Archivio SCRITTI EN

Roma, April 25, 1988 Commentary of the Word of Life: Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action (1 Jn. 3:18). John the Evangelist wrote these words. He was putting his communities on guard against certain people whose words spoke highly of faith in Jesus, but who did not follow faith through with practice. Indeed, they considered practice to be useless and superfluous, as if Jesus had already done everything. Their faith was empty and sterile because it took away from the work of Jesus the indispensable contribution he asks from each of us. Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Love in action. True faith, says John, is faith that gives proof of itself by loving as Jesus loved and taught us to do. Now, the first characteristic of this kind of love is its concreteness. Jesus did not love us merely by giving wonderful talks. Rather, he was in our midst doing good, healing all, being fully available

Rome, 1961 A reflection on art and the artist. The purpose of art is somewhat obscure, almost mysterious, perhaps simply unknown. Certainly it does engage reason alone.Yet art, in a manner equal to science, has always produced more or less beautiful expressions of itself, because the imagination, its mother and origin, is a marvellous human talent and gift like memory, affectivity and reason, and it too has flowered in works: in “works of art,” even spontaneously. The true artist is a great person. Everyone says it even though few are art critics, but everyone admires and is fascinated by “beauty.”The artist in a certain way is like the Creator.True artists possess their skill almost unconsciously and use colours, musical notes, stone as we use our legs to walk. Their point of concentration is in the soul, where they contemplate an impression, an idea that they wish to express outside themselves.Hence, within the infinite limits of their human littleness before God, and thus within the infinite difference between the two “created” things

Bulle (Switzerland), 10 August 2003 First of all, greetings to all those who are connected through the satellites and internet. …This year August 11th is a very important date because it marks the 750th anniversary of Saint Clare’s birth in heaven in 1253. So it’s a very special day for us too, and because it is so, we too would like to spend it in a particular way and we have already seen this. And we can do so because the thought I am about to present expresses something that is really very important to us. (...) Transcription Video in italian

Rome, January 25, 1992 Commentary of the Word of Life: If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them (Lk. 6:32). This month’s Word of Life is taken from Luke’s gospel. It is part of a large section of Jesus’ sayings that corresponds to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel. As we know, in this section Jesus describes the requirements of the kingdom of God and the characteristics of those who belong to it.The source and goal of these requirements is imitating our heavenly Father. In this verse Jesus calls his disciples to imitate God the Father in loving. If we want to be his children, we must love our neighbours in the way he does. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. The first and most significant characteristic of God the Father’s love is that it is absolutely free. It is totally

Tor Vergata, August 19, 2000 Presenter: Now we come to 1995, to the World Youth Day in Manila, the largest in number – four million young people gathered in Manila. They accepted the Pope’s invitation to walk along the way of sanctity towards the new frontiers of evangelization.The Focolare Movement will guide us in our reflection on the Manila World Youth Day. It is our great pleasure now to listen to its foundress who is here with us, Chiara Lubich.You already had a very beautiful day-meeting in Rome in the Flaminio Stadium. How did it go?Chiara: Very well, magnificently. There were many of us, 24,000.Presenter: We’ll give the word to you now. (...) Transcription Video in italian

Sierre (CH), 4 August 1983 A spiritual message on the always new discovery of the importance of love of neighbour. Today I'd like to speak to you again about love of neighbour.What should our love be like, if it is to meet Jesus' expectations? We know: we must be ready to give our life for each and every neighbour. Heroic love, therefore, nothing less! This is love: "...as I have loved you." With this kind of love, we in the Focolare can become saints and make our lives a Holy Journey. (...) Text Audio in italian