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Don Luigi Giussani Mons. Luigi Giussani Don Luigi Giussani Foto: www.clonline.org © 2005 |
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Misa del cuerpo presente en el „duomo“ de Milan, con la presencia de 30 obispos y unos 500 sacerdotes. Funeral Mass in the Milan “Duomo”, with 30 bishops and some 500 priests present Requiem im “Duomo” von Mailand, in Gegenwart von 30 Bischöfen und gut 500 Priesters Foto: CL/Masi © 2005 |
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Velatorio de Don Luigi Giussani Wake for Mons. Luigi Giussani Totenwache bei Don Luigi Giussani |
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Miles se dirigieron al “duomo” de Milan Thousands went to the “duomo” in Milan Tausende machten sich auf den Weg zum “Duomo” von Mailand |
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Mostrando su solidaridad y gratitud Showing solidarity and gratitude Eintrag ins Kondolenzbuch, Zeichen von Solidarität und Dankbarkeit |
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Llegue el féretro The coffin is carried to the cathedral Der Sarg wird zum Dom getragen |
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Momentos de dolor Moments of pain Viele trauern um den Gründer |
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Una multitud frente de la catedral A big crowd outside the catedral Eine große Menschenmenge vor dem Dom |
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Don Giussani cambió la iglesia Mons. Giussani changed the church Don Giussani hat die Kirche verändert Fotos: milan © 2005 |
MOVEMENTS: Fr. Alberto Eronti. I left Rome on the Euro Star train at 8:30. The weather was cold and damp, the sky was cloudy. After traveling a while I thought that I probably wasn't the only one traveling to attend the funeral of the Founder of "Communion and Liberation", so I began to observe my surroundings. A while later I saw that the young man seated at my side had begun to read the book "Un caffe in compagnia", that contains conversation between Giussani and Renato Farina (vice-director of "Libero"). On the other side of the aisle, a couple read and commented about the articles of "Corriere della Sera" and "La Repubblica", about the subject.
A while later we began to converse, which made the trip very pleasant and of great interest to me. I was able to hear very beautiful testimonies and to more deeply understand the nucleus of this Movement that just completed 50 years of existence. We arrived punctually at the Central Station and we parted since they were going to meet another group that was arriving from Turin.
A dense multitude was in front of the Cathedral
Departing from Metropolitana in the "Piazza del Duomo", a dense multitude was in front of the Cathedral watching the first scenes of what was occurring inside by closed circuit TV. I entered the Church through the access that was designated for the bishops and priests. Since I arrived almost two hours before the celebration, I was able to situate myself in a place close to the altar and a few meters from the sacristy. The church was completely filled, a priest from Milan said that there were more than three thousand persons. I was able to make use of the time and the silent atmosphere to pray and to meditate about the gift of the Spirit to the Church: the plural Movements and concretely about the charisma of "Gius", as his spiritual sons affectionately called him. Without a doubt the entire Italian Church - and the whole Church- would be different without them, the Focolares, and others that came later. Around 2:15 the choir began to sing creating a atmosphere for more prayer and re-collection. Some 20 minutes before the liturgy was to begin Cardinals J. Ratzinger, Papal Delegate, and D. Tettamanzi, Archbishop of Milan, arrived I was able to enter the sacristry to greet them and also Monsignor Rylko and Julian Carron, President of the Movement. There was a total of 30 bishops and some 500 priests.
The Pope's Message to "Communion and Liberation"
The funeral procession arrived punctually, the bier was carried to the front of the altar while the cholir sang "Povera voce" (poor voice)," ..all life claims eternity, it cannot die, our voice cannot end, since life asks for eternity" The entrance procession was accompanied by the singing of Psalm 21: "Oh, Jerusalem, my joy" After the initial greetings, Monsignor S. Rylko, President of the Pontifcal Council of Laity, read the message from the Pope to "Communion and Liberation". In the message the Pope stressed Giussani's capacity to "assume the cross, which was converted into the source of fruitfulness. I am with you in a very intense manner...faith made Giussani make Christ his passion and his life, this is what he trans- mitted to thousands of youth in need of a point of reference and of role models (...) he gave those youth a passionate itinerary of faith(...) Christ and the Church were his two great loves..."
Communion with and in Christ is redemption, it is liberty
The liturgy was carried out with the "Ambrosain Rite". The Liturgy of the Word had three readings.The first two were proclaimed from the ambo close to the altar: the beginning of the Passion according to St. Luke and the death of Jesus, according to St. Matthew. The third one was proclaimed from the impressive pulpit of the cathedral, taken from Chapter 20 of the Gospel according to St. John, which relates the apparition of Jesus resurrected, the sending forth to the world, the gift of the Spirit and the power to forgive or retain sin. Some salient phrases from the homily given by Cardinal Ratzinger:
- "Since his youth Giussani was fascinated by beauty...by the infinite beauty.
- For him Christianity was not an emsemble of ideas nor a package of dogmas, but an encounter of love with Jesus Christ, an encounter that initiated and developed a love story between the student and the Teacher. To encounter Christ asks that he be followed, moreover, one is invited to live Christ in one's own life.
- Giussani was able to understand what "to lose" one's life meant: he lost it by giving it. He gave it by serving, giving the treasure of his heart. For this, God, made him "father of many".
- The centrality of Christ in his life gave him the gift of discernment. His biggest temptation was when he founded the Movement in Brazil: the impact of extreme misery moved him in such a way, that he had to choose between making Christianity an ethical, moral, political movement or to center himself more deeply and believably in Christ, his person, his proclamation, his mission.
- He would say: he who does not give to God does not give anything. He who does not give to God divides. He who does not give to God destroys. He had to cross the dark valley of discernment and he knew how to choose the biggest Light, 'because you are with me'. This made him loyal, loyal to the Church until the end.
- Communion and liberation! Communion with and in Christ is redemption, it is liberty.
While over 100 priests distributed the Eucharist, I was impressed by the force with which "Cristo resucite" was song. It is a clear expression (along with "Povera voce") of the spirituality of the Movement. "Christ resurrected in all hearts. May Christ be celebrated, May Christ be adored (...) there are dense clouds in our thinking, Christ is the brilliant light of Truth".
One who was fascinated by Christ
At the end of the celebration the multitude accompanied the choir in singing, as the most beautiful homage to "Guis" whose bier was carried to the door: "You are a loyal God", Lord, we sing a song of praise to you; we are grateful for your immense generosity. Lord, may your light direct our steps, may the eternal truth shine on our face. The gift of your love, oh God, renews life; may true liberty quiet our heart. May our life be a sign of your love; may eternal charity flourish in all the world. You are an eternally loyal God..."
Giussani, who was fascinated by Christ, was also fascinated by Mary. He prayed to her with a heart of a child: "Oh, Madonna, tu sei la sicureza della nostra speranza", (Oh, Lady, you are the security of our hope). The great law of the Kingdom was accomplished: whoever loves the Son loves the Mother, whoever loves the Mother will love the Son. Today the "son", Gius, is home.
"He was my father"
Outside it rained and it felt cold as afternoon fell. Under the multitudes of umbrellas the people bid farewell to the "man of God". Conversing with some members of the Movement about Giussani, I heard concurrent voices: "He was a father:, "he was my father", "he was our guide", and I was touched by one young girl when she said, "I felt him as my father". I began on the way to the Central Station with cumulus feelings and thoughts. One September
1968 I had experienced a similar reality, that is why I was able to understand them, I had also lived along with my Schoenstatt brothers the experience of "a father", our Father!, and his going Home.
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA