Riccardi

Tivoli, September 28, 1984 Ladies, Gentlemen,Distinguished Authorities of Tivoli,Family and Friends of Igino Giordani, who have also come a distance to remember him today in this his native city which was so close to his heart and to which he remains forever bound, First of all I would like to thank the city of Tivoli and in particular, May Veroli and the entire administrative staff of the municipality. Thank you for the idea of this “Award” which will keep alive the memory of the Honourable Igino Giordani, your illustrious fellow citizen. I would also like to thank you for the honour you wished to grant me as a sign and acknowledgement of the one ideal which closely united Igino Giordani to the Focolare Movement. ( ... ) TranscriptionAudio in italian

Rocca di Papa, 5 February 1979 After having quoted many Fathers of the Church – mostly bishops and theologians – Chiara now draws the example from authentic Christians, the saints. She cites Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena, patron saints of Italy, as well as more recent saints. Their lives, although admired and seemingly unattainable, often transmitted even through miraculous stories, yet seemed to be unreachable, wanted to be above all a stimulus to putting the Gospel into practice. Jesus in the needy in the writings of the Saints In one of his sayings, the Curé of Ars shows how it is almost natural for him to see things in a supernatural way, therefore in the true way.“Frequently we believe we are giving assistance to a poor person, and in reality it turns out to be our Lord Jesus Christ.” (...) Video in italian Text

Castel Gandolfo, 1 June 2001 Dear friends, A cordial welcome to all of you, our dear friends, and my heartfelt thanks for your presence here!This wonderful conference attended by people with different convictions is very important. You are here because you are interested in the spirit that brought to life and motivates the Focolare Movement, in its goals, in its life and achievements. You are full-fledged citizens of our Movement, you are an essential part of it.And yet someone might wonder: can a Movement like that of the focolarini, born from a very profound religious conviction, from the choice of God as the ideal of their lives, be of interest to men and women of other convictions?Yes, it can and I will tell you why.Yes, because we, focolarini, believe in a religion that is not relegated only to heaven, so to speak, but which is profoundly human.Like all Christians, we certainly have faith in a transcendent God, but a God who became incarnate on this earth, who became man. Therefore, if God