27 October 2011
“An inspiration which will certainly impart a new acceleration and depth in living one’s religious convictions at the service of peace.” With this conviction, expressed by the President, Maria Voce, in a recent article published in the Osservatore Romano (13 July 2011), the Focolare Movement is preparing itself to participate in the Day of Reflection, Dialogue and Prayer for Peace and Justice in the World, announced by Pope Benedict XVI for the 27th of October 2011.
“Religion, which by itself is a vital source of peace”, continues the President, is paradoxically considered as “a primal cause of many conflicts, tensions, phobias, intollerance and persecutions of a religious nature that swarm the world”. It is therefore quite urgent to gather together once more on the track that has been laid out starting from that 1st meeting of October 27, 1986, that was desired by Blessed John Paul II, in which “ a wide path, thanks to the Holy Spirit (…) who guides history in the unfolding of this great design of unity, in spite of the many shadows that burden our planet”, was opened.
Article of Maria Voce (Osservatore Romano – 13 July 2011)
The President Maria Voce was invited to participate in the Day of Prayer, joining the Pope and the delegation on the trip that starts from Rome to Assisi in the morning of the 27th of October itself.
The Gen Verde, the multi-artisitic performing group of the Focolare Movement, made up today of 20 members from 12 different nations, as well as the Gen Rosso (International Performing Arts Group made up of 19 from 9 nations) were entrusted with the direction of the event.
Walter Baier, an Austrian economist and also a member of the Focolare Movement, is one among the four philosophers, historians and professors from various parts of the world, invited by Benedict XVI, who “inspite of their not being religious, feel themselves to be on the road in the search for the truth and feel the common responsibility for the cause of justice nad peace in our world”.
Chiara Lubich, on the 24th of Janury 2002, participated in the Day of Prayer for peace in the world, promoted by John Paul II. Together with Andrea Riccardi, she shared her testimony for Peace in the name of the Catholic Church.
Talk of Chiara Lubich (Assisi, 24 Janury, 2002)
The dialogue with persons of other religions has been a part of the Focolare Movement eversince the ‘60s. In the actual profound transformation of the world into an always more multi-cultural and multi-religious society, the Movement is committed to promoting dialogue among religions, until the religious pluralism of humanity is no longer a cause of division and of war, but instead contributes to recomposing in fraternity, the unity of the human family.
At the basis of such a dialogue is the “Golden Rule” which is common to and is present in all the sacred texts of all the great religions: “Everything that you want others to do to you, you also do to them: this is in fact the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 7,12). In a climate of reciprocal love that encourages its practice, one can establish fraternity that strengthens for each one, in one’s own specificity, certain effects: a rediscovery of one’s religious roots and of the things that unite, a living experience of fraternity, a committment to be a promoter of peace especially there where violence and racial and religious intollerance try to dig an abyss between the different components of society. Of significance are the common humanitarian projects that are realized in the light of such an experience.
Talk of Chiara Lubich in Aachen (Germany), 13 november 1998. (“La Dottrina Spirituale” Chiara Lubich – Ed. Mondadori – 2001, pag 377)
Updated on October, 27th 2011
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SIF – Focolare Information Service
