In June 1944, Chiara Lubich found herself alone in Trent after her family had fled to the mountains following the bombing of 13th May that had half destroyed their home. Chiara had stayed in the city to follow the young women who were following her ideal. The letters of that period were the first bond among the emerging community of the Movement. My little Sister in God’s Immense Love! Listen, I beg you, to the voice of this little heart! With me you have been dazzled by the burning light of an ideal that overcomes everything and contains everything: by the Infinite Love of God! Oh, my little Sister, it is your God and mine who has established between us a common bond that is stronger than death and will never pass away. It is one, like the spirit; immense, infinite, gentle, steadfast and immortal as the Love of God! Love has made us sisters! Love has called us to Love! Love has spoken in the depths of our hearts, saying: “Look around you. Everything in the world passes. Each day has its evening and each evening comes quickly. Each life has its sunset and the sunset of your life will also come quickly! Yet don’t despair: Yes, yes, everything passes, for nothing of what you see and love is destined to last forever! Everything passes, leaving only regret and new hope!” Yet don’t despair: Your constant Hope, that goes beyond the limits of life, tells you: “Yes, what you are looking for exists. In your heart there is an infinite and immortal longing; a hope that doesn’t die; a faith that breaks through the darkness of death and is a light to those who believe. Your hope, your believing is not in vain. It’s not in vain!” You hope, you believe — so as to Love. This is your future, your present and your past:  everything is summed up in this word: Love! You have always loved. Life is a continuous seeking after loving desires that are born in the depths of your heart! You have always loved! But you have loved badly! You have loved what dies and is vain, and in your heart only vanity has remained. Love what doesn’t die! Love the One who is Love! Love the One who in the evening of your life will look only at your little heart. You will be alone with Him in that moment.  The one whose heart is filled with vanity will be terribly unhappy; immensely happy will be the one whose heart is overflowing with the infinite Love of God!

Chiara Lubich 

(Cf. Chiara Lubich, What you are searching for exists, June 1944, in Early Letters, New City Press, Hyde Park, New York 2012, p. 18)