Focolare Movement

To embroider patterns of light on the crowd

Mar 3, 2018

Anniversary_logoOne of Chiara Lubich’s best known reflections sums up the Focolare founder’s charism on the tenth anniversary of her death. It is to reach “the highest contemplation” and share in “God’s plans for humanity.” The charism of unity is a driver of social change.

ChiaraLubich_3marzo2018 “This is the great attraction of modern times: to penetrate to the highest contemplation while mingling with everyone, one person alongside others. I would say even more: to lose oneself in the crowd in order to fill it with the divine, like a piece of bread dipped in wine. I would say even more: made sharers in God’s plans for humanity, to embroider patterns of light on the crowd, and at the same time to share with our neighbor shame, hunger, troubles, brief joys. Because the attraction of our times, as of all times, is the highest conceivable expression of the human and the divine, Jesus and Mary: the Word of God, a carpenter’s son; the Seat of Wisdom, a mother at home.” Published in “Chiara Lubich: Essential Writings”, New City Press, Hyde Park, New York, 2002, p 169.

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