News

Love urges us to avoid being closed in ourselves but to do good for others.  It leads us to take the initiative and overcome indifference. By showing commitment and getting our hands dirty, so to speak, we are reminded  how much God has loved us  and how great is the dream he has placed in our hearts. 

In 1976, in the Italian Cittá Nuova magazine’s column “Open Dialogue”, a reader asked Chiara Lubich the following question: “Every now and again I feel guilty for not having loved Mary enough, for thinking very little about her. What do you think I need to do so as to have a true devotion to Mary?”

The Fifth Halki Summit took place in Turkey from 8th-12th June 2022. Sustaining the future of the planet together was the title of the meeting organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople together with the Sophia University Institute, Loppiano (Florence, Italy).

The Word of Life of August 2022 asks us to always forgive. When we come before God – in the liturgy or in prayer – we should be in harmony with everyone. As Pope Francis says, we cannot go for a rest if there is disagreement with our brothers or sisters.

Forgiving is a constant daily exercise in our lives, and that very experience allows God’s love to put us back on our feet. Realising that we are forgiven is the starting point for trying to be merciful, opening our gaze on others and being truly free.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” The measure of the love we must have for each brother or sister is contained in that “as”. In this excerpt from a talk to young seminarians, Chiara Lubich urges us to care for others as we care for ourselves.

Deciding to reach out to one’s neighbour, putting aside one’s convictions, breaking down the walls of pride, means finding a way to the other’s heart and, on this journey, learning to recognise one’s own heart: entering into communion and rebuilding.

Magdalena is a Korean illustrator who, after a number of years, saw the marriage she had dreamed of shattered. Only the love and support of other families made it possible for her to face and overcome the pain. Today, Magdalena is painting a new page in her life by putting the same love she received back into circulation for those in similar situations to her own.

Kindness, mercy, and forgiveness are three characteristics of mutual love that can help us shape our social relationships.

Answering an invitation and starting a new adventure. Josef Bambas is a focolarino – a consecrated member of the Focolare Movement. He is of Czech origin and has been living in Vienna for some years. He tells us about his choices, life in the focolare and the joy of accompanying many young people as they discover their own path in life.

Catholic and Orthodox Church representatives gathered for a conference on the theme of integral ecology, inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Service-learning consists of  applying classroom learning  and  getting to learn  things that one cannot always learn in class. Clayss, based in Argentina, has built networks and alliances with educational institutions world-wide.