Freedom is the most precious gift given to man from Heaven

Rimini, Lucca, Taizé – after WYD in Cologne, the Church looks toward these places

Encuentro de Rimini Rimini meeting Rimini-Treffen con CL Foto: CL © 2005
Frere Roger Schütz, Taizé Brother Roger Schutz, Taizé Frere Roger Schütz, Taizé Foto: Taizé © 2005

ROME, Fr. Alberto Eronti. After "World Youth Day" in Cologne, Germany, two events focus the attention on the life of the Italian Church. First is the "Meeting of Freedom" organized by the Communion and Liberation Movement in Rimini, Italy. More than 700,000 persons participated. The second is still to come. It deals with the International Congress on: "The signs of the Spirit in the 20^th century. A rereading of history: accounts of the witnesses."

As is customary, the Meeting offered a central theme and a variety of means to participate: conferences, round tables, audiovisual aids, artistic expressions, and dialog groups. These made up the web of channels in which the theme was transmitted. This year, the theme included the motto: "Freedom is the most precious gift given to man from Heaven" (quotation taken from the book: "Don Quijote de la Mancha").

The soul of Europe

Among the presenters, outstanding were not only thinkers of the Catholic Church, but of other churches and religions as well. Also, politicians, leaders of industry and economy, and unions participated. The theme of the Meeting had as a background, values….. the transition from a multiethnic Europe toward a society which is everyday more and more plural and the challenge of an ethical relativism. In the confines of the religious, outstanding is the indifference and the loss of the sense of sacredness: the unbelief. In everything and in everyone appears the challenge which supposes the Europe of the future. How to build a "European Union"? On what foundations should unity be built? In the center of the problem, a nuclear point is highlighted: man’s freedom and the right to choose his destiny. The founding countries of the today so called "European Union" worked for many years to make the transition from the "economic union" to the "political union." In a certain sense, it can be said that it was an organic way. But, suddenly, the planetary reality…..globalization…..the leadership of the United States of America…..China’s awakening…..ended up being signs that "accelerated" the times and produced two outstanding events: the need for a European Union Constitution and the call for new countries to join. This was the only way to create a third pole of world, political, economic, and military power.

The problems which this reality has brought forth are multiple, but two of them must be highlighted: the glowing lack of ideas, and the lack of freedom and poverty in which millions of people from the new union live. The writer of the European Constitution, bearing in mind the "no" from the French and the Dutch, commented that "the Constitution is the most boring and insipid text he has ever read." Were John Paul II and the Church of Europe wrong when they said that the Constitution was a document lacking certain fundamental values? They were not wrong. They were prophetic. We confirm it not only because the challenge for "unity" has not been resolved in the confines of the member countries, but also because the leaders and the countries called to forge the history of the New Europe have no direction. They are lacking the "star" which will guide them and accompany them. We could say with Benedict XVI. What is clear from the Meeting in Rimini is that the Church not only has what to offer, but must double its efforts of service to mankind and society. Called to be "soul" of the world," the Church which the new Europe needs demands certain traits which the Schoenstatt Family has a name and content for: "The Church on the new shore." It will be helpful to "see" the "star", to review the characteristics of "The Church, soul of the world," as they were designed by Fr. Joseph Kentenich. (see: "The renewal of the Church" Fr. Joseph Kentenich, Editorial Patris-Chile. Selected texts by Dr. Peter Wolf)

Accounts from the witnesses

The second event still to come is the International Congress on: "The signs of the Spirit in the 20^th century. A rereading of history: accounts of the witnesses." It will take place in Lucca, Italy between September 30^th and October 2^nd. It is organized by the "Renewal in the Spirit" Movement and is assisted by the Focolare Movement, the San Egidio Community, and the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit. The theme is taken from a phrase by John Paul II: "The 20^th century has been, so to speak, the ‘theatre’ in which determined historical and ideological processes have entered the scene. These have navigated in the direction of a great ‘eruption’ of evil, but these have also been the historical scene of their being surpassed." (En. "Memory and identity")

It is true, say the organizers, "upon observing attentively the history of the 20^th century, which is ‘one of the most secularized’, we cannot deny that amidst so much darkness, there were not innumerable lights which came forth in the darkest moments. These illumined the way for the different peoples and cultures. This deals with Christian lives…..strong unto martyrdom…..not greedy in assuming risks; it has to do with men and women of faith who have witnessed with gestures of charity to the workings of the Spirit in human history. It is this action of the Spirit which we want to rescue and offer as a luminous testimony which supports our hope."

Without a doubt, behind the horror of the first years of the new millennium, a certain testimony and a certain confirmation will be helpful to us according to the words of the psalm: "Your word is light for my footsteps and a lamp for the path." Sociology has developed what is called "the history of ideas." It deals with a helpful fundamental science to understand the "come into being" of the distinct ideologies and their practice. A congress like the one planned is a contribution and an effort in understanding this line of thought.

Shock on the death of Brother Roger, founder of the Taizé Community (France)

This news took a lesser place in the media since the media was occupied and concentrated on WYD. Nevertheless, for those who knew who Brother Roger was and for the thousands and thousands who over the almost 60 years visited the center of the Community, his person and his message will remain in "their memory and heart." We still remember his thin and pale figure in his wheelchair at the funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II, Perhaps we also recall that on that day, Cardinal Ratzinger personally took Holy Communion to him.

There are days in which the world seems poorer. August 16^th was that way: one poor in spirit had left, one rich in love and selfsurrender. The Rumanian woman who took his life did not know that she was giving Brother Roger an end similar to that of his Lord and Master. She thought she was taking his life, he was offering it. He was giving it in order to appear like the Sacrificial Lamb and to receive life.

We know what it means to lose a founder. Thus we can accompany the Taizé Community, thank them, and support them with prayer and hope.

Translation: Carlos Cantu, LaFeria, TX, USA