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Mariapolis Araceli (Brazil), 31 May 1991 This is when the economy of communion was born. Chiara had just launched the idea and wants to involve also the young people of Brazil You are very important because this turning point begins now, but it will explode later, when the young people, the Gen, will have a leading part. So you must be formed with these ideas and be informed of all that happens. I heard that one of you has already begun to do something concrete. You must support him, help him, give him advice, share the responsibilities, do whatever you can... It's not enough for us to observe only the principles of the Christian social doctrine on human rights, workers’ rights, and so on. We want the owners of these businesses, if they have made the Ideal their own, to give all the profits so as to live communion among all. Among whom? Meanwhile let’s begin with our Movement. We are about one hundred and fifty thousand people in Brazil, among

Rocca di Papa, 23 December 1983 Jesus revealed himself to Chiara as crucified and forsaken. The origin of this inspiration which is so vital for her and her Movement is described here (...)We have in fact felt the urgency not only of a legitimate desire, but also of the Church's guidance - which, to safeguard the authenticity of their inspiration, invites religious families and movements to refashion themselves in conformity to the times when the Holy Spirit brought them to birth. When we look back to the beginnings of the Focolare, we see that, even before we had acquired ideas about the way to realize unity, a model was proposed to us, a figure, a life: that of Him who was able to truly "make Himself one" with all the human beings who have lived in the past, live now in the present, and will live in the future; He effected unity, paying for it by the cross, with His blood and His cry; He who has given His presence to

Castel Gandolfo, 8 December 1996 God progressively wanted to show Chiara who Mary is, with a climax during the “special” summer of 1949 As we briefly look over the history of the Focolare Movement with regard to Mary, we can see more clearly who Mary is for us...From the earliest days of the Focolare, although during that period of time it seemed that she was letting the Spirit highlight almost exclusively Jesus and his gospel, Mary appeared, although discreetly, in order to reveal to us at once her relationship with unity. Some examples.I wrote in 1947: “I am convinced that it is she [Mary] who wants unity. She [Mary]: Mater unitatis! ...“She knows Satan, his promises, deceptions, and traps; and she calls her children to be united, to help oneanother as they journey along the way of love!”1Another letter from 1947: “Our Lady wants us to be united in our journey! She knows that ‘where two or more’ are united in the holy name of her Son, he is in their

Rome ("Città Nuova"), 10 November 1992 Commentary of the Word of Life: Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Rom 15:7) These words are some of Paul’s final guidance in his letter to the Christians in Rome. This community, like many others spread throughout the Graeco-Roman world, was composed of believers who came partly from pagan and partly from Jewish origins. Therefore their mindsets, their cultural backgrounds and their spiritual sensitivities were very different. Such diversity gave an opening to judgements, prejudices, discrimination and intolerance towards others that were certainly not in accord with the mutual welcome that God wanted them to have. To help them overcome these difficulties, Paul found there was no better way than to make them reflect upon the grace of their conversion. The fact that Jesus had called them to faith, giving the gift of his Spirit, was tangible proof of the love with which he had welcomed each one of them. Despite their past lives and the

Rome, 25 April 1976 How can we love Mary? By imitating her, by being the living Word of God just like her. “Now and again I feel, like a reproach, that I don’t love Mary enough, that I think very little of her. What do you think should we do so as to have true devotion to Mary?” Just the thought of speaking about Mary makes my soul tremble and my heart beat. This very topic surpasses our every intellect and instead of speaking it’s better to remain silent. Mary! The extraordinary one among all creatures, the lofty one to the point of being given the title and reality as Mother of God and therefore Immaculate Mary, the Assumed, the Queen, the Mother of the Church.Mary is closer to God than to human beings, yet she is a creature like us creatures, and this is how she is in front of the Creator. She has the possibility to be an inclined plane for us that touches heaven and earth. Therefore, even

Loppiano, 27 November 1975 In a confidential tone, Chiara shares the graces of light she had while contemplating nature « I have a special love for nature and I have often asked myself how my relationship with nature should be so that it is not a sentimental one but a relationship as God wants it to be. Can you tell us something about your relationship with nature? » Chiara: Right Markus, well then, let's talk as if there were just the two of us so that no one can hear us. In my spiritual life, in various moments, the Lord enabled me to feel this aspect of life more powerfully, this contact with nature. But it was a rather special meeting with nature, and I could relate several episodes. In these episodes, however, what the Lord showed me in nature was not primarily nature, but rather God who was sustaining nature, God who keeps nature alive, God who is beneath nature, God who gives to nature that beauty which is the beauty