Just a 'drop in the ocean' of the amazing feedback from around the world...

1) Why are you drawn to the person of Chiara Luce?

I have read the story of the life of this woman. It is the life that all of us Gen strive and persevere to live by. It is the life we try to live by so that we can hopefully one day be counted amongst saints. To witness the beatification of a fallen Gen is inspiration to all other living Gen, and because of this inspiration it is necessary to celebrate. I look for inspiration in other lives to live mine, and Chiara Luce's life is an inspiration to me.

 2) Why are you coming to her Beatification?

A Gen is one who strives to live the life of Jesus; in unity with everyone around him/her. It makes the Gen and the Focolare from all over the world proud that one of our very own is being counted amongst saints. Times now have changed and to be a witness the beatification of a Gen that lived like Jesus til the day she died is something I do not want to miss. Even if we have never met Chiara Luce is a part of me as I am a part of her because of the life we try to live and I want to be there for her well deserved beatification.

3) What are you doing to get ready for this trip?

I along with my mother have prepared a plate sale. We have been selling tickets and are hoping to make at least $900 through the plate sale. I have also saved my money from umpiring baseball and softball games. I have also been hired to a retail store and I will be saving money from every pay check I receive in the next few months.

Ricardo Ledesma, 19 years old, San Antonio TX, USA

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At just over a month before her Beatification, let's reflect on sainthood through Chiara's life...

In search of freedom

Only one time exists (excerpt from one of Chiara's essays)

Who makes the saints?

In preparation for the September 25th event, we ask ourselves why the Church confers a special solemnity on the rite of beatification.   It aims at making us aware of the duty to manifest our admiration to God for the effectiveness of the grace that animated Chiara and drew her to follow the path of sainthood with generosity and perseverance.  By imitating Jesus, who was obedient to the Father in everything, and by effect of the merits gained by him, Chiara found the strength to always fulfill, even in the most difficult decisions, what was liking to God: “I’m only interested in God’s will, doing that in the present moment: playing God’s game!.  In admiring this masterpiece it is right that we recognize “How great are your works, O LORD!” (Psalm 92, 6).  And at the same time we retrace the steps of Chiara’s life, surprised by the continuity of her testimony and the virtues she practiced in a tireless progression: first in the ordinary conditions of life; then in the arduous and lengthy trials of her illness: always peaceful in the offering of herself in faithful abandonment to the love of Jesus Crucified and Risen.  The admiration guides us to gratitude.  It is the reason for the Holy Mass of thanksgiving according to the practices of the Church.  Many are the benefits that God gives us through the exaltation of Chiara’s life.  Let’s try to compare ourselves with her steady conviction of being immensely loved by God, with the unwavering faith in Him, with the generous surrendering of the projects of her adolescence, with the forgetting of herself along with her gentle care for others.  Chiara invites us to share her tenacity in decisively aiming toward sainthood.  Furthermore, she wants to and can help us with her intercession.In Saint Augustine’s works, we find a prayer that makes us reflect:  “Give us what we need to obey you, then order what you wish”.  In fact, we need the strength of the Holy Spirit that elevates the natural resources of our mind, heart and will, if we want to obey to God’s will in realizing the vocation of all baptized and convert and conform more and more faithfully to Christ’s example. Therefore, let us implore this grace through the intensity of prayer, reflection on the revealed Word, the habitual union with Christ, the fervent participation in the Eucharist and in the sacrament of forgiveness. We must therefore thank Chiara for her wonderful testimony.  But let’s not forget that the gratitude most liking to her is in the constant decision to imitate her example.

 +Livio Maritano

 BEATIFICATION PROGRAM

• Sat. September 25th, 2010, Beatificazione Mass, 4pm, Sanctuary of “Our Lady of Divine Love” – Rome, Castel di Leva. His Exc. Mons. Angelo Amato will preside.

• Vatican, Paul VI Auditorium - 8:30pm: evening of feast and sharing with the Blessed Chiara Luce.

• Sun. September 26, 2010, Thanksgiving Mass, 10:30am, S. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica, His Em. Card. Tarcisio Bertone will preside.

FOR INFORMATION: 06.94288478 (from 4pm to 7:30pm - Italy time) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it