Jerzy Ciesielski: An example of life

Dec 28, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Pope Francis had just recently recognized, on December 18, 2013, the exemplarity of the life of Jerzy Ciesielski (12.02.1929 – 9.10.1970), who was among the first to welcome and spread the spirituality of the Focolare in Poland. Born on February 12, 1929 in Krakow,  Jerzy Ciesielski finishes his degree in Civil Engineering and, in 1957, he marries Danuta Plebaczyk. The marriage was blessed by Cardnal Karol Wojtyla who accompanied them in their spiritual growth. Three children are born, Maria, Caterina and Pietro. Jerzy met Wojtyla while he was still a student at the Polytechnic of Krakow, and then after gaining his doctorate and a teaching position as a university professor, he joins a group of intellectuals who, together with the Cardinal goes ahead with a cultural and spiritual formation. In 1968, Jerzy comes into contact with the Focolare Movement.  Impressed by the evangelical life saw beng lived among the members of the first community, he embraced the spirituality and, together with Dr. Giuseppe Santanché, an Italian focolarino who came from the GDR, they go to Card. Wojtyla with the request for his blessings on the growing Movement. «He feels the call to give himself to God as a  married focolarino  in the summer of 1969, after a ‘week long vacation’ in Zakopane, a tourist spot in the Tatra mountains»: recalled Anna Fratta, a focolarina doctor who was a direct witness of some of the human and spiritual events in the life of Jerzy. The “week long holiday” was a clandestine Mariapolis…… An incident at the river Nile in Sudan, on the 9th of October 1970, took Jerzy and his children Caterina and Pietro away. Karol Wojtyla presided at the funerals; becoming the Pope, in the book entitled “Going beyond the threshold of peace”, he described Jerzy as a young man who decisively hoped for sanctity. «This was the programme of his life – wrote John Paul II. He knew that he was “created for great things”, but, at the same time, he did not have any doubts that his vocation was not the priesthood or the religious life». Wojtyla, in his writing, particularly highlights how matrimony and family life were considered by the young man as the answer to a call of God; and so were his professional committment, lived as service. 

Youth: May the fires of war become just a vague memory

Dec 26, 2013 | Non categorizzato

«In the name of the all Clement and Merciful God: may suffering be forgotten, may happiness and peace reign in the 4 corners of the world, may the hearts of all men be linked , may love burn in their hearts and may unity gather them together in a single track of light. God, make the fires of war become just a vague memory. God, in your infinite clemency and mercy, help us to be more patient, and make us instruments of love and peace. Glory to God, there is no power nor strength except in Him». This is from Naim, a Muslim of Algeria. It was exactly a year ago when, precisely during one of their meetings, the need to reinforce prayer came out, in the face of the imminent conflict in Syria, and so the Time Out for peace was launched. And today too their yes is repeated, to become instruments of peace in their environments, from Central Africa to Lebanon and Algeri, from Salvador to Argentina, among their nations of origin. Experiences are shared, in the 4 days in Rome from December 19 to 22, like that of a young Buddhist who, after his meeting with the gen felt the push to go deeper into knowing his religion. He decides to spend one year in a monastery, making the same experience of the monks. Or like that of those who are asking themselves about their choices for the future, the courage to start a family, their entrance into the world of work. But the strongest witness comes from the Middle East – with representatives from Lebanon and Algeria – who underline the hope that never dies, even if the horizons of heaven remain closed. And for everyone, among whom are many from the various European nation, Maria Voce invites them to go out. She talks with strength to the young people present: «The gen are in the universities? Are they there where the other young people are? Or are they always among themselves? Are they doing something for the others? The Pope continues to tell us to go out, to go out of the sacristies, to go out of the fences, not to lean on securities, not to say “we have always done things in this way, so we go ahead like this”». What shall we do? Maria Voce reiterates: «Risk something, have the courage to open yourselves up to something new, have the courage to do something daring, even extreme, to try out new roads, to build new relationships with humanity». And, opening yourselves up, to bring that which could be the characteristic gift, the joy of being followers of Jesus, fruit of his presence, where two or more are united in his name. The motto of the congress of the youth is in fact, “From this they will know…”, a passage from the Gospel that continues: If you have love for one another. [Jn. 13.35]. «We want to give all our strength to build fraternity together with everyone» – one impression on the spot of the youth. A small fact. «A car collided with mine exactly in the same spot where sometime ago I had already experienced the same thing – Francesco relates. I could have made a ‘cunning move’ not to say anything and just ask for the person to pay for the damage, but instead I went down from the car, I reassured the awkward elderly man who collided with my car, and I told him the truth. Was I stupid to act in this way? Maybe, but instead I felt the joy of having acted correctly and with mercy». «I was very impressed by the sincerity with which Maria Voce spoke to us, truly with an open heart – Tomaso, Italian, explained. We left with “our blood boiling in our veins” – he concluded – just as Chiara said in a video to the gen in the’70s. We are more decisive than ever in bringing to everyone the fire of the Gospel lived, “the greatest revolution”, that which will never pass away».

Christmas, the power of love

Dec 24, 2013 | Non categorizzato

A Christmas of gratitude

Dec 23, 2013 | Non categorizzato

The Adventure of Unity / Openness

Dec 22, 2013 | Non categorizzato

In the Focolare Movement dialogue is not a matter of personal opinion.Even a brief glimpse at the stages of its development (see timeline) would show that the Movement was not born at a planning table but by an inspiration, through a charism that the Holy Spirit had bestowed on a young woman from Trent, Italy. Since the earliest days of the Movement numerous incidents concerning Chiara Lubich and her first companions show a total acceptance of others, and acceptance is the first step in dialogue. The spreading of the Movement throughout the world, the rapid growth of the spirit of unity cannot only be attributed to words that were spoken by few a people into a microphone, but to the love that was based on the art of loving, which Chiara had always proposed as the “method” for spreading the Gospel: “making yourself one”. This term is borrowed from Saint Paul who writes: “I have become all things to all people”. For the Movement, this has always been the main method of evangelization. Observing the vast spreading of the Movement, it seems obvious that the spirituality of unity conquered hearts and souls of people of every social category, due to its uncompromising openness to the human family; openness expressed primarily through an attitude of dialogue in all fields, times and places. In the Focolare dialogue is meant to be understood in its strongest sense, in its Gospel sense. We do not sacrifice our own identity for the sake of any sort of compromise, but precisely because of our identity, we are able to reach out to another who is “different” from us. On January 24, 2002 Chiara and Andrea Riccardi (founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio) were invited to Assisi. They were to speak on behalf of the Catholic Church in front of the pope and other religious leaders of the world, following the collapse of the Twin Towers. Chiara emphasised that dialogue is the main attitude of the Church. She recalled the Church’s four dialogues: dialogue within the Church; ecumenical dialogue; dialogue with the faithful of other religions; and the dialogue with people who have any religious affiliation. These are the four dialogues identified by the Church during the Second Vatican Council in the Encyclical Letter Ecclesium Suam. In 1991 Chiara had written: “Jesus considers as allies and friends all those who battle against evil. Without being aware of it they work for the coming of God’s Reign. Jesus asks for a love from us that is capable of becoming dialogue; that is, a love which, far from closing us proudly within the safe boundaries of our own little worlds, is capable of openness towards everyone, and capable of working with other people of good will for the building of peace and unity in our world. Therefore, may we try to open our eyes to the people we meet, may we admire the good they do no matter what their beliefs may be. May we support them and encourage one another along the path of love and justice.”

The Lure of the Christmas Mystery

Dec 21, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Christmas is that sublime mystery of God’s love, who loved us so much as to become one of us. As it is written, the mystery of the Incarnation tells of God’s excessive love. In order to envelope everyone in this love, God was born in a grotto amongst livestock and cattle, putting himself beneath his creatures where the poorest of the poor contemplated Him enveloped in their own wretchedness. Celebrating Christmas means reawakening to consciousness the love brought from Heaven to earth by Jesus, a love He shared through life and word. Nowadays there is a special need to revive – and polish – the concept of love, because the human community risks becoming sadder and sadder due to its lack of love. Love connects a person to the level of Christ. In fact, the good (or the bad) done to a neighbour is judged at the Final Judgment as done to Christ. Out of this shortage of love, incapacity to love each other, only boredom and sadness will be distilled. Returning love to our brothers and sisters today is to return joy, peace and life, and this is perhaps why Christmas resurrects a taste for innocence and simplicity. It uncovers that font of gladness which is Christ in the midst, as at the manger in the midst of Mary, Joseph and shepherds. The Lord was born so that we might be reborn. He is the life and we were – and are in the darkness. We pass from darkness to life because we love our brothers and sisters. Christian commitment requires heroism levied against mediocrity, the victory over compromise. It wants life in freedom, which is freedom from any form of evil; form: lack of physical strength, financial failure, disappointment in human relationships, and desolation in the midst of the world. The important thing is to never give up. Perhaps no one will tell you “Well done!” The medals will be pinned on other chests. Perhaps some will call you fanatical or naive. You’ll have to squeeze out of the desolation you feel, a more fervent longing for God, and this will motivate you even more. There are some profound and simple words drawn from the depths of the divine life that describe your mission. They are the words of Jesus: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” Salt flavours by hiding itself in the food. Light illuminates by silently penetrating. A Christian’s behaviour should add flavour (salt) to life (if not, you don’t know what you’re living for) and the direction to life. You cannot ignore the misery in the world that is due largely to a lack of love. Love is the life of humankind. In Jesus, it was Love who was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and took on our humanity and inserted us in the life of God. Igino Giordani in: Città Nuova, December 25, 1967 – No.23/24

Youth for a United World: Christmas of mutual welcome and peace

Dec 20, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Christmas in Bethlehem! “It’s a unique opportunity to crown this year through our meeting with the Holy Land Youth for a United World”, shared Maria Guaita, Andrew Camilleri and Claudia Barrero, from the Y4UW international secretariat.

What significance does it have for you to spend Christmas in the Holy Land? We have welcomed this invitation as a proposal to all the Youth for a United World spread all over the planet – narrates Maria Guaita -. The Gospel narrates that Mary and Joseph found no inn to lodge: “the Word came to his own and his own people did not accept him.” We wish to welcome him especially in the lonely ones, the marginalized, the poor and the homeless. Therefore, we commit ourselves to transform each of our cities into a small Bethlehem that hosts the nativity crib that offers a cradle to baby Jesus.”

How have you organized this activity? “We propose to all the Youth for a United World a Christmas that is characterized by mutual welcome and peace. On daily basis, the mass media offer us images of violence and suffering, exclusion, and we want to respond to this with an even greater love: taking advantage of this Christmas Season to carry out concrete acts of love in favour of our brothers and sisters.”

We wish to get as many people as possible involved in this initiative – concludes Maria – also parishes, institutions, other associations and movements, according to each one’s creativity and possibilities – as Chiara Lubich used to say – “nothing is small that is done out of love”.”

One may post photos or short films of these initiatives on the “Youth for a United World – Holy Land” Facebook Page.

“All these fragments of fraternity – adds Claudia -, will give witness and document an important step in the fulfilment of the “United World Project”, thus paving the way to universal brotherhood.”

For more information:

Youth for a United World

Evangelii Gaudium (EG), Some Thoughts From Maria Voce

Dec 19, 2013 | Non categorizzato

What does Pope Francis mean by Church-Communion? This can be found in four points of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (EG) in the section called No to warring among ourselves. The key phrase is found in (EG, 99): “I especially ask Christians in communities throughout the world to continue to offer a radiant and attractive witness of fraternal communion.” This request, Maria Voce says, is extended “to the Christians who find themselves in communities of the Church. It is a request for the witness they give within the various communities in which they live, “a witness of mutual love and care for one another, a witness of fraternal communion.”   

But what community is the Pope talking about? Maria Voce points out that one could at first think that the Pope is referring to specific groups, but then she offered a wider view: “these communities can also be where Christians find themselves in non-Christian communities or in communities in which the Gospel is still to be proclaimed; as well as in convents, associations and families.”

Why this request? “I think he explains why in his concluding statements: “May this fraternal communion become radiant and attractive.” Beneath this witness lies a longing to evangelize, that this be the ‘primary’ form of evangelization or the ‘new’ form of evangelization. Fraternal communion among Christians must attract others simply by its witness.” Then the Pope offered some concrete expressions of this vision. “He invites us to begin. Let’s begin by praying for that person whom we don’t like at the moment. He invites us to take the first step, even just a small step;  simply remembering someone in prayer. This helps to overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of living fraternal communion . . . it makes it possible even for someone destroyed by grudges and hatreds, someone who suffers because of enmities and betrayals, to make a joyful return.” Joy is the characteristic that pervades the entire Apostolic Exhortation: “You give witness to the Gospel in joy.”

What are some of the impediments? Maria Voce refers to the preceding paragraph. The obstacle is spiritual worldliness which consists in “seeking not the Lord’s glory, but human glory and personal wellbeing” (93). Egoism: looking at yourself rather than at God and those around you; seeking security in the things of this world, in money and power, in self-reliance rather than complete trust in God.” This “prevents Christians at the very roots from enjoying fraternal communion.”

“The Pope particularly stigmatizes the contention, envy and jealousy that can arise among Christians, especially if they are in religious communities or communities of people involved in witnessing to the Gospel in some way.” Voce deduces that it is not possible to think about evangelizing in such a way: “There’s no possibility for fruitfulness, if these Christian communities don’t give an authentic witness to fraternal love.”

In conclusion, Maria Voce confided: “A thought of Chiara Lubich comes to my mind. While addressing some animators of parish communities in 2005, she stated: ‘The Lord has given us a charism for the world of today, the charism of unity. I’m certain that it can also help in the renewal of parish communities, so that they become what they are meant to be: the living Church, where everyone can find Jesus. We therefore feel the responsibility of having received such a gift from God and we have the courage to spread the spirituality of unity, especially now when John Paul II presented it to the entire Church as the spirituality of communion (NMI, 43).’” Thus it’s an invitation for us today, to “be conscious of the fact that we bear a charism and can contribute to creating bonds of fraternal communion in all the communities we belong to, both within our Movement and beyond.”

Source: Città Nuova online

Maria Voce, women, Church and equal dignity

Dec 16, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Maria Voce, one of the most influential women of the Church, gave a quiet laugh when asked whether she regrets not being able to be a priest, and added: «You see, I know women Evangelical-Lutheran pastors connected to the Movement. They are my friends and exceptional women who do very well in their churches, but I never thought that the possibility of becoming a priest would increase a woman’s dignity. It’s only an extra service. The main point is something else: as women, what I think we should aim at is equal dignity and equal opportunities being recognized in the Catholic Church. Service and not servitude, as Pope Francis himself says….» Since 2008 Maria Voce guides the Focolare Movement, two and a half million adherents in 182 countries. This is the only Movement that is guided by statute by a woman. She succeeded the founder, Chiara Lubich, who called her «Emmaus» and is buried not very far, in the little chapel of the International Centre at Rocca di Papa, with large windows facing her house between the pine trees and in front of the tombstone there is a mosaic that represents Mary as Mother of the Church. On December 7^th, 70 years will have passed since Chiara’s «consecration to God». A lay woman who anticipated a few topics of the Vatican Council. «The Church as an opening, communion, mutual love….»

What role do women have in the Church today and how much are they listened to?

«The role is the one every human being has, either man or woman, who belongs to the Church as mystical body of Christ. Whereas, how this is considered by others is something a little different. It seems to me that women don’t have much say in the matter yet. Many times they are acknowledged with the values of humility, docility and flexibility, but this is a bit taken advantage of. However, the Pope said that he’s sorry to see the woman in servitude, not the woman in service: service is a key word of his pontificate, but as a service of love. Not in the sense of service because you are considered inferior and therefore submissive. I think that there is a lot to be done in this.»

The Pope said that we need to think of a «theology of the woman». What does this mean for you?

«I am not a theologian. But the Pope gave the title: “Mary is greater than the apostles.” It’s great that he says so, it’s very strong. But complementarity should emerge from this. Also participating in the teachings of the Church, in a certain way….»

In what way?

«Chiara saw Mary as the blue sky that contained the sun, the moon and the stars. In this vision, if the sun is God and the stars are the saints, Mary is the sky that contains them, that contains even God: precisely because of God’s will he was made flesh in her womb. This is the woman in the Church, she must have this function and she can exist only in complementarity with the Petrine charism. Peter cannot guide the Church alone, but there must be Peter with the apostles and sustained and surrounded by the embrace of this woman-mother: Mary.»

For Francis we need to reflect on the woman’s position «also where authority is exercised». How can this come about?

«Women could guide the Curial departments, I don’t see any difficulty in this. I don’t understand why, for example, at the head of a department on the family there necessarily should be a cardinal. There could very well be a lay couple who live their marriage in a Christian way and, with all respect, they are certainly more informed about family problems than a cardinal. The same could be said for other departments. I think it’s normal.»

What else?

«I’m thinking of the General Congregations before the conclave. The mother superiors of big congregations could participate in them, perhaps elective representatives of the dioceses. If the assembly were vaster, it would also help the future Pope. Besides, why should he only confer with the other cardinals? It’s a limitation.»

Could this also be valid for the Council of Cardinal Advisers wanted by Francis?

«Certainly. I don’t see only a group of women being added. A mixed organism would be more useful, with women and other lay people, and together with the cardinals they could give the necessary information and prospects. This would arouse my enthusiasm.»

And women cardinals? Mother Teresa was mentioned, how would you have seen her?

«I would like to understand how she would have seen herself! A woman cardinal could be a sign for humanity, but not for me nor for women in general, I think. It does not interest me. She would be an exceptional person who has been made cardinal. All right, and then? Great persons, saints and doctors of the Church were appreciated. But it’s the woman as such that does not find her position. What should be recognized is the female genius in daily life.»

The famous complementarity….

«Certainly. I mentioned Petrine charism and Marian charism. But in general I’d say between man and woman, the complementarity written in the divine plan. Human beings in the image of God, “male and female he created them,” otherwise this wouldn’t be fulfilled. The same can be said for consecrated people: even if a person renounces a sexual relationship, relationships in themselves cannot be renounced, the rapport with the other.»

Gian Guido Vecchi

Source: Corriere della Sera, 30.11.2013

Read also: Women and Church, a challenging issue  (interview to Città Nuova)

The Adventure of Unity/Summer of 1949

Dec 15, 2013 | Non categorizzato

In the summer of 1949, the deputy in government Igino Giordani, who had met the spiritaulity of unity just a few months before, joined Chiara Lubich who had gone for a rest in the Valley of Primiero in Tonadico, in the mountains of Trent, in northern Italy. Together with the small community of Trent, which was now swarming in several other cities of Italy, he had lived with intensity the phrase from the Gospel of Matthew concerning the abandonment of Jesus on the cross. Chiara would later write about that special summer: “While 1943 marked the beginning of the Movement, 1949 was a giant leap forward. Some unexpected circumstances – but foreseen by Providence – meant that the first little group of us who had begun the Movement should spend some time away from the “world” in the mountains. We had to spend some time away from people, but we couldn’t distance ourselves from our new way of living, which gave meaning to our existence. A tiny and rustic little mountain hut welcomed us into its poverty. We were alone, alone among ourselves, with our great ideal that we lived moment by moment with the Eucharistic Jesus, the Bond of Unity upon whom we drew each day. We were alone to rest, in prayer and meditation. And that is when a moment of particular graces began. We had the impression that the Lord threw open the Kingdom of God that was among us, to the eyes of our soul. It was like the Trinity living in one cell of the Mystical Body: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name (. . .) so that they may be one as we are one” (Jn 17:12). And we were given to understand that the Movement which was being born would be nothing less than a mystical presence of Mary in the Church. Naturally, we would never have left those mountains, little Tabor of our soul, if the will of God had not been otherwise. And it was only because of our love for Jesus Crucified and Forsaken living in humanity, which is so immersed in darkness, who gave us the courage to come down from the mountains.” (1) On another occasion Chiara said: “A particularly luminous period began in which, among other things, it seemed that God wanted to make understand something about his plan for our Movement.” In the years that remained, Chiara never did anything but try to realize what had been given to her during that summer of light. (1) Chiara Lubich, in Scritti Spirituali/3, Rome 1996, pp 41-42.

Chiara Lubich: to become saints together

Dec 14, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Lucia Abignente is part of the Chiara Lubich Centre: A documentation Centre, also a study centre, a centre of scientific research and promotion of the historical figure of the foundress of the Focolare Movement. Saints are witnesses of the faith who are recommended as examples by the Catholic Church: what is the example that Chiara Lubich gives? Abignente: […] her life has always stood out due to the passing on to others of the purest joy of faith. In the beginning of the ‘40s, a priest told her: “God loves you immensely”. This certainty, that became the foundation of her life, was immediately shared by Chiara: not only “I” am loved by God, but he loves all of “us” immensely. Hers was never an individual journey but it has always had the character of universality. This is also what happened in her journey towards sanctity. “To become saints together” she repeated to us. Because of this she has always made us participate in whatever God made her understand, so as to walk together towards Him. “That all may be one”: this was the desire and the goal of the life of Chiara up to the end […] The President Maria Voce explained that from all over – even from representatives of other churches and religions – the hope was expressed that this process could be initiated … Abignente: The ecumenical dialogue, that of interreligious dialogue and the one with persons of other convictions were born quite naturally in the Focolare Movement, determined by circumstances rather than by a theoretical intention. The first to enter into dialogue were the German Evangelicals in 1961. They were touched by the experience of Chiara, of how she lived the Gospel, eversince 1944, during the war, in the bomb shelters, when she would read the Gospel with her companions and together they tried to put it into practice. Chiara was especially close to Athenagoras, the Patriarch of Constantinople […] The persons of other confessions or religions and also those with no religious convictions felt the humanity of Chiara which attracted them and rooted them in her life of the Word. For this reason, we too look at the starting of this journey as something that does not divide, even with its external signs, respect for brothers of other faiths or other experiences because the sanctity based on the Bible must invite others to a more profound joining in the journey towards God or towards the non-religious moral values that we share with persons of other convictions. How will you accompany the journey that starts today? Abignente: We have undertaken a great task beforehand, of gathering all the published writings of Chiara that will be examined in the beatification process. We are dealing with thousands of pages. We must also include the research documents, also documents that have never published before, that come from the different sources of the archives of the Movement. In these years after her passing, the memory of Chiara has always remained alive and on the anniversary of her death, March 14, there have been many Eucharistic celebrations often presided by Bishops and meetings and initiatives of all kinds. There is a “reputation of sanctity” that surrounds her person all over the world which are accompanied by signs of graces received that have been communicated to us. We don’t know how things will evolve but what seems clear to us is that this journey (…) can help each one to deepen his or her relationship with God. Source: Chiara Santomiero, Aleteia, December 9, 2013

One Sign of Peace at the Heart Of the Protests in Argentina

Dec 11, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Cordoba is a city of 1.2 million inhabitants in the heart of Argentina. Provincial police began protesting for higher wages, leading to strikes that left the streets without police protection. Two people died and more than a thousand commercial centres, private homes and a Caritas warehouse were assaulted by groups of organized criminal delinquents on December 13^th and 14^th. A curfew was enforced on the citizens who remain locked in their homes, public offices, schools and universities. Public transportation was no longer in service. The mediation carried out by Comipaz (interreligious committee), through the intervention of Auxiliary Bishop Pedro Javier Torres, Rabbi Marcelo Polakoff and religious leaders from several other confessional groups helped to re-establish calm. By noontime on December 4th they reached an agreement between the parties, following which the police slowly regained control of the city. Once this agreement was announced the Young for Unity stepped into action, as Anna Maria Martinez recounts: “We were watching all the violence and sacking with a sense of fear, keeping hidden in our homes. But we didn’t want to remain passive in front of what was happening in our city. We felt a strong desire to show the people that something good could emerge from all this anger, madness and institutionalized corruption.” “Through the social networks we agreed to meet in one of the city’s squares. At 16:00 the first young people began to arrive and there were already thirty of us. Some journalists and television channels were also on hand. As time went by other groups of young people began arriving, who had also been advised of the meeting. In the end there were a hundred of us, plus many others who joined us in cleaning up the square, their buildings and the surrounding streets.” The previous night had been awful: gunshots, sirens, alarms, sacking of shops and homes, many shop-owners left to fend for themselves. There was much work to be done to clean up after the burnings and remove the ruined barricades . . . “But beyond the physical work, the basic idea was to talk with the people, to offer them a moment for dialogue and listening. The response was immediate: some brought food for the Caritas warehouse; others brought water to us workers, along with gloves, brooms and mops. So many joined in the work with us, so touched to see us who didn’t even live in the area arriving to help in the cleaning of their quarter.” We never foresaw the repercussions this would have in the news where they reported on the actions of us young people. “We feel that we’ve done more than just clean streets; we’ve realized that it depends on each one of us if we want to do something out of the ordinary. Just yesterday there was a spreading of delinquency and opportunism; today there is a spreading of good will, strength and working together to begin a change.” The situation in Argentina is not yet resolved. Protests and clashes continue to spread in other provinces, but the desire remains of not being overcome by violence, but finding peaceful paths. Video  

Lucia Degasperi, ten years since her death

Dec 10, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Eversince she was little, Lucia was a child who radiated an uncontrollable and contagious joy. The youngest after eight brothers, she grew up in a very poor family in Terlano (Bolzano-Italy). Inspite of the economic difficulties, the Degasperi couple always maintained a strong faith. As the years passed, nevertheless, Lucia was convinced that love does not exist on earth and the thought of loving without being loved in return frightened her. When Lucia was twenty years old, her brother Carlo suddenly changed his way of acting at home: he started to make the beds, shine the shoes. She became curious and asked him to explain why he was acting that way and so she found herself invited to go to the Mariapolis, a meeting of several days of the Focolare. Lucia is profoundly touched by the many concrete experiences based on the certainty that God is love and that He loves everyone personally, so much so that, frightened, she leaves the meeting early. But a sentence remains imprinted within her: “Whatsoever you do to the least, you did it to me” (Mt 25, 40). She started to live it seriously. And consequently she felt that God was calling her to follow him in the focolare. From 1964, when the spirituality of unity started to spread in Germany, Lucia was in West Berlin and afterwards in the early ‘80s she was in the GDR, a land where the situation of the regime forced many adherents of the spirituality of the Focolare to meet in a semi-clandestine way and with much difficulty. Lucia also had to spend a month in a Military Camp, before moving to Leipzig. The other inmates were soon touched by her love: she rearranged the common room and offered them the coffee that she was planning to bring to Leipzig. Gradually many others started to follow her example and on her last day there one of the guards confided to Lucia:  “I have never had a group as beautiful as this…”. With the telephone being monitored and with the hidden microphone in the car,  Lucia uses her creativity, inventing a thousand strategies to meet the people that have been entrusted to her: She invited children to lunch, organized parties for the youth, made many visits to families. In 1989 the focolarinas and the gen girls (the youth of the focolare) of the GDR celebrated the fall of the Berlin wall by taking a long trip to Trent and to Rome, where many of them, meet Chiara Lubich for the first time. What followed were years of a great launching, but unexpectedly in 1994, Lucia was diagnosed with cancer. It was a very painful suffering for her as she would share years later: “It was a death sentence”. It took time for her to understand that “the moment had come to re-entrust my life to God”. Living the present moment was a great help for her and she became a source of light for many. The years passed, and as her physical strength diminished, her spiritual strength increased. “I won’t tell you ‘take courage Lucia’ – Chiara Lubich wrote to her on the 3rd of December, 2003 – you have all the graces that you need and even more. Just be happy”. On the 10th of December, Lucia leaves for Heaven in great serenity. “Thank you for the concrete love that you have always had”; “Thank you for your smile that always created the family”; “Thank you for your strength”, these were just some of the many, many messages that rained down from all over in the days that followed her passing.

The Adventure of Unity: The Beginnings /3

Dec 8, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Continuation of the : The Adventure of Unity: The beginnings /2

“The young women who lived in the first focolare and the people around them who came and went noticed a qualitative leap in their life during those early months. They had the impression that Jesus was fulfilling his promise in their very midst: “Where two or more are united in my name, I am there with them” (Mt 18:20). They didn’t want to lose his presence and did everything to ensure that he would never vanish from their midst. “Later, much later,” Chiara Lubich specifies, “we would realize: ‘Look! Why, it’s a small reproduction of the house of Nazareth: a small community of virgins (and very soon of married people) with Jesus among them.” It’s the “hearth”, the “focolare” where the fire of love warms hearts and satisfies the mind.” “But to have him among us” Chiara explained to her first companions, “we need to be disposed to give our lives for each other. Jesus is spiritually and fully present among us when we are united like that. He had said: ‘may they also be one in us, so that the world may believe’ (see Jn 17:21).”

Those who gathered around Chiara and the other young women in that first focolare began to share their project of unity which seemed so new. There were all kinds of conversions. Vocations were salvaged and new ones born. Quite soon, young men also followed in their footsteps. They crowded into Massaia Hall for Saturday afternoon meetings. There Chiara would share experiences of a living Gospel and her first discoveries concerning what would later become the “spirituality of unity.”Their fervor spread and by 1945 there were some 500 people of all ages – men, women, children, people of every calling and social background – all wanting to share the ideal of those young women of the focolare. They held everything in common just as the first Christian communities had done.

They read the Gospel’s words: “give and it will be given to you” (Lk 6:38), and those words came to life daily. They gave and received. There was only one egg left in the house. They gave it away to a poor person who came to their door. On the same morning, someone left an entire package of eggs at their door. The Gospel also says: “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Mt 7:7). They prayed for their neighbours’ every need and, in the midst of a war, witnessed the arrival of sacks of flour, boxes of milk, jars of jam, bundles of wood, articles of clothing. It was common in that first focolare to find the table set with the best table cloth, and sitting around that table a focolarina and a poor person, a focolarina and a poor person . . .

The life of the young women of the “little house” astounded everyone who met them. On the feast of Christ the King, 1945, Chiara and her friends were praying at an altar after Mass. They turned towards Jesus with the simplicity of those who know what it means to be God’s children. Then they addressed this prayer to him: “You know how unity can be realized, that ut omnes unum sint (that all may be one). Well, here we are. If you want, use us.” Some words of that day’s liturgy had fascinated them: “Ask of me, and i will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Ps 2:8). And so in their Gospel simplicity they asked for nothing less than the “ends of the earth”. For them, God was omnipotent.

All of this could not go unnoticed in a city of only a few thousand people, nor by the Church of Trent. Archbishop Carlo De Ferrari understood Chiara and her new adventure, and he gave his blessing. His blessing and approval stayed with the Movement until his death. From that moment, almost imperceptibly, they began to cross boarders to other regions, and were invited to Sicily, Rome and Milan. Soon communities like the one in Trent began appearing everywhere.

Chiara Lubich, witness of faith

Dec 7, 2013 | Non categorizzato

The Focolare Movement formally requests the opening of the cause for beatification for Chiara Lubich on 7 December 2013.

On December 7, symbolic date for the Focolare Movement, the president Maria Voce announced the imminent presentation of the request to open the cause of Chiara Lubich’s beatification to the Bishop of Frascati, Raffaello Martinelli.

7 December 1943: the date of the birth of the Focolare Movement. In fact, on that day, as she herself recounts, Chiara Lubich never thought of establishing something. Her only desire was to follow God.

7 December 2013: after 70 years, her consecration to God brought forth unexpected fruits and consequences in many ways. The birth of a Movement, the Focolare Movement; the acknowledgement of the person of Chiara as one who received a charism, for the good of many and her faithfulness to it. On the day of her funeral, March 18, 2008, thousands of people from all over the world paid her tribute, and the testimonies of those belonging to various Christian Churches, faithful of other religions, representatives of the world of culture, laity and politics underscored the impact of Chiara’s charism in their personal lives and on the world that each one represented.

Phramaha Thongratana Thavorn, a Thai Buddhist monk – March 18, 2008

«Chiara’s legacy is one of the greatest spiritual blessings of our time,» the Rabbi of Jerusalem David Rosen affirmed. And Samuel Kobia, ex-secretary general of the World Council of Churches said: «Focused on the spirituality of unity, she made a great impact on the ecumenical movement.» «Chiara is not only yours, she is also ours. Indeed, she belongs to the whole world,» these are the words of Phramaha Thongratana Thavorn, a Thai Buddhist monk. «Her experience of a Christianity devoid of every dogmatism and all enlightened by the mandatum novum [new commandment] is such a great lesson for believers and non-believers,» the philosopher Massimo Cacciari wrote.

In the Catholic Church it’s a custom to present, to the Catholic faithful, people who have been distinguished for a special witness of faith in and love for God, as a catalyst of Christian life. This happens after a canonical process of verification, that also looks at the patrimony of life, thought and action of the person. This can begin no sooner than five years after the person’s death.

In these years, thinking of Chiara and her legacy, ordinary persons and those of authority, Catholics and people belonging to other Churches, religions and cultures – even in the diversity of their respective visions – have expressed the wish that this could happen also for Chiara. They ask for a recognition that will remarkably encourage Christians and non-Christians to take a greater moral and spiritual commitment for the good of humanity. It will be an encouragement to assume Chiara’s desire that she expressed many times, the desire to become saints together, to propose to the Church not the holiness of an individual, but the holiness of the people.

© CSC Media

In an interview to Città Nuova of March 2013, the co-president of the Focolare Movement, Giancarlo Faletti, answered a question on the different views of non-Catholic Christians who also belong to the Movement on the proclamation of a person’s holiness: «I think that this new experience should not endow possible memorial greatness because of the beatification or canonization, but should rather highlight the presence of God in a person, understand God’s work in this person,» and – through this person’s witness – in many people.

For information and in-depth study:

press release – biography Chiara Lubich

Chiara Lubich, 1973. Today the Movement is thirty years old

Dec 7, 2013 | Non categorizzato

(Video in Italian) http://vimeo.com/80976960 “I was asked to recall today, December 7, 1973, the day of Dec. 7, 1943, which we always consider as the official date of the beginning of the Movement. It is the date of my consecration to God. The young people here or those newer to the Movement will, I think, appreciate if I describe that simple day. I shall try to do it not looking at myself but at the fact that it is the work of God. Imagine a young girl in love, in love with a love which is the first love, the purest one, a love which is still undeclared, but which begins to enflame her heart. But there’s one difference. Here on earth, a young girl, who is in love in this way, has the image of her beloved in front of her; instead this girl doesn’t see him, doesn’t hear him, doesn’t touch him or sense his fragrance with the senses of the body, but rather with the senses of her soul, through which Love entered in and invaded all herbeing. Because of this she feels a joy which is so special, difficult to experience again in a lifetime, ajoy which is secret, serene, jubilant. A few days before December 7, I was told to make a vigil the night before, beside a crucifix, in order to prepare myself the best way I could for my marriage with God, a marriage which was to take place in the most secret manner (the only ones to know of it were God, myself, and the priest). That evening I tried to make this vigil, kneeling beside my bed before a metal crucifix which my mother has now. I think I prayed for about two hours. But being young and not too convinced of certain practices which I later understood were not according to my vocation, I fell asleep, noticing later on that the crucifix was all covered with drops of moisture from my breath due to my praying. This fact seemed like a symbol to me: the crucifix which I was to follow would not be so much the crucifix of physical suffering, which many spiritualities have emphasized, but rather that of spiritual suffering (at that time I did not know Jesus Forsaken yet), the spiritual suffering which Jesus experienced”. (more)

Living the Gospel/1

Dec 4, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Providence “My husband owns a construction company and, since the banks had blocked funding, he was without work for two years. Between the growing economic hardship and the moments of discouragement, we continued to hope in God’s providence. At the beginning of the school year the children were in need of books, and we didn’t know what to do. One morning a friend of ours came to tell us that he had received some money and knowing that we were going through hard times, offered to help us: “You can pay us back when you have it,” he suggested. Last month the mortgages were released, but the serious economic situation prevented us from paying the employees regularly. Unbeknownst to us, a friend spoke with them, explained the problem and asked if they were willing to work without pay for a while. They all agreed. Christmas was drawing near when, totally unexpectedly, we received a back payment. With great joy we divided it among the employees. Then, through a relative, providence came through yet again. (E.M. – Italia) The Lamp I had always looked for a good relationship with my mother-in-law. My husband would often console me that if the relationship with her was difficult for him, imagine what it would be for me. I wanted to ignore her. But I wasn’t at peace. The Gospel told me to love everybody and my mother-in-law was also contained in that everybody. And so I would telephone her to hear how she was getting on, take her here and there, and invite her for lunch every week. . . Little by little, the barriers between us began to disappear and I became her main confidant and companion on her visits to the doctor, where I presented myself as her guardian angel. At nearly eighty years of age she began to show concern for a neighbor who was in need of companionship, and to prepare sweets for the parish. She told me: “I learnt from you how good it feels to be remembered.” One day she confided to me: “This lamp is very dear to me, because it was left to me by my Grandfather. It’s one of the few family mementos that I have. When I die, I’d like you to have it. .” Now the lamp is in our house, as a reminder that only love remains. (I.B. – Svizzera) Source: Il Vangelo del giorno, December 2013, Città Nuova Editrice.

Making Jesus the Reason for the Season

Dec 2, 2013 | Non categorizzato

“Christmas is drawing near and the streets are covered in light. . .” These are the opening words of Chiara Lubich’s message “They have dislodged Jesus!”“, describing a day near Christmas as she drove through the streets of a large fashionable city. She was so struck by the exterior scene that grabbed her attention at every corner: “A never-ending row of shops, an endless but exorbitant wealth.” Struck by the gentle and gracious Christmas atmosphere, Chiara was equally stunned by the total absence of its deeper true meaning: “The disbelief that overcame my heart nearly turned to rebellion” she writes. “This rich and exorbitant world has lassoed Christmas and everything surrounding it and forced Jesus out! It loves the poetry, the atmosphere; the friendship it brings; the gifts it suggests, the lights, stars and songs. It focuses on Christmas for the best sales of the year. But for Jesus: not even a thought. ‘He came among his own, but his own did not receive him. . .’ ‘There was no place for him at the inn. . .’ not even at Christmas. Last night I couldn’t sleep. This thought kept we awake the whole night.” Chiara confided that she would have liked to do something that would highlight and convey Christmas’s great mystery of love. “That at least in our homes,” she hoped “we would cry out the One who was born, celebrating Him as He had never been celebrated before.” For several years now the children who live the spirituality of unity have been taking on Chiara’s dream, bringing Baby Jesus back to the centre of Christmas. They do it with songs, small hand-made painted statues and Nativity scenes; also collecting offerings for the suffering and poverty of other children. This year they will support their peers in Philippines and Syria. Anyone wishing to join in can download a poster illustrating the Baby Jesus Project at: gen4.focolare.org

The Adventure of Unity: The Beginnings /2

Dec 1, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Continued from: The Adventure of Unity: The beginnings /1

In the next few months, Chiara drew many young people around her. Some of them wanted to follow her in her path: Natalia Dallapiccola was the first, then Doriana Zamboni and Giosi Guella, Graziella De Luca and the sisters, Gisella and Ginetta Calliari; another pair of sisters were the Ronchettis, Valeria and Angelella, Bruna Tomasi, Marilen Holzhauser and Aletta Salizzoni. . .  And all of this was happening while the way of the focolare was anything but defined, except for the “absolute Gospel radicalism” of Chiara.

In those months the war was waging in Trent, bringing ruin, misery, and death. Chiara and her new companions were in the habit of meeting in the air-raid shelters during air attacks. They had a great desire to come together and to put the Gospel into practice, following the overwhelming intuition that had led them to place God-Love at the centre of their life. “Each event touched us so deeply,” Chiara would later say. “The lesson that God was offering to us through the circumstances around us was quite clear: Everything is vanity of vanities, everything passes away. But, contemporaneously, God placed a question in my heart, which was for all of us. And He also provided the answer: ‘But could there be an ideal that doesn’t die, that no bomb can crumble and to which we can give ourselves?’ Yes: God. We decided to make God the ideal of our life.”

One day, in the darkened cellar underneath the home of Natalia Dallapiccola, they were reading the Gospel by the light of candle, as was their custom by now. They opened it by chance to the chapter containing the prayer of Jesus before his death: “Father, that all be one” (Jn 17:21). It’s an extraordinary but complex passage of the Gospel, which has been studied by scholars and theologians throughout the Christian world; but in those days it was a bit forgotten because it was so mysterious. And then there was that word “unity” which had become part of the Communists’ vocabulary, who, in a certain sense, had claimed a monopoly on it. “But, for them, those words seemed to become illuminated, one by one,” Chiara writes, “and they placed within our hearts the conviction that we had been born for ‘this’ page of the Gospel.”

A few months earlier, on the 24th of January, a priest had asked Chiara: “Do you know what the greatest suffering of Jesus was?” In keeping with the mentality of the time, Chiara responded: “His suffering in the Garden of Olives.” But the priest corrected her: “No, Jesus suffered most when he was on the cross and cried out: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”(Mt 27:46)”. Struck by his words, as soon as she was alone with her friend, Doriana, she said: “We only have one life, we’ll follow Jesus abandoned.” From that moment on he would be Chiara’s only spouse in life.

Meanwhile the unrest caused by the war didn’t let up. The families of most of the girls fled to the mountain valleys. But the girls decided to remain in Trent: some because of work or study; some, like Chiara, in order not to abandon the many people who had begun to gather around them. Chiara stayed with an acquaintance until the following September when she found a flat at Number Two Piazza Cappuccini on the outskirts of Trent. This is where some of her new friends – first Natalia Dallapiccola, then the others, began living together. It was the first focolare: a modest two-room apartment in the clearing shaded by trees at the foot of the Capuchin church. They called it simply “the little house”.

Word of Life for December

Nov 28, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Christmas is nearly here – let’s take the love of Jesus to everyone

“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” (I Thes 3:12) Visit the new Gen 4 website to see other formats available

The Adventure of Unity: The Beginnings /1

Nov 24, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Sylvia, the baptismal name given to Chiara,Lubich, was born in Trent on 22 January 1920. She was the second of four children, Gino, Liliana and Carla. Her father, Luigi Lubich, a wine-seller, ex-typesetter, anti-fascist and socialist, had once been a close colleague of the once socialist Benito, and later the unyielding political opponent of the fascist Mussolini. Her mother, Luigia, was animated by a strong traditional faith. Following his medical studies, her older brother, Gino, joined the Resistance in the famous Garibaldi Brigade. Then he dedicated himself to journalism, working for the Communist newspaper, L’Unita (Unity).

When she was 18, Sylvia received her teaching certificate with full marks. She would have liked to continue her studies, and she applied to study at  the Catholic University. It didn’t turn out: she came in 34th place for the only 33 full scholarships available. Since there was not enough money in the Lubich home to pay for her studies in another city, Sylvia was forced to find work. During the 1940-41 academic year she taught elementary school at the Opera Serafica in Trent.

The decisive beginning of her human-divine experience was revealed to her  in 1939 during a trip to the shrine of Loreto: “I was invited to a meeting for Catholic students in Loreto”, Chiara writes, “where, according to tradition, the little house of the Holy Family is kept within the walls of a great fortress-like cathedral. . . . I attended the course at a nearby college with everyone else. But, whenever possible, I would run to the little house. I knelt beside the wall, all blackened by the vigil light of the vigil lamps. Something new and divine was enveloping me, nearly crushing me. I contemplated in my mind the virginal life of the three (…). Every thought weighed upon me, squeezing my heart, my tears were falling uncontrollably. During every break, I ran there. Then the last day arrived. The church was filled with young people. A thought clearly entered my mind, a thought which was never erased: “You will be followed by a host of virgins.”

When Chiara’s students and her parish priest met her after her trip to Loreto, and saw her so radiant and happy, they asked if she had discovered her way. Chiara’s answer was disappointing for the priest, because she would only say which vocations she didn’t feel were hers, the traditional ones: not the convent, not matrimony, not consecration to God in the world. This was all she was able to say.

In the years following her visit to Loreto – from 1939 till 1943 – Sylvia continued to work and study and to be involved in the service of the Church. When she became a Franciscan Tertiary, she took the name Chiara.

In 1943, when Chiara was already twenty-three, as she was on her way to fetch some milk a few kilometers from home, in a neighborhood called White Madonna, standing beneath a railroad overpass, Chiara heard the call from God: “Give yourself totally to me.” She wasted no time and, in a letter, she requested permission from the Cappuchin priest, Father Casimiro Bonetti, to consecrate herself totally to God. Following a deep conversation with the priest, she finally obtained this permission. On 7 December 1943 at six o’clock in the morning, she consecrated her life to God forever. On that day Chiara didn’t have the slightest intention of founding anything: she was simply “marrying God.” And this was everything for her. Only later did this day come to be identified as the symbolic beginning of the Focolare Movement.

Continued on: The Adventure of Unity: The beginnings/2

Natalia Dallapiccola: A Biography

Nov 21, 2013 | Non categorizzato

“I set out to write this biography treading softly and with a healthy dose of holy fear.”With these words Matilde Cocchiaro begins her biography on Natalia Dallapiccola who was the first to follow Chiara Lubich. Natalia has had a special role in the history of the Focolare, so much so that Chiara had said that if she had not met a person like her, so prepared by God, perhaps she would never have been able to give a start to the life that was so revolutionary and based on the Gospel.

Because of her relentless and unchanging love towards all, Chiara had nicknamed her Anzalon which in the Italian dialect of Trent means Big Angel.

She played a determining role in the spreading of the ideal of unity among the countries of the communist bloc, beyond the Iron Curtain, as well as in the field of interreligious dialogue for which she spent energy and talent for 30 years until the last days of her life on earth.

Following her death on April 1, 2008 – eighteen days after the death of Chiara – many people had words of gratitude and appreciation for Natalia: “Between me and Natalia,” says Rabbi David Rosen of Jerusalem, “there was a very strong bond. I will forever guard as a treasure her loving and noble spirit.” In the book’s preface Nichiko Niwano, president of the Japanese Buddhist Rissho Kosei-kai Movement states: “For many long years Natalia played the role of an open window which linked us with the Focolare Movement . . . lavishly pouring out the finest qualities of her heart and mind . . . An ancient saying says: “Know the past and you will find what is new.” It means: Study history, study the tradition with care and you will obtain new wisdom. That is all I wish, therefore, and I hope that Natalia’s biography becomes a precious guide for the journey into the future.”

From India, Shantilal Somaiya, Kala Acharya and Lalita Namjoshi of the Somaiya Bharatya (Hindu): “With great reverence we remember her visit to our institute and her silent but always edifying way of drawing dialogue forward.”

From Skopje. Azir Semani, speaks directly to Natalia in the name of the Muslim Friends of the Focolare from Macedonia: “Thank you for your hand that was always reaching out!  . . . We have totally embraced your invitation: ‘that all may be one’. God’s voice through you was a call of love and trust for which we Muslims are honoured to have been able to walk together with you towards a united world. Blessed be your love!”

Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop Emeritus of Prague, who for many years was responsible for the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement, offered the following testimony: “I can truthfully say that Natalia was the mother of the ideal of unity in our lands. From her life, she transpired the light she had received from the charism of Chiara, without a lot of speeches; and she transmitted this charism to us in all of its depth. In 1968 Natalia was in the mountains of Tatre,” the Cardinal continues, “about 6 hours from the Czech Republic where she helped organize the first Mariapolis. Officially it was a holiday vacation, and to avoid a police investigation they would take long hikes. Then they would stop and Natalia would tell us things . . . The life she was presenting to us was very authentic, everyone was always struck by her simplicity that was completely Marian. Her love conquered because it was so natural and supernatural at the same time.”

“Natalia never left a written narrative about herself, because she was always so accustomed to going beyond herself in giving to others” the author concludes. I have tried to reconstruct her life . . . that irreplaceable contribution of the first focolarine who together with her had lived with Chiara Lubich at the dawning of the Movement. I was also able to draw on several spiritual thoughts of Natalia, which are very precious, written by her on loose pages or sent by voice to the people who worked with her, who then wrote them down.”

(Matilde Cocchiaro, “Natalia: la prima compagna  di  Chiara  Lubich”, Città Nuova Editrice, Rome, 2013. Collana Città Nuova Per).