INSPIRING LIVES
Her mother, Maria Teresa, recounts a childhood episode. Seeing that Chiara had many toys, she asked her, “Chiara, wouldn’t you like to give away some of these to those who do not have any? Chiara immediately retorted, “No! They are ǷȄȱȱȱěȱȱȱǯȱ Later, her mother heard her saying, “This one, yes; this one, no.” She was sorting out her toys, placing the best ones in a bag to be given away. “But Chiara, do you really want to give away your new toys?” her mother asked. Chiara replied: “Yes, I can’t give old broken toys to children who don’t have anything!” social media is full of news stories ROSE ALOYSIUS Another day, her mother asked ȱȱȱĴȱ Chiara to help her clear the dining to her, and there are websites and table. Pat came Chiara’s reply: “I hiara means clear ; Luce means biographies on her in more than don’t want to!” But after a few light . Chiara Luce Badano was thirty languages of the world. seconds, she said, “How does that an Italian girl who, at the age of Numerous parks, streets, youth clubs, C story in the Bible go, of the young 18, died of a very painful bone clinics and shelters for the needy man whom his father asked to go cancer. She passed away on 7 October ¢ȱȱȱȱěȱǯȱ ȱ ȱȱȱęDzȱȱȱęȱ 1990. However, she left behind a refused, but went later?” Then she trail of light which travels on, across Chiara Luce Badano was born in a told her mother, “Mummy, put my all nations, urging young people tiny mountain village called Sassello, apron on.” And she set about clearing everywhere to make a masterpiece of in Italy, on 29 October 1971. Long- the table as her mother wanted. their lives the way she did. awaited, she was an only child, and received a solid moral education from As a teenager, Chiara was cheerful, Chiara Luce’s story is one which her parents. When she was barely lively and outgoing, though quite leaves its mark, and ever since her nine, she came across the Focolare reserved at times. She enjoyed death it has consistently inspired Movement founded by Chiara Lubich, wearing fashionable clothes, articles, TV programmes, songs which gave her a strong spirituality of listening to music and hanging out and musicals, all over. The world of unity and love for others.
Celebration by youth at Chiara’s beatification at Aula Nervi
18 JUNE 2020
ȱȱȱěȱ Chiara (right) shops. She skated with her and played tennis, best friend loved trekking and thoroughly enjoyed swimming. Her adventurous spirit made her think that one day she would become a Chiara’s parents at the dedication ĚȱĴǰȱȱ of a church to her her generous heart in Sironj made her dream ȱ ȱěȱȱDZȱȱȱ a very aggressive and painful bone of becoming a doctor to help sick ȱȱȱ ȱǯȱǰȱ ȱęȱ cancer. children in Africa. with him,” she later told her mother. Chiara could not believe this was Chiara had her struggles, too. After Chiara was caring and friendly happening to her. “Why? Why now? ȱęȱ¢ȱȱȱǰȱȱ with everyone: she carried the school Why me?” Her mother recalls how ěȱȱȱ DZȱȱȱȱ work for her classmate who was Chiara threw herself on her bed, Mathematics, something that many sick, available to her grandparents saying, “Mum, don’t talk. Just don’t thought she did not deserve, as it who needed assistance, kind to the talk, now!” For 25 minutes, which resulted from a misunderstanding marginalized and homeless whom seemed like an eternity, her mother with her teacher. She learnt this just she met on her way back home from stood by her side. She could see as she was about to leave for Rome school. At times, she was mocked her struggle. Then Chiara looked at to accompany a group of children and was called names because of her with the usual bright smile and for an international event. Though her generosity and faith; although it told her, “Okay. Now you can talk.” her heart was heavy, she decided saddened her, she stayed strong and She had accepted the verdict, the to go ahead with her plans, and did not change her ways. treatment and all that it would have gave herself totally to the children meant for her. She simply prayed: entrusted to her. At 16, everything seemed “It’s for you, my God; if you want it, wonderful and Chiara’s future There was also disappointment in I want it, too!” appeared bright. One day, however, a teenage love that faded before it while playing tennis she felt an The cancer had weakened and ȱǰȱȱȱȂȱĴȱ excruciating pain in her shoulder. diminished her body, however for half measures. “I was beginning After multiple hospital tests, she was throughout her illness Chiara never to love him, but I realized that diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, lost her sense of joy. During her
www.chiarabadano.org
JUNE 2020 19
INSPIRING LIVES
Chiara was caring and friendly with everyone: she their group “4U” to remind them of carried the school work for her classmate who was Chiara’s favourite saying. sick, available to her grandparents who needed On 25 September 2010, Pope Benedict XVI, the then head of assistance, kind to the marginalized and homeless the Catholic Church, declared her whom she met on her way back home from school. At “Blessed” in recognition of her times, she was mocked and called names because of heroic virtues and tireless works her generosity and faith; although it saddened her, she for the poor despite the pain she ěǰȱǻȱȱȱȱȱ stayed strong and did not change her ways. confers on an individual after death in recognition of the virtues he/she hospitalization, she assisted other I am happy!” She then smiled, and practised in a heroic way) qualifying patients, did acts of kindness for breathed her last. her worthy of emulation by Catholics ȱȱěǰȱȱȱ The news of Chiara’s passing away everywhere. parents and consoled friends who soon spread all around Sassello, In September 2015, a beautiful visited her. even before dawn had broken. In no newly-built church was dedicated She kept nothing for herself, ǰȱȱĚȱȱȱȂȱ to her in Sironj, Vidisha district of sharing all that she had with her home, because their daughter Madhya Pradesh, in the presence closest friends, the Gen of the Focolare Chiara belonged to all of them. On of her parents. Bishop Anthony Movement . The word “Gen” stands the day of her funeral, all the shops Chirayath of Sagar Diocese, who for New Generation : Chiara and these in Sassello remained shut, paying commissioned the construction, friends belonged to the thousands respect to Chiara, as the mayor had explained his choice of her name of youth, a part of the Focolare requested them. Movement worldwide, who want to renew their lives by loving everyone, ¢ǰȱȱȱȱęȱȱǰȱ Though the cancer took believing that all humanity is one away Chiara’s mobility family. and all her energy, she Chiara kept a list of all her kept saying: “Though I personal things making them available to anyone who needed have nothing left, I still them. She even gave away the have my heart, with savings she had from her last that I can always love.” birthday to a friend who started a project in Benin, Africa. She gave More than 2,000 people were for the church: “I learned about the money to him saying, “I don’t present for her funeral: there were Chiara Luce from her biography need it. I already have everything.” plenty of tears, but no sadness! which I read during a trip to Italy. I After her death, an envelope was Her friends kept singing the joyful felt that Chiara’s life could serve as found in her desk, with 70,000 lire songs Chiara herself had chosen for an example and inspiration for our ǻȱȱřǰŖŖŖǼȱȱ ȱȱ ȱ her funeral celebration, which she young people here. I want them to ĴDZȱȃȱȄǯȱȱǰȱ wanted to be her “wedding feast”. become like Chiara — ever-smiling, large amounts were raised and sent It was truly a celebration of young cheerful, sportive, singing and to Benin, for the construction of Chiara’s beautiful life! dancing, friendly and loving, kind wells, schools, homes and a clinic and thoughtful of others, especially for children. Her unique story soon spread around the world, reaching even of the poor and the sick.” Though the cancer took away ěȱȱȱ ǯȱȱȱȱ Youthful Chiara Luce continues Chiara’s mobility and all her energy, young people in Kerala came to know to fascinate and win the hearts of she kept saying: “Though I have about Chiara Luce, and they chose people everywhere, especially the nothing left, I still have my heart, her as their inspiring icon, and the young, of all religions and cultures. with that I can always love.” It model for their community services, Hers is a story that continues to was the early hours of 7 October and their outreach programmes inspire everyone, and never ceases to 1990, at 4.00 am, to be precise, for the terminally ill, christening amaze! Chiara realized it was time for her to pass from this life to the next. Rose Aloysius from Mumbai is deeply passionate about the culture of unity She looked at her parents and told and universal brotherhood promoted by the Focolare Movement, and actively them: “Farewell. Be happy because promotes all that teenagers, children and youth contribute towards it. 20 JUNE 2020