I was sick

Rome, 1978 In a hospital ward I once saw a man with a plaster cast. His chest and right arm were immobilized.With his left hand he tried to do everything… as best he could. The cast was a torture, but the left arm, although it was more tired than usual by the end of the day, grew stronger by doing twice its normal work. We are members of one another and mutual service is our duty. Jesus did not merely advise us to serve one another, he commanded us to do so. When we help someone out of charity, let us not believe we are saints. If our neighbour is powerless, we must help him and help him as he would help himself if he could. Otherwise, what kind of Christians are we? If, later, our hour has come, and we need our neighbour’s charity, let us not feel humiliated. At the last judgement we shall hear Jesus repeat the words: ‘I was sick and you visited me …’ (Matt. 25:36)

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