A vocation
In order to describe the vocation to the life in focolare, it is necessary to refer to a story and to Chiara Lubich, a milestone from which a new pathway originated that, before her, was not there.
It all began on a Tuesday, the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Chiara could not have imagined what would come to be, after that December 7. From that “yes” was born a Family, a new Work of God, embracing women and men, Catholic Christians and those of other denominations, of different religions and those who, while not having a religious faith, want to contribute to the realization of a more united, more just and peaceful world.
For Chiara, December 7, 1943, is still the day she married God.
In the family of Luigia and Luigi Lubich from Trent (in northern Italy), God calls the second of their four children in a very special way.
While doing an act of love, the simple act one can do in a family, Chiara feels in her heart: ‘Give yourself entirely to me’. It is God’s explicit call to follow him
At 6 a.m. on 7 December 1943, Chiara consecrated herself to God during Mass. Before the mass, the priest had asked her: “So it is forever?”. “Yes” was Chiara’s answer.
“I was getting married. I was marrying God.”: this is how Chiara Lubich described her consecration to God on 7 December 1943
A flight in God, through which she abandons herself like a child in the arms of her mother (Cf. Psalm 131), an evangelical child who puts all her trust in the Father who is Love.
Whoever responds to God, giving his or her life to Him, is called to be in a relationship of contemplation and action, in perfect harmony, by being in the world but not of the world.
To respond to God in the way of unity. “We never wanted to be in a convent; we wanted to be in the midst of the world. We were sisters.”
Mindful of the world’s needs, that of the Focolare is a simple, intimate and open life consisting of unions and relationships, with God and with neighbours.
