Focolare Movement

The splendour of nature

Jul 1, 2017

The holiday period is starting now in the northern hemisphere. Some of Chiara Lubich’s thoughts can help us discover God’s imprint in creation.

“Contemplating the immensity of the universe, the extraordinary beauty and power of nature, my mind rose spontaneously to the Creator of it all, to a new sort of understanding of the immensity of God. It made a new and strong impression on me; I felt like falling on my knees to adore, praise, and glorify God. I felt a great need of this, as if it were my actual vocation. It was as if my eyes had been opened, to understand as never before who it is that we have chosen as our ideal; or rather, who has chosen us. I saw that he is so great, so great, so great, that it seemed impossible that he thinks of us. This impression of God’s immensity stayed in my heart for several days. Now, saying, “Hallowed be thy name,” or “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,” is different for me: it has become a need of the heart. (Rocca di Papa, 22.1.87) “… Contemplating perhaps an endless stretch of sea, a high mountain range, an impressive glacier or the night sky dotted with stars. What majesty! The immen­sity of it! And through the dazzling splendour of nature, we would find our way to its author: God, the King of the universe, the Lord of the galaxies, the Infinite. … He is everywhere: beneath the sparkle of a glittering stream, within the blossoming of a flower, in a bright dawn or a red sunset, on a snow-covered peak. Nature is rarely preserved in our concrete cities, built by human hands in the midst of the noise of the world. Yet, if we want, a glimpse of blue sky between the skyscrap­er peaks is enough to remind us of God; a ray of sunlight, which does not fail to pierce even through the bars of a prison, is enough; a flower is enough, a meadow, a child’s face. … This will help us go back into the midst of humanity, which is where we belong, strengthened, as Jesus certainly was when having prayed all night to the Father on the mountainside under the starry sky, he went back among people to do good.  (Mollens, 22.9.88)   From Chiara Lubich – “Cercando le cose di lassù” [Seeking the things that are above]– Città Nuova Editrice, Roma 1992, pagg. 5 – 111,112.

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Your email address will not be published.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

Unity: A Priority for Maria Voce (Emmaus)

Unity: A Priority for Maria Voce (Emmaus)

On 20 June 2026, we mark the first anniversary of the passing of Maria Voce (Emmaus), the first President of the Focolare Movement (2008–2021) after Chiara Lubich. As we remember her, we asked ourselves: how did Emmaus live out unity in everyday life? The focolarine who lived with her during her final years recount a number of small episodes—little “acts of love” if you will —that reveal how mutual love, lived faithfully in every circumstance, lays the foundations for receiving unity as a gift from God.

Young People and Change: the “Time to Change” project

Young People and Change: the “Time to Change” project

The “Expo Fest” concluded a journey that involved 1,300 young people and 105 teams between Italy and Albania carrying out concrete actions of solidarity, active citizenship, environmental care, inclusion and peace.