2015 (around 8:10)
With regard to the recent massacres in Paris, Nigeria and Pakistan, the Focolare’s president recently issued a statement and appeared in an interview on the Una Mattina show to give some thoughts on the topic of terrorism; she also gave an interview with TG1 at 8:00. “Dialogue between religions is the truly winning response against violence,” she had said in responding to a question by Letizia Cioffarelli. “Not only the dialogue with Islam, but the dialogue with anybody we meet, whatever their religious convictions, or ideology might be. We believe that we should spread a culture of encounter, of respect for others as our brothers and sisters, because they are our brothers and sisters, since we are all children of God as human beings. If such a culture were spread it would be possible to effectively counteract terrorism; otherwise, it will be a weed that has been allowed to grow out of control, because of a culture of indifference, confrontation and mutual distrust.” The cartoon has posed the question of freedom of expression. What is the correct way it should be defended? “There is no such thing as a freedom that allows you to offend others; that is never true freedom. Freedom is that which allows you to love the other by giving yourself completely. Therefore, if we see the possibility of a greater love for others in respecting limits, we leave others free and we are free as well.”
Uno Mattina, January 19 – beginning at 21:38 and from 28:33
She reiterated an idea that was already expressed in her interview with Uno Mattina, when the interviewer referred to the Pope’s remark: “if you insult my mother, you can expect a punch from me.” “The rather extreme metaphor used by the Pope expresses very well something quite basic,” Maria Voce said, “that is, that you cannot imagine that you have limitless freedom, because a person’s freedom has value inasmuch as it serves the common good.” “None of us,” she continued, “wants to be limited in freedom, but if this limiting is an exercise of a greater love because I limit what I could do (no one prevents me, but I limit myself out of love), then I am truly acting freely, I am truly free.”
The opening of the Cause was joyfully announced in a letter tothe Focolare Movement, in which president, Maria Voce, invited all those who live the spirituality of unity to be a “living witness” to what Chiara had lived, proclaimed and shared with so many; that is, the common effort of “becoming saints together.”
The decision to solicit the opening of the Cause of Canonization had been announced by Maria Voce on December 7, 2013, with the hope that such recognition would encourage many in their moral and spiritual commitment to the good of humankind.
The event on January 27th can be followed via the Internet 4.00 – 6.00PM (CET): http://live.focolare.org
Here, December 25 is not a holiday – a volunteer at the centre for children with disabilities told us. Nevertheless, informing ahead of time the families of these children with disabilities who are undergoing rehabilitation with us, we at least take a break for one day. And so, together with the youth in our team, we thought of spending Christmas at the Center by having lunch together.
They also invited other young people who have helped us during the year in our service in some orphanages and who were happy to share this moment with us. Some of them are Christians while others are not, just like the majority of the people around us, but the desire to be one family is in the heart of each one. When we greeted one another there was that look of joy in everyone in expectation of something beautiful.
In this period, some families with their children whom we are taking care of and who come from faraway, are housed near the Center, where we try to put into practice the spirituality of unity. They are passing through very difficult and painful situations, for many reasons. Even if we had suspended our services for the day we told them that whoever wished to join us to share a moment of celebration were welcome to do so. All of them said yes. A mother cried tears of joy at our invitation: “I know that Christmas for you is a very important celebration, if you have invited me it means that I too am important!”.
Another mother, just three weeks ago had taken the train to come to the city with her husband to search for medical treatment for their daughter who has a severe form of cerebral paralysis. She went to several places but everyone told her that it was not worthwhile and it would be better for them just to go home and accept things as they are. With great sadness in her heart, she already had the train tickets to return home in the afternoon. But then she remembered one of her Christian relatives who some time ago told her about a church that she had visited. Even if she was not Christian, she felt the push to go and look for this church. She found it and met a priest. He knew one of the youth in our team who sings in the church choir, and so he told her: “Look, just fifteen minutes from here there is a place where they take care of children like yours, why don’t you try to go there”. He explained to her the route and she arrived in our center. Even if she did not have an appointment, two of us welcomed her. After awhile she called her husband who was waiting at the hostel and she told him: “We will not leave anymore”.
Later we understood that their relationship was undergoing a moment of crisis because of their daughter: “When I arrived here, what immeediately touched me was the smile of the people. I found hope once again and my husband is also not as depressed”.
The invitation to the Christmas celebration was also exptended to them. Christmas… a God who made himself little so as to make us all brothers and sisters!
One asks today, after the murderous attacks in Paris and the massacres in Nigeria and Pakistan, whether there is need for dialogue between people of different religions and cultures.
“I beg to reverse the question”, Maria Voce says, and continues to ask: “Can we live without dialogue in a globilized world?” While speaking about the increase in the number of people who choose to emigrate and about entire populations who are forced to flee because of persecution,“uprooted from their environment and their future” and forced to live with others of different races, cultures, opinions and religions, the president of the Focolare Movement quotes the pressing question of Western Countries: how does one live with these people? “The answer is clear”, she affirms, “We either dialogue or fight with one another. But conflicts lead to destruction of both residents and immigrants, while openness and dialogue create life and lead to life”.
“I have noted this during my trips to places in the Middle East, Africa and Asia where dramatic situations are present”, she explains.“The brave commitment to dialogue is lived by children in their schools, by families in their neighbourhoods and by many people in their workplaces”.
She reminds that the most effective dialogue is the one “built on the sharing of everyday life”, which is “not generated through an immediate confrontation of ideas” but “ through getting to know the other person – and not his religion – to be able to discover the bond of brotherhood that binds all human beings”. Maria Voce is convinced that diversity does not necessarily cause opposition, but that it can be a source of mutual enrichment. And we truly enrich one another, because God is generous and he bestows his gifts on all men, whatever religion they belong to”. She reaffirms,“When we discover this, we all become richer and freer in our mutual relationship”.
She hints at what Pope Francis is manifesting through “his words and attitudes, emphasizing warmth, empathy, listening fully to others” . And “equally valuable is the Pope’s indication not to make concessions on our identity as Christians in order to prepare ourselves for this dialogue, because we can dialogue only if we are deeply and authentically Christian”.
In her conclusion, MariaVoce states “ A Christian or a Muslim become better persons when they walk on the road of dialogue and discover that they can progress together, and that this progress leads to common initiatives, starting from peace, that contribute towards the benefit of humanity”.
In the face of such a great tragedy and absurdity, beyond our understanding, we are in search of meaning. What is the answer to so much fear and anguish?
« As I watched those towers crumbling, hardly believing my eyes, and thought of this appalling tragedy, the shock of a superpower that suddenly discovers its vulnerability and personally experiences the crumbling of many certainties, as well as the threat of a war with unpredictable consequences, it was like reliving in Trent beneath the bombings of World War II. Everything was crumbling then and we felt impelled to ask ourselves if there was anything that no bomb could destroy. The answer was: Yes, there is. It is God. God whom we discovered as Love. It was a luminous discovery that gave us the certainty that he cannot abandon us, that he is never absent from history. On the contrary, he is able to direct the course of anything that happens towards good. I personally lived this experience in a surprising way.
And I asked myself: couldn’t it be that right now, at the beginning of this twenty-first century, God wants to repeat this great lesson and to give us the opportunity to put him in the first place in our lives, compelling us to put everything else in second place? This thought gives me hope for the future.»
But we can’t deny that there is also a growing anti-Islamic sentiment. What can be done to avoid these sentiments which criminalize the whole Muslim world?
«For some time now in our Movement – but not only in our Movement – we have established a profound unity in God with Muslims, and precisely in the United States with a vast African American Muslim Movement. I learned that in this moment they feel greatly helped by the fact that they are united with us Christians in the commitment to bring universal brotherhood in the world.
We must recognize one another as brothers and sisters, Christians and Muslims. We are all children of God. So we Christians must act accordingly.»
How can there be, in your opinion, so much hate on the part of some Muslim fundamentalists? What can we do?
« In my opinion, we are dealing here with Evil with a capital E. This is why I feel one thing very deeply, which is perhaps a little original: now people are mobilizing all the forces, on the political level, heads of State, and so on. But the religious world must also be mobilized for the sake of good. All the forces of good must unite. This is already being done. For example, last Sunday the Holy Father spoke very forcefully – and I saw that all the newspapers reported it – asking America not to allow itself to be tempted by hatred. He continually repeats his appeals for peace.
Our own Movement, in its more political expression, the “Movement for Unity in Politics,” promotes this idea of brotherhood, which is the harbinger of peace, through municipalities, through parliaments, in many parts of the world.»
The director of the French magazine, “Nouvelle Cité,” Dominique Bonnet, wrote: «Like all the French, we were shocked by last week’s events, a tragedy that led about four million people to rally in solidarity, on Sunday, 11 January 2015. «As a publishing house – he continued – we felt it was our duty to react to the attack and murder of the cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo, but to also give a positive message, that is, underlining the “coexistence” we want to build with all people and all religions. Because of this we chose to express our ideas through a cartoon that does not repeat the slogan, “Je suis Charlie,” but “Je suis avec Charlie” [I am with Charlie]. In fact we do not share the editorial policy of that paper. The four cartoonists who were killed appear on the top of our cartoon. Out of respect for their motivations as atheists, we thought that the phrase “Il ne vont quand même pas nous canoniser” [“They are not trying to make us saints are they?!”], as very fitting. The slogan at the bottom of the cartoon expresses our view of that idea of “coexistence.”» The cartoon was published on 10 January on the site of “Nouvelle Cité” and relaunched on Facebook and Twitter. The massive participation in the peace march in Paris was amazing, and reverberated across the globe. «The TV channels broadcasted many interviews of people in the crowd and some testimonials were really moving. [Like that Muslim woman with a veil, whose son, a military, had been killed by terrorists in the south of France, and who tried to console the Rabbi who had come from Tunisia to verify the death of his son. The Rabbi talked about how his son was afraid to wear the kippah, while the woman spoke about how her veil aroused the looks and comments from others. “Be strong – the Muslim woman said to the Rabbi – you have to muster all your courage, but we must stand firm. I am French and proud to be one, but we must overcome.” It seemed that the future lies in this painful dialogue.»] «The lights of “this togetherness” have been dimmed. Tomorrow we will have to coexist. But in the various interviews this term takes on different hues. In France people are seriously wondering: has religiosity been relegated to a strictly private sphere? To what extent can the freedom of expression be pushed? For three hours in Paris, under a winter sun, thousands of hearts warmed themselves by speaking to one another.» The members of the Focolare in Francenot only declare their commitment to remain faithful to the Time-out for peace action, that is done throughout the world at 12 noon every day, but also to take part in doubling our efforts in interreligious dialogue with actions of all sorts, like “Vivre ensemble a Cannes,” now at its fourth edition. The city of Cannes won the “2015 Chiara Lubich Award for fraternity.” The awarding ceremony was held in Capitol Hill in Rome, on 17 January: and the prize was received by a delegation of 15 representatives of interreligious dialogue.
Igino Giordanipresided over a conference of ecumenists in the autumn of 1967 at the headquarters of the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa. Archimandrite Msgr. Eleuterio Fortino participated at this conference, and later gave this testimony: “Giordani, at that conference, succeeded by his inner serenity to appease the fiery tones of the debate; and clarified the theological and pastoral aspects of the decree of Vatican II Unitatis Redintegratio (1964), thus placating the last resistance of the Italian opponents to common prayer among all Christians in the Week for the unity of the Churches.”
For his part Giordani had followed this week of Prayer for Christian Unity since 1940, which to be more precise is actually an Octave: from January 18th to 25th each year. He explains this himself in a paper he wrote that year, where among other things he explains the significance of the two dates: the feast of the Chair of St. Peter’s in Rome, the first, and the conversion of St. Paul, the second.
“The practice of the Octave for unity, because it gathers millions of Christians at the feet of the one Father to make him one, choral demand, to make everyone one again, is itself a beginning of this unity, as well as a start in the right direction.
During the preparation of the Octave this year, news had spread, to begin with a little vague, that in a Trappist monastery of nuns in Rome, they were praying with particular intensity, for the termination of the divisions among Christians, whose image – which is the image of Christ bleeding – should not let us rest.
Sr Maria Gabriella Sagheddu
I came to know that, in that Trappist monastery, a humble nun, Maria Gabriella, had offered herself her life for the unity of the Church and that her sacrifice had deeply affected a community of separated brothers in England.
The news, even though vague, widened immensely – to my eyes at least – the horizon of the movement for unity and opened new perspectives, in which, like a strip of blue between the cracks of a storm, showed the face of the sky above a quarrelsome humanity. It put, in short, in its true light the Octave and its aims.
Now these nuns probably knew nothing of all those debates and commissions and committees: and in any case – no matter how great the merits of those international conferences were – they did not think it had anything to do with them. Confronted with the problem of the division, they had contemplated with simplicity, by the light of the Rule, which never changes: that is, they saw that unity has to be sought where it is to be found: at the source, at the matrix: it had in other words, to be asked of the Father, in whom – as we had been taught with the parable of the prodigal son – and only in whom brothers and sisters can be unified.
This means that these humble creatures, who we will never meet in any congress, had seen immediately what to do and had put the movement for unity back on the straight road. […]
Unity is not the work of men and women but of God: not of study, but of grace. Accept, Father, these pure offerings, first of all for your Church, that you might deign to purify it, guard it and unify it ….”
From “The ecumenical journey of Igino Giordani” by Tommaso Sorgi – excerpt from Nuova Umanita, n. 199 – January / February 2012.
TRANSLATION OF LETTER IN ITALIAN (see below) SECRETARY OF STATE
Vatican City, 10 January 2015
Dear Madam, On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, you sent greetings to the Holy Father on behalf of your Movement, assuring prayers and bestowing upon him the gift of a Filippino Christmas crib and some traditional food products. His Holiness wishes to extend his gratitude for your show of affection and hopes that the birth of Christ, who came on earth to give us light, grace, mercy and the tenderness of the Father, may help us all rediscover the true joy of Christmas. Together with these sentiments, the Holy Father, while invoking upon yourself, and all those united with you in this courteous homage, the celestial intercession of the Our Lady, Immaculate Mother of Our Saviour, joyfully imparts his Apostolic Blessing Angelo Becciu Substitute
Europe continues to battle with economic uncertainty which is a real challenge for all enterprises, experts of economic policies and citizens. Christians from various economic fields and the entrepreneurial world will meet in Loppiano (close to Florence) from 6 to 8 March, to share their experiences and outlooks, so as to contribute to the diffusion of a prophetic message of hope. «Up to now, in Europe, only the institutions have stated their opinions – affirmed Prof. Luigino Bruni. Our dream is that in the ministries for economy, there may also be Franciscans, Focolarini and people who have chosen to stand by the side of the poorest of peoples… There is need for gratuitousness. Over the last ten years these voices have been silenced. An economy without a heart, without charisms that are able to include also the poor, is an economy without a future. What do all Christian movements have to say today, about the economic plan? At the start of the millennium we set out on our journey, “Together for Europe,” with Chiara Lubich. After 15 years of working together at the level of gaining knowledge, it seems that this journey has become a working together for a different kind of economy, a different type of politics. The time has come for us to voice out our opinions. » The idea of a convention was conceived on November 2012 in Munich, Bavaria, during the Together for Europe meeting. On that occasion, economy experts of some movements and communities of different countries and churches, made an appointment to hold a session for in-depth reflection, with the aim of giving a specific contribution in the field of economy, starting off from their own charisms. The programme provided for a moment of reflection on the “signs of the times” we are allwitnessing, with the sharing of experiences. The moments of reflection on the “signs of hope” were shared in a round table on the economy of sharing and “culture of giving.” The programme also included an experimentation work lab «of manual and not only mental work,» at the “Loppiano Prima Farm,” and an artistic workshop with the Gen Verde music group. The convention, entitled “Towards an economy for the common good” will be laid out in three work groups regarding poverty, enterprises and institutions. An expo will be installed with the works produced by each community. Not only banks, markets and finance will be involved – Bruni continues – but contributions from the lower sectors of society, starting from from solidarity, so as to allow the involvement of the poor and excluded people. We shall attempt to pursue this path with some Catholics and Evangelicals (John XXIII,Schönstatt, Focolare, Ymca and Vineyard) acting as the preparatory committee, and with the specific aim of allowing the charisms to voice their opinions on the economic crisis Europe is undergoing.». The idea, therefore, is to give a perspective to Europe starting from the economy of reciprocity and as a gift and not only in terms of interests and profits. It will be an economy which arises from cooperatives, and the social and civic sectors. «Europe’s economy –Prof. Bruni explains – was also created by Saints Benedict, Dominic and Francis (if we considered the the institution of the Pawnshops), not to mention the social charisms that invented the schools, hospitals, simultaneously with the world of commerce which progressed with the enterprises and the merchants. The new Europe will arise from this crisis, and to achieve a good Europe, it still needs today, the contribution of the charisms, modern charisms that speak the language of economy: there is a wealth of life in the European Christian movements that still have something to say that differs from that of the European Central Bank. We shall start with modesty, but our objective is to go to Brussels to address the institutions with our specific contribution. »
“Here in Taiwan there has not been much news about the Ebola outbreak, apart from when there seemed to be some danger that it might spread outside of Africa. For most people, it is a distant problem that has nothing to do with them. But we Youth for a United World (Y4UW) – both from Taiwan and some international students who are studying Chinese here – felt differently because we feel that every person in this world is part of the same human family.
Thanks to a friend who had been in Sierra Leone, we were able to get in touch with John who lives there and who belongs to Y4UW. He told us about the terrible situation that everybody is living: shortage of food, people who are dying, and a government that doesn’t have enough resources to help, and also about the efforts that he and others were making to provide some assistance to people in need.
So, we decided we had to take action, and set about organising a cake sale. Although it was only a small thing we all felt so happy because at least we were no longer helpless and passive in facing such a huge suffering. Spending time together baking the cakes also helped us to strengthen our friendship and gave us a renewed impulse to promote peace and unity in our everyday lives. There were also moments of doubt about whether we could really sell all the cakes that we had made, but we decided to go ahead, trusting that if we did it out of love then everything would work out.
On the day of the sale it was really amazing because we sold everything, and some people even donated extra money so that we made far more than we expected. Even more important, lots of people became more aware of the terrible suffering that Ebola is causing, and saw how Y4UW is truly living for the whole human family. By chance, three Africans happened to pass by and thanked us for what we were doing for “our Africa”. But one of us answered, “not your Africa, our Africa”, which really summed up the spirit of the whole occasion.
Two impressions from our friends: “When I heard about the Ebola epidemic,” Chung Hao says, “I didn’t know how to help them, but this charity event, even though it was something small, made me realise that when we young people are united, we are a potent force, not only in helping concretely, but also because in awakening the concern of friends around us.” And Xin Ci commented: “The cake sale was an important occasion to contribute something for those who are suffering because of Ebola. When I arrived and saw the tables covered in beautiful, tasty cakes I saw how much effort people had put into it and I was really moved. I always wanted to do something for the world, and these small acts, done with the infinite love of everyone can be communicated to every corner of the world. I really felt happy to take part in this event with my friends.”
“Since this article was written, the experience has continued,” Brian from Taiwan says, “as we had another sale involving students from Fu Jen University. We are now planning a further activity – making greeting cards so as to raise more funds. Apart from the important achievement of raising money for a very important cause, this activity has energised us and brought about a stronger sense of what it means to bring about a united world.
Pope Francis is putting all his energy into his travels, as he has always done. But this trip to Asia is forecasted to be a really demanding one. Besides institutional types of events such as the interreligious meeting in Colombo upon his arrival in Sri Lanka and the canonization of the Indian Missionary, Joseph Vaz, the Pope will have to face the sultry tropical climate, but above all, an entire population that is expecting a strong message of hope from the visit.
This will be for Francis, a full immersion in one of the many peripheries of the world, so dear to his heart and marked also recently by natural calamities that have inexorably impacted on the difficult social support path in those lands.
Expectations are high and the Pope Francis excitement is building up especially in Manila where more than the five million people who officially attended the Mass of the World Youth Day celebrated by Pope John Paul II in 1995 are expected to participate. The Filipinos have been snapping their selfies beside his life-size cutout image in churches and malls, while the children are preparing to dress up as Swiss guards to welcome the Pope.
During the Christmas preparations, the youth of the Focolare went to the Tacloban and Palo regions, where the Holy Father will pay a visit on day 17, to celebrate with the schoolchildren with games, songs and gifts for the typical ”Noche Buena” or Christmas Eve vigil. This initiative was conducted also in cooperation with the youth from various parts of the world, who are living a concrete community experience in the small town of the Focolare in Tagaytay.
This was their concrete answer to the invitation of the Archbishop of Manila, Card. Tagle, and the President of the Philippine Bishop’s Conference, Bishop Villegas, to prepare for the Pope’s visit by intensifying the works of mercy towards the poor and outcasts. This gesture was not something new for them. Since November 2013, that is, when the country’s historically strongest typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) wreaked its havoc, the Focolare has been organising a series of action aids for the struck population: from first aid to the distribution of food, clothing and prime necessities, repair of homes, moral support to families and those who had lost their loved ones, to the rebuilding plans with the construction of about 40 small houses. The specific program of the ”Start Again” project to help the schools, is still underway.
Besides this, the Focolare undertook to prepare the Holy Father’s visit to the Philippines through a word-of-mouth action and all the communities of Manila agreed to line the streets on January 15 from the airport to the city, to be with all the others in welcoming the Holy Father in person.
The community of Leyte took part in the Commission organizing the visit to the places where the typhoon had struck: to help in the security services during the Papal Mass in Tacloban, and also during the meeting at the Pope Francis Center for the Poor of Palo with about 200 aged people and poor children. A young Focolare member will entertain the participants before the Pope’s arrival.
But for the moment, the happiest are the survivors. Here’s what Farah says: “I am offering all my sufferings for the Pope’s safety and health.” Mark adds: “I am happy to be able to have a close view of the Pope. I feel so privileged. We are very grateful for his visit.”
About ten members of the Movement have been chosen as group leaders for the works of the New Evangelization Convention to be held from 15 to 18 January at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, with 5,000 enrolled delegates whom the Pope will meet on the 18th, before his departure.
Also on the last day, Pope Francis – who will start his trip to Manila with an encounter with families – will meet the youth gathered at the University’s sports field – and in the afternoon – will conclude his visit with a solemn Mass at Rizal Park.
What is a cardinal and what does he do? These are questions the common folk,, mostly Buddhists may ask, upon hearing about the naming of Bangkok’s Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij. He is the second Thai Cardinal after Michael Michai Kitbunchu, instated more than 30 years ago in 1983. Also other two new Asian Cardinals: Mons. Charles Bo of Myanmar and Mons. Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon from Vietnam will be named in the next consistory set for 14 February.
To respond to the interest aroused by the nomination, the local Church promoted a press conference that gathered about 30 journalists and local Thai media operators, including some well known Asian newspapers.
One of the most frequent questions the new Cardinal had to answer was: “Does this nomination reflect the Catholic Church’s desire to diffuse Christianity more in Thailand?” Thirty years ago in fact, there were rumours diffused by a group of Buddhist fundamentalists, of a Vatican “conspiracy” to undermine Thai Buddhism. This is an issue which no one believes any longer. The Thai people are renowned for their tolerance and friendliness. Christianity is not deterred, even if the Christians constitute less than 1% of the population.
Mons. Kriengsak of Bangkok thinks that with these nominees, Pope Francis wishes to underline the universality of the Church, and in answering the many questions of the Buddhist journalists, narrated with simplicity that God is Love, and took flesh in Jesus who brought the life of the Trinity on earth – and that mutual love makes us brothers and sisters. He also stressed that all religions hold common values, such as the “golden rule” (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you“) and continued by stating that the Catholic Church promotes dialogue in all fields and, particularly interreligious dialogue in Thailand. Those who know the new Cardinal well, are aware that he has a deep friendship with a good number of Buddhist monks, along with lay people, always open to followers of all faiths. We are surprised by the fact that the person who had sent us a copy of the Thai newspaper with the photo and promotion of Archbishop Kriengsak on the first page was precisely a famous monk of the Buddhist monastery at the outskirts of Bangkok! “Together – Archbishop. Kriengsak said – we work for the good of society, peace in the world and unity of humanity.” He invited all, whatever faith they profess, to pray daily for peace in the world, and observe a minute of silence at six every afternoon for this purpose.
In answering the question on education for which the Thai Church is highly esteemed, he sustained that it has to be open to everyone, of all walks of life. He repeated Pope Francis’s appeal to “go out towards the outskirts of society,” citing the many charitable works the Church undertakes, highlighting the various initiatives to face a rather recent phenomenon: the flux of many refugees in Thailand. With regard to the challenges of the Church: “Secularism is a challenge for all religions. Also due to this, all religions have to cooperate to imbue society with positive values.” “The Church in our continent, though small, can give its contribution in promoting unity in Asia, in the perspective of a more united world.”
In answering the last question we posed on how this news is to be interpreted, he said that he was very surprised and had accepted the nomination to say yes to God’s will, entrusting himself to His grace, like Mary. He asked us to pray for him, confiding that he was counting on the spirituality of unity which he had embraced ever since he was a seminarian. He will keep his motto: “Verbum crucis dei virtus est”(The language of the Cross is the power of God).
The Egyptian Churches are now celebrating – and not from 18 to 25 January as in many other countries – their Week of Prayer for the unity of Christians. Fadiah and Philippe of the Focolare Movement in Egypt tell of their participation in the various initiatives of the local Churches and how their prayer invoking the Lord’s protection over the entire Egyptian nation is central to the prayer week especially in this delicate moment. . “Receptive Ecumenism” means overturning our mentality which often conceals itself behind the way the members of the different churches deal with one another. Rev. Dr. Callan Slipper, from the Focolare Movement’s International Study Centre explained this during the ecumenical meeting at Welwyn Garden City (London) last 4 February. Slipper, who is also Regional Delegate for all the Churches in Hertfordshire County, in his speech (Chiara Lubich and convivial ecumenism: how the spirituality facilitates unity between Christians) expounded on how “instead of thinking that all would be better if the others tried to be more similar to us, and that therefore we have something to teach, we should instead, approach others to learn from them.» By going towards the others with this attitude, he said, «we would discover that we have nothing to hide, but can only admit our weaknesses and the need to be healed. This opens up a new relationship and leads us to a new conversion and deeper bond with Christ, in whom we can fully discover our true ecclesiastic identity.” Among the audience was a number of highly qualified people: 14 Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran and Coptic Orthodox Bishops coming from different parts of England together with the Secretary General of Churches Together in England, the national ecumenical organisation of the Churches of England. For them, the meeting was a “taste” of a new ecumenical methodology and a way of sharing experiences in their respective churches. During the same week, in Germany, at the Ecumenical Centre of Ottmaring, all remembered the importance of authentic Christian life that can counter the violent and liberticidal phenomena we have recently witnessed, as in the attacks in Paris. Gérard Testard, French, and member of the Executive Committee of the “Together for Europe ” network and founder of the interreligious “Efesia” initiative, was guest of honour: “Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well – he said, referring to the phrase chosen for the Week of Prayer “Will you give me a drink? ” (John 4,7) – points out the way for this situation: Jesus breaks down all the barriers men have built and manifests himself as the Saviour of the world. The present-day events oblige us as Christians to work for unity, while the mission of unity goes beyond the Christian world to face the perils of unacceptable terrorism, violence, fanaticism.” Testard presented the positive experience of dialogue promoted also by the Council of Muslims of France and the French Bishops’ Conference, and “Efesia” created in 2007 in Lebanon. Christians and Muslims regularly meet on 25 March, feast of the Annunciation, since Mary is highly venerated also by Muslims. After four years the Lebanese authorities declared 25 March as a national Christian-Muslim holiday. It is historically the country’s first common feast day.» 
![[:it]Chiara Lubich: «Non c’è porzione di vita indegna di essere vissuta»](https://www.focolare.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20140211ChiaraLubich1986.jpg)
Alessandra: “Randi is the baby girl who was born to Rebecca twenty two years ago in the hospital where I was working. She immigrated illegally to Livorno, Italy, and didn’t speak any Italian. But her anguish was apparent since, not having a Visitor Visa, she feared baby would be taken away from her. Welcoming her without judgement or prejudice, we were able to work out a solution for her. After a very short time more than seventy girls in similar or worse situations knew they could count on our association, which we named ‘Randi’.”
Luce Ardente continues to repeat even now: “The time has come for me to tell everyone how much good Mother Chiara has done to my life as a monk. I feel that she continues to give me an interior impulse and strength to bring the ideal of brotherhood to all.”
“Chiara spoke of living the Gospel and being faithful to God ,” João, a young Brazilian man said, and added: “I think we cannot be faithful without aiming to become saints, which is what God wants.” Francesca, 13 said: “I was struck by Chiara because of her great faith, which would seem difficult for kids to understand, instead she conveyed it with such simplicity.”
She reminds that the most effective dialogue is the one “built on the sharing of everyday life”, which is “not generated through an immediate confrontation of ideas” but “ through getting to know the other person – and not his religion – to be able to discover the bond of brotherhood that binds all human beings”. Maria Voce is convinced that diversity does not necessarily cause opposition, but that it can be a source of mutual enrichment. And we truly enrich one another, because God is generous and he bestows his gifts on all men, whatever religion they belong to”. She reaffirms,“When we discover this, we all become richer and freer in our mutual relationship”.
In answering the question on education for which the Thai Church is highly esteemed, he sustained that it has to be open to everyone, of all walks of life. He repeated Pope Francis’s appeal to “go out towards the outskirts of society,” citing the many charitable works the Church undertakes, highlighting the various initiatives to face a rather recent phenomenon: the flux of many refugees in Thailand. With regard to the challenges of the Church: “Secularism is a challenge for all religions. Also due to this, all religions have to cooperate to imbue society with positive values.” “The Church in our continent, though small, can give its contribution in promoting unity in Asia, in the perspective of a more united world.”