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The Focolare in the Church
Category:
- Focolare
The Focolare Movement is an ecclesial Movement.
It is part of the springtime of new charisms in our times,
which John Paul II, in his Apostolic Exhortation,
‘Christifideles Laici', defined as "graces of the Holy Spirit
for the edification of the Church,
the good of mankind and the needs of the world."
A new spirituality in the Church - In the early 1940s, from the Focolare charism of unity came the spirituality of unity, a markedly communitarian spirituality which revealed itself to be in profound unison with the Second Vatican Council and the spirituality of communion indicated by Pope John Paul II as a way towards making the Church "the house and school of communion."
A communitarian way to sanctity - It is a spiritual way open to everyone: youth and teen-agers, lay people and religious order men and women: "Holiness within everyone's reach; the gates barring the laity from mystical life have fallen; the treasures of a castle to which very few were admitted have now been brought out into public," as Igino Giordani wrote (www.flars.net/iginogiordani), after his meeting with Chiara Lubich in 1948.
Communion with the Pope and the Bishops - From the very beginning, the Gospel words, "Whoever listens to you listens to me," were put into practice, by recognizing the voice of Christ in the Pope and Bishops, the same spirit which guides the Movement's relationship with them even now.
The light of Jesus - who makes himself present there where two or more are united in his name (cf. Mt 18, 20) - not only gives light to understand the Scriptures, but also to understand the teachings of the Popes and Bishops with new depth. It is a light which makes one "feel" the Church present in its hierarchy, in its doctrine and in the life of the entire people of God.
In concrete terms, the Movement then collaborates - upon the request of the Church's pastors - in the organization of world gatherings, such as the Jubilee events and the Meetings for the family and for the youth; within the different dioceses and parishes, the Movement is active in consultative bodies at various levels and in the many pastoral activities.
Dialogue and communion with other Movements and new Communities - A new journey towards communion among Movements, new communities and associations has been opened with the impulse given by Pope John Paul II during the Pentecost Vigil '98, at St. Peter's Square - a journey which also movements and new communities present in other Christian Churches have later joined.
New Evangelization - The Movement, which came to life from the rediscovery of the Gospel, is constantly nourished by the Words of life which the members strive to put into practice in their daily lives, thus exerting an influence wherever they are. The Movement's typical charism has thrown new light on the Gospel from the point of view of unity. By putting into life Jesus' words, "Love one another as I have loved you," they attract Jesus' spiritual presence, as he had promised (cf. Mt 18,20). He is the one who evangelizes the world and spreads God's Kingdom.
Renewal of society - The Movement is mainly composed of lay people. They bring the spirit of the Gospel into the different ambits of society. Reciprocal love, so strong as to build unity, has proven to be a "paradigm of unity," a "code" that can change social life, by injecting the element of communion and brotherhood in international and inter-cultural relations, in the economic and labor sectors, in politics, law, health care, cultural development, social communications and art. The Movement thus wants to contribute to the globalization of brotherhood, to solidarity, for which there is an urgent need today.
Consecrated and priestly life - Parishes - From the very beginning, the spirituality of unity or communion has been shared by priests, religious order men and women from many different congregations. Little by little, together with the contribution of the lay people, they have sown seeds of renewal within Church structures, especially within the parish. Since the mid 70s, also a number of Bishops have drawn nourishment from the Movement's spirituality.
http://www.focolare.org/page.php?codcat2=282&codcat1=247&lingua=EN&titol...
