FRIENDSHIP

There is an old saying:”who finds a friend finds a treasure”. If during a lifetime you find some friends, but with the passing of time occasionally you discover that they are almost never the much desired “treasure”. I think I am able to say that friendship is more than a simple affectionate tie between blood relations. Friendship is the strongest form of Brotherhood: a friend never leaves you alone, he is deeply rooted inside of you because he finds in you something similar to his own nature and this makes him happy because he knows he can rely on you for anything, in any moment of his life. Once I was deeply touched the first time, when at the end of the Focolari Movement’s convention the participants hugged each other saying: “I’m ready to give my life for you”. It seems absurd to say such a phrase, but if someone says this why not believe it? Most certainly he found in him a true friend! I wish you all a happy start to the new year and I remind you of the Friend-Treasure that 2000 years ago offered his life for all Humanity. Mimma (translate by Diliana)

Joy

A few weeks ago we made some reflections upon the old man and the new man. Wherefore the new man is the young man, who won over the old man because he renwed and purified himself: he is the man who has an inner joy. He has a very strong reality, is courageous, and doesn’t fear neither man or suffering: he is above all of this, of every pain because in their place he puts compassion and forgiveness. So you could say that joy isn’t something but Someone; joy is someone at peace with themselves and others and comunicates the force with which they do lovely and good things at all ages. So we often see old suffering people who are young because they are joyful and young people who are old because they haven’t got joy in their hearts. Even Jesus on the Cross, in spite of his suffering and martyrdom, had joy in his heart because he said to thief: “Today you will enter heaven with me”. We wish everyone will have lots of joy in their hearts. Mimma (translate by Diliana)

The Miracle of...life

Last week some young women came to Caberra to pray in the Church of the Annunciation. We evoked the story of the “Devota” together, then their attention went upon the Thanksgiving Medals (for miracles received) hanging on the wall in the St John’s Chapel. Once there were many more of them; but with the passing of the centuries they have gone missing. Margherita left a sign of her goodness, of her unconditional love, and of her compassion. The essence of the Thanksgiving Medals is the recognition of a gift received, a reminder of the mysterious way a prayer recited in solitude and desperation is heard and gathered up by God. Who donates a Thanksgiving Medal has received a miracle or has been graced by God in the intent and in the facts. One of our young visitors is expecting a baby; she asked for the miracle that perpetuates in time from when the World was Created: the miracle of life. Our most joyful regards to all expectant mothers and we thank them for being faithful collaborators of God in keeping safe the gift of life. Mimma (translate by Diliana)

The Waiting

We are living the days waiting for Christmas. It should be a peaceful and joyful waiting with a look within ours souls and towards heaven. But instead, if we go to a big shopping centre we come out feeling dazed and confused...in them you remain shocked by a huge mass of people who continue to fill shopping baskets and trolleys with anything that glitters. Then at home we realise that a lot of the things we bought are useless and clutters up our homes. So where is the poverty that we all hear about? Roberto Benigni preaching The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, becomes topical because he blends in with the audience, especially with those who suffer, and he evokes sensations, eternal values and gives a message of honesty and wisdom which touches you deeply. The most urgent need to deal with is our spiritual need not the material need: the need which doesn’t make you see the hungry, or the homeless and who experiments with Dante:...”come sa di sale lo pane altrui e come è duro calle lo scendere e salir per l’altrui scale” (roughly translated means “How good tasting is the bread of others and how hard it is to go up and down the stairs for others.” ) Best Wishes for Christmas to all foreigners. Mimma (translate by Diliana)

Every New Day…

A few years ago I met a hunter, who had attached to his belt, upon a considerable stomach, a lovely row of small birds. One next to the other, hanging upside down by their little claws, their heads swaying, their beaks open and their little black eyes glasslike without life.- Look, aren’t they lovely?-the Hunter said to me- It was true: they made a colourful garland on a dark background, with their small red, yellow and white patches of colour: a martyrdom of sparrows and robin red breasts!- And tonight- the Hunter continued amused – Come, come along ... their will be ‘Polenta’ and roast birds for supper- He pointed out the happy conclusion of his day! I remember a few verses of a poem by Bonhoeffer: “Every new day there is a new begining in our lives, every day is all tied up and finished!! I salute you affectionately. Mimma (translate by Diliana)

Humilty

To better ourselves, in whatever stage in our lives (obviously as adults) I feel that it is necessary to take a break and examine the progress of us becoming Real Women or Real Men. The Old Man and the New Man figures are always present within us. The New Man is or always should be in constant conflict with the inner Old Man to discover who we really are. Actually, it is essential to look within oneself and listen to oneself to be able to figure out the good or bad sides of our character, and make the New Man within us emerge, renewed and clean. But this transformation is only possible when I free myself from my pride and practice with patients Humility. Because only by using Humility lightened up by Grace can you arrive at the Truth. Mimma (translate by Diliana)

Beauty will save the world

...and we all want to this to be true, but do we collaborate so that this will happen? If we want this great event to be realized, I think that all of us need to do their part. The world is not simply a “globe” within which there is a mass of agitated people. The world is each one of us with their own interior beauty, for this reason, young or old that we are, we need to dip into this beauty which has as a base love and spread it to everyone so that this joy can be celebrated with children, the sick, the poor, friends, relatives, neighbours and strangers...It is the Beauty of God and the splendor of the whole creation that will save the world. Mimma (translate by Diliana)