Riccardi

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