Focolare Movement

The conductor’s art

Nov 30, 2009

An act of love can release a ray of light

On a winding mountain road, I was driving my elderly friend’s car. He knew every part of the route and with little hand signals was telling me when to slow down, accelerate, and when to proceed with caution. I was following these often barely perceptible signs out of the corner of my eye, and was totally absorbed in the effort to understand him, and to drive the way he would have driven. I imagined him to be the conductor of an orchestra, who was very happy when I managed to perform my part perfectly. That evening Massimiliano, a friar from a long established friary, phoned me. For some time he had been having difficulties with his superior, and he told me that he had no more energy to deal with it, and had decided to leave the friary. I told him my story about the conductor and the orchestra, and realised that he was listening in deep silence. Then he said, “Maybe my mistake was to expect something from my superior. But he cannot play my instrument, he cannot take my place. All he can do is help me to be in harmony with the others! I have to take up my instrument again, accept my responsibilities and show my talent as part of the overall harmony.” He then began to cry. At the end of the call, I realised that an idea that came from an act of love had released a ray of light that someone, somewhere, was waiting for. (T.M, Czech Republic)

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

News 1 – General Assembly 2026

News 1 – General Assembly 2026

“I hereby officially declare open the Ordinary General Assembly of the Work of Mary, convened in accordance with the methods established by the General Statutes.” These were the words with which Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, opened the proceedings today, 1 March 2026.

The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement is about to begin

The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement is about to begin

320 representatives of the Focolare Movement communities around the world will take part in the fourth General Assembly since the death of the foundress Chiara Lubich, from the 1st to the 21st of March. The Assembly will elect the new members of the governing body and will approve the guidelines for the next five years.

A little miracle in just 27 hours

A little miracle in just 27 hours

Four years after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, we share a story of proximity, a diary that tells how quickly generosity can move. At the beginning of February, a couple from Lower Austria received a request for help from Kiev appealing for winter clothes for people facing great hardship. Twenty-seven hours later, over a ton of clothes and shoes had reached the collection point. It was an overwhelming wave of willingness and solidarity.