Notes from School of Community with Father Julián Carrón
© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation matters to you, as it does me, is recognizing and accepting it. That your mother loves you is not is you loves mother your That it. accepting and recognizing is me, does it as you, to matters that thing only The God. of love the about says Giussani Fr. that everything understand to easy How do you recognize that? Because you are in front of a pres Yes. Despite she thelimitations mayhave Yes. Does question? yourmotherto this Can youansweryes loveyou? like toanswerthequestions forme.how So,I don’t know Iasked you. with Jesus. But I don’t Jesushave as a friend and no one, really none my of friends, c Fr. Giussani gives the example of the twelve apostles, of Peter and their relationship of friendship because many times I feel alon God,” by loved feel me make who friends have “I saying, like be even can’t It want. I what from happen doesn’t this times many because Him,” of ask I what sayin like be can’t It me. for well going are things when and because feel I emotion an be can’t It life. my in anything move doesn’t that reasoning some just is This all. at Not all. at loved feel me make doesn’t reasoning because that be can’t It me.” lov He thereforelive), to continue I that so much (so me creates still He me, created “God like I tried to follow a process of elimination. It certainly cannot be a syllogism, the result of reasoning that God loves me? How can I be sure I live, what I feel, what I want, what it means to feel loved, I can’t really grasp this: How can I say makes me the protagonist of my own life and gives me pleasure. Well, if I think about my life, how this, acknowledge to that says then do, what is important for me to do, is to “acknowledge and accept” that He loves me. Fr. Giussani subs have I that is, that “am,” I that adds He fact. clear a as this says he and us, loves God that states Giussani Fr. line. first the past get can’t I but twice, it on work to group Community of School my asked the knows one no that me to seems it which to and I have a question that have received. been a only being Good evening everyone! Let’s start our work on the text of School Community that tonight, despite Glory Be Decision,” World Reference Alberto, and S. J.Prades, text:L.Giussani, • •
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pp. 68 few pages long, is packed with substantive content, as shown by the contributions the by shown as content, substantive with packed is long, pages few - Queen’s University Press tance, only because God loves me. He emphasizes that what I have been asked to asked been have I what that emphasizes He me. loves God becauseonly tance, Notes from School of Community with FatherCarrón ofCommunity Notes School Julián from — -
70. actually, I have a series of questions via video connectionvia video December from Milan, 16,2020
e, even though I am surrounded by friends, maybe even good friends. — ? to really acknowledge it, in action, not in not action, in it, acknowledge really to
that that He loves me? What must I “acknowledge and accept”? , 2010,chapter 7,“ 2,point 1
answers. I read and reread point 7 and also and 7 point reread and read I answers. Generating Traces in theHistoryGenerating ofthe Traces in — to which I really don’t know the answers g, “God loves me because he gives me me gives he because me loves “God g, ence that loves you. Then it becomes — things go wrong or go differently go or wrong go things
Responsibility and Responsibility
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an be Jesus — is what is es es - © 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation same way, you can see whether you have ever felt loved by God in your life. If you have not not have you If life. your in God by loved felt ever have you whether see can you way, same s be To looking! Keep look. to is it, if you don’t recognize it as you live your life, no one can generate it. The only thing to do, then, embraced, and forgiven. Everything we have seen is a sign of this event. If one has not recognized as we saw of study our for granted, because it is exactly by in virtue of an event that we can year, recognize that “we are loved” this during why That’s ourselves. Generating Traces it produce cannot we us, by created cannotChristianity be a bigbusiness! would be and it them, tolove someone who are for looking can’t make them fall in love by reasoning I love, in fall doesn’t someone If loved. is who someone by experienced feelings the on or love, signs of her love, I cannot be the one to convince you that she loves you by giving you a lesson on doesn’t mom your If yourself. by them produce can’t you them, find don’t you If you. loves God that signs find you if see to path same the follow to have you So faces. some through couldn’ he something into running rather, but him, moved that reasoning wasn’t It life. his all Christianity about heard Azurmendi like someone of Think difficulty. your perceived this love for yourself? Why are you a you which through sign some of front in life, your in jolt a such experienced ever you Have 68). want you 6:67 life”(cf.Jn fill that wordshave you Only go?we “Do“Where you?”can Ilove sure Aren’tyou them: provoked Jesus when them for love His about question the insist I loved.” h her, for good a are you much how you shows she which through you, to it shows she which through signs see love: it manifests itself through certain signs. You can’t photograph your mom’s love, but you can us. If this isn’t possible, then you would be right. Chr for love God’s love, Jesus’s recognize to come and present the in journey same the make can we loves you. This is the same journey that the disciples made with Jesus. So, the question is whether that certainty the reach you until you, to dedication passionate mother’s your of all perceive you gestures certain in limitations, her all despite fact, In limitations. her see you when question reason through this do not do You Yes. You lookat yourgivesyou,don’t the signs mom you? does and… she what on based me, at looks she how and me of care takes she that fact the on based it know I loves you? Why wouldyouhugher when youdon’t know I wouldhugher. to saywithcertaintyyour motherWhat loves it? verify thatyou? wouldyoudoto you can say that your mother loves you. How can you say that for sure? What do you do to be able my relationship, every in friend. exists The key question, of before speakwe talk you about other things, difficulty is whether, The when you love. g her of certain less you make the result of reasoning a
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because because we have been chosen, preferred, made capable of a new kno — ow much you are truly loved. This makes it easier for you to recognize that “I am am “I that recognize to you for easier it makes This loved. truly are you much ow
it is the same path that the disciples followed. At one point, they had to answer to had they point, one At followed. disciples the that path same the is it , w , t avoid, something irreducible to his own thoughts: a presence that met him met presencethat a thoughts: own his to irreducible something avoid, t e have seen that it all starts with an event. In point 7, Fr. Giussani takes this this In Fr.Giussanitakes with anevent.7, point all starts e thatit seen have nd nd is not even a feeling, and the fact that she may have limitations doesn’t ure of your mother’s love, you need to look at the signs. In the the In signs. the at look to need you love, mother’s your of ure ing or by having a feeling, and it is not something that you that something not is it and feeling, a having by or ing — if that yet whetherHow she lovesyou?doyouknowshe Christian? Why are you here tonight? I understand 2
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© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation why we ‘are.’” This statement is really “original,” in the sense that it refers to the origin, but how respite, a liberation in the exaltation of my person: “We have been loved and we are loved: this is tangled in the ball of wool), or to look at the School of Communi more and more cat, the(like out way a finding withouthappening, is what for blame” “to is who are onl Faced with increasingly complicated and problematic situations in significant relationships, there invitesSchool ofCommunity us. the which to affective work the precisely an is this Realizing inmeasure. your following by temptation succeed can’t you the us, for has another w what measuring by us for has another that love that the judge to is relationship love the to open continuously being of risk a is there that say reducin You see. can you as certainty, to road the of part is risk this because you have moved away from what the School of Community proposes. Don’t be frightened, though, use your measure to verifyto your attempts that aren continue will you this, follow and acknowledge don’t you If you. loves who someone is you. Has this ever happened to you? This is what constantly challenges you: even if you fail, there is to find a person next to you who, despite your attempts and your own measure, c attempts. Yet, your attempts aren’t what can introduce you to a discovery of being loved. The point (p. 68). At some point, Do you see the shift you made? You began with Fr. Giussani’s “we are loved: this is why we ‘are’” meansto askyourecognizeto betterunderstandit to somewhat for you help that are loved. anything, not even a moment of difficulty like the one I more up to the stature of the desire I have within me; I want to live fully and I don’t want to dismiss a c become like I attempts; my only verifyI end in theperceive, I and what tonarrows of life horizon the Then them. imagined I like aren’t that relationships circumstancesand in moments dark with to my measure, and so first of all cannot ho to my perception. This is terrible because then everything, even the way I look at myself, is reduced out in light of this recognition. The risk I is see life is my that in of reducingeverything (even that unknowingly) sense my I being becauseloved me, to means this what understand better to Community group, everyone recounted episodes in which they felt loved, and I realized that I want acceptin and acknowledging ‘law’: fundamental and first this by judged are [...], action, in “expressed Being of mystery the being. our tha suggests but well,” are “we reason this for and loved are we that say it does nor loved, “feel” we that say doesn’t it because ‘are,’” we why is this loved: are we haveand “Weloved been says, it whenstrikes medecision,” and 7, “Responsibility Point too.Maybeifyoulookclosely.signs Bestwishes in even tonight, see to start will you maybe attention, pay you if that but see, people other something of because pay and it atten for pray ask; to begin has, who someone see you when struck are but this perceived hild whohild ishaving a tantrum. Instead, I want to be agrown tion to those who have perceived the signs of His love. I am not saying you have to believe to have you saying not am I love. His of signs the perceived have who those to tion y two possibilities: to continue to analyze the problem from all points of view, trying to see g being loved to the way you look at yourself, to your measure. Many times, instead of instead times, Many measure. your to yourself, at look you way the to loved being g The text says that the moral law and morality, our being commensurate concretely to to concretely commensurate being our morality, and law moral the that says text The
however, you reduced everything to your own measure, verifying only your g to be loved” (p. 68) (p. loved” be to g
ld because at a certain point this measure is confronted ’t adequate for your life. It is the demonstration that 3
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© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation something irreduciblesomething thatprevents from us allowing thecommon mentality to with faced constantly are we where this like place a is it history, in presence this is Christianity continued tolove you best. It motherwho, intheface as byyour is ifyouhad sidenonsense your your and measures, of what’s losing and text the up gobbling from us prevents that present the in presence irreducible help each other move beyond our measure. We can do what of the promise. That is why it is helpful to do School of Community together fulfillmentthe see to begins canhe shifted, be to oneselfallows one as soon as Yet, shifted. be to say the things you have said. The problem is that one can read the text and not allow one’s positio seriously at least once; otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to formulate your contributions or mea Your Community. evening of this School the here of presence work the doing of ways possible two have we that means This humanity. our of exaltation, an liberation, a experience to and living are we circumstances anyone with spouse, their with or children their with grasp this, the test offered by the School of Community pursuing her andnotfollowingthe own attempts AsSchool ofCommunity. soonasone begins to have continued to think that she was doing the work of School of Community, would while she acting, she of wa way usual our from away us redirects that place a in here be to opportunity redirec constantly that place t of lookatopportunity to something else.crucial Thisis because ifthere presence, isno ifthere isno promise the and is navel This our blame. contemplating to is who out find to have always we another chance, rather Yet, than continuing to beat ourselves up becauseon. we fail in our attempts andso try and friends, children, husbands, with relationships significant and ourattempts, but Christ, which areis not face fail to andofcircum the meant holdin can’t shift from reading one thing to verifying another, and what we verify t is do not to faith, is how not of Christianity, example an is This see come Aboutthe rest, uniquegift. will this we tocontemplate canI point certain a at that so text,this in this repeating of nevertires movement that the for and myagain in story, reaching me inaconcrete me to given is He Him. recognize may I that so again present becomes He way? my lost, losing from getting from me prevent to again,” flesh becomes word “the than communicate to live, to mo somethinghave I Do me? in becomeflesh to words) (His words these myself be provoked and persuaded by such a beautiful Christmas wish? Can I not beg the Lord for fr us, to live with me and to speak to me in a familiar way with His words […] drawn from the eternal, season, like the thestarof Magi. School The Community of says, “[He]tocome decided amongst ot in lost get to need the have not and breathes when it recognizes You, Lord, do I, in the fiber of my body, of my being, tend toward heart You, my that fact the of aware become I when Only them? of any enjoying without things many worse, even gives me a restlessness tells that me Or, I’m alive only because, like Martha empty? in heart my leaves and me satisfy doesn’t what of off live to try I do Why many times do I n om the depths of Being in whom he has made me share”(p. 68). What can I do besides letting besides do I can What 68). share”(p. me made has he whom in Being of depths the om ot realize this! If I am already loved, why don’t I see it? Why am I so distracted?
and challenge you with her presence, just as Jesus challenged the disciples. presence, challenged thedisciples. as challenge just Jesus youwith her and ts us, we are finished. If our friend who spoke earlier hadn’t had the the had hadn’t earlier spoke who friend our If finished. are we us, ts what we can do according to our measure, we are given the the given are we measure, our to according do can we what s ht o hv al oe h wr o Sho o Community of School of work the done all have you that ns he work of School of Community. As we saw earlier, we can we earlier, saw we As Community. of School of work he her things. Your promise is close to me during this Advent this during me to close is promise Your things. her
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patience s really stances n © 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation the enhancement aspect “I.” of every ofour parameters without even realizing it. For this reason, let’s now see the rest of the chapter in action: us affect don’t Community of School the only in this way can I truly understand what it means to be loved. Otherwise, friends, the words of whole “I” in its depths, it must put to work and awaken every aspect of the being that I am because the in Christian fact! For this reason, exalted it is not enough enhanced,that there is the fact. The is fact must “I” whole My affection. My enhancing? He is what Himself, to me I don’t want to miss i when I recognize this? My reason, which allows me to recognize it. When I join the event, because enhanced is What freely. breathe I when exalted is heart My heart. My me? in enhanced exalted, being experience I When me? to corresponds it whether verify I can what With it? recognize I do How it. acknowledge and love this of aware become I is “the” great problem.God’s love isafact, and“the” great response, problemismy which isthat fundame is highlighted you point the why is That continuous. is me for love God’s if even it, recognize don’t I humanity, my of all with involved get don’t I if But exalted. are me inside enhances Christianity respond. Ieverything need tobe inorder and it of aware become I that is, that answer, my is problem,” great “the issue, The problem. the not is this so fact, a is It said. contribution first the as fact, a is to continues Mystery the that initiative the show that arise signs of deluge a signs many through us to out reaches He see, can you As initiative. di Mystery The loved. are We it. realize to time need sometimes children many and it, realize don’t I if even me loves mother My not. or it realize you whether it, That’s am. I therefore loved, am I loved. am I Do you see? What the first contribution said is true willpower. Can you help me understand more deeply this “enhancement”? Thank you very d much. I If me. to clear completely not is understand this step that well, the risk is substituting an exaltation of intuition my humanity with an effort of my an with step this dismiss to I want Him. don’t of aware become can I that so origin, my at me in created He what of enhancement the answer my is In the School of Community I read that “if I ‘am’ because I am loved, then the great problem […] corresponds wewant: tobeloved. webegin “be” Andso what to inadifferent to way. dif a introduced that Presence a always was they wanted to determine who was the greatest among them, they discussed everything and convert didn’t who Samaritans the on descend to heaven from fire wanted they example, for same mistakes we make, it isn’t that they didn’t shift their attention to w disciples were able toexperience intheir relationship Jesus. with It that isn’t they didn’tmake the of School helpedalways has of work this doing you are Community? To be able to breathe, Why to feel truly loved. So, only if we walk this expectation. path structural our with correspondence i What life. in happens what again see to begin will we Him, follow we if that us promised has Christ Christ! need not would we do, we what on based life in succeed could we If do). can he what on based himself measures everyone which to — my an my dn’t ask us for our permission to love us, He sent His Son and continues to take to continues and Son His sent He us, love to permission our for us ask dn’t us on this journey like no one else one no like journey this on us t, what is the Christian fact enhancing? My freedom. And when Christ “glues” swer to the You the to swer come aware ofHim: allthe potential of my “I,” all thegifts I have
who loves me” (p. 68), my experience of correspondence, correspondence, of experience my 68), (p. me” loves who and as a result we continue to live according to other other to according live to continue we result a as and
ferent way of looking at everything. We see that this that see We everything. at looking of way ferent s the sign that we are on the path He indicates? A A indicates? He path the on are we that sign the s 5
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© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation which his care for his students, his concern that they feel “that someone is waiting for them” for waiting is someone emerged. In “that fact, my daughter describes him feel as a teacher who really cares they about them. He studies that concern his students, his for care his which happened to me. A few days ago I that something from this understood I story. a from born is it because nothing from come to has decision (I can always say no), but the origin is an affection. It isn’t that every morning my fel decision Peter that sympathy human and tenderness that tenderness, a from comes one decides. who I think that what he wants tohighlight here is where thedecision comes from: it ultimately I act said, an act of will an were it if as mistaken is 68 decide”(pp. to one the were I if determine,as decision freedom’s of thinking of way our often correspond as acknowledged is that Presence the of front the on stuck little a got point, this isexpressedfreedom’s in “responsibility says as decisionFr. Giussani that decision freedom. for on working in too, I, fact. simple a of context the in have, I Has anyone discovered the connection between being loved and changing and been amazed by it? the measure blocks me, ties me to the “already known”; I realize that there is a step to be taken, otherwise only even though I think I know that the necessary decision is not an act of will. Confirming what I read I change, never I at my a always makelike same Iam this mistakes, still the dissatisfaction: of state perpetual a create that stubbornly up show problem good. and right all seems which read, I what confirm to led am I short, can say that it is better to give in to an attraction, a sympathy, than to pursue personal succes I effort, my of burden the ease they because liberating them find I that say can I agree, I that say the voluntary sense (as being synonymou in taken be cannot decision “The 70). (p. will” of act strong a not is decision the of nature “The not change. That’s exactly right, so let’s see! But first there are others who have the same issue wonder mustoneexperience because he loved feels for me. My problem is beingthat loved and knowing that I am loved doesn’t change my life. What love of gesture a is it that think me make doesn’t it but really, gift, this for Lord the thank I Him. even in Yet, the evident.face of so this and fact, us I to am close always so the become one has who and decides, person and I this take of responsibility hold for taken fo has who Christ, of f priest withmeeting a event a to thanks great a of part be to grace the had we Recently, I would like to have a deep awareness of this love of which I am the object, and I will explain why. but that doesn’t change my life. I can’t see the magnitude of it. But now links Giussani responsible for it. Being loved is very beautiful, but not so Fr. decisive for my life. I mean, I feel loved, why understand can’t a start and married I behind. fallen get I example: For willpower. of matter a is had responsibility me, For loved. being to responsibility I realized I Community, of As I worked on point 7, I realized that I couldn’t f
of my limitations remains. What is this remains. Whatis dowe step andhow take Thank you.of myit? limitations . It seems to me that there is a subtle misconception the about fact that I am the family and this means taking responsibility. I do something at work and I am I and work at something do I responsibility. taking means this and family riend of ours (who died just over a month ago). We are in front in areWe monthago). a over just (whodied ours ofriend had an meeting with the teacher of one myof daughters, during s with willpower)” (p. 69). Faced with these words, I can 6 – ollow ollow in Fr. Giussani’s footsteps. During School
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© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation omt yef” n s o. hs ofss e bi a hasit that sayyou could so gift, free mea thereforealso and grace of fruit the all above is described confuses This on. so and myself,” commit “I choose,” “I like expressions with do to nothing has imperceptibly, me into seeped therefore this definition of freedom that, contrary to what is always proposed to us to believe, and which has its insuppressible need to be happy bit in the sense that just as I thought I had understood how the relationship between my “I” decision “The and 70), (p. him” springs forth as the in esta birth to brought been had but him, on depend not did that friendship a was it Peter “For and 69), (p. willpower” with synonymous […] be cannot decision w ‘your say, to decide […] I that] [and […] mistaken is decision freedom’s of thinking of way our often too “all including on, reflecting are we point the in passages some by struck was I decision. and freedom about something say to want also I aspect“I” ofthe enhanced, be isnot can nothing every If man. of enhancement the exaltation, the again, is, Here (ibid.). ” free is man and man for some with it in participate which not beginsbecause aof[your] here]implies yours, decision responsibility, it heaven is do you if [ heaven So, homework]. you], her doing enjoy not will for [she yours not is harder it then responsibility, is what [not you attracts what or attractio that with engage doesn’t she if follow, doesn’t she [if responsible not are you “Ifpresent. is missing!] are wewhat school at follows she response this in is it fact, In life. taste to able be not will you sidelines, the from watch just you If attraction. an of front in has one that 68) (p. [the outcome the assures must […] person “Responsibility crucial: is states Giussani Fr. what why is That changed because of the love he feels for the girl, the only thing that can move the center of his “I.” tim In changed. has he that notices well, very him knows who mother, his him, to no say will girl the if Even love. in falls who shortcomings many with kid the of example the gives Giussani Fr. lives. our changes what is This homework. her do answer the make doesn’t this And enhancesand mechanical, exalts but herself. toward feels she that esteem of judgment the from in big trouble if am “I moving: get to opportunity an misses never attraction, an of front in standing she, Instead, at will because surprise that attraction seems too the weak to move her, is you would find yourself change in front of a Instead, wall. wa you change. If attraction. an the following happens that making something ones the are we that think we because thatwe is get godeeper,aresimple! Thestuck becausethings point so to No, no,thereneed isno you togodeeper this into an by attraction, an by generated is but effort, an not is openness our Therefore, move. you that, like unexpected something is there hours school your of is waiting for you, you get up in the morning and you are on time fo trouble! My daughter has the perception that he is someone who is waiting for her, and if someone h is subjects with passion and any student who doesn’t do the homework, his homework, is in in is homework, his homework, the do doesn’t who student any and passion with subjects is
be involved because it cannot be mechanical] of an experience of correspondence” correspondence” of experience an of mechanical] be cannot it because involved be I don’t do my homework!” Where does this change come from? From being loved, — blishment of a sympathy” (ibid). Reviewing these passages threw me off a that “the main [pay attention!] source of zest for life” [we don’t realize realize don’t [we life” for zest of source attention!] [pay main “the that n] within what gives you pleasure [not what doesn’t give you pleasure], pleasure], you give doesn’t what [not pleasure you gives what within n] point.
— and the Mystery who alone can fulfill it “works,” all her freedom, all her affection, and draws her affection, allher and freedom, all her — like that of your da your of that like 7 come ours.come
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, like that of Peter. I would like would I Peter. of that like , ughter, drawn by the attraction the by drawn ughter, r class — and if in the grayness
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here comes heaven heaven — with © 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation following the meeting. In the evening I wrote to her asking if she stayed connected until the end. end. the until connected stayed she if asking her to wrote I evening the In meeting. the following a disconnect to had I so home, at problem a had I Then true!” is says she what that see can You Italian. not is she though even say to has she what well so express can she how amazing to started point Mireille one at Then and speak, interesting.” is saying is her, he answered “What I replied, son. She woman’s Vittadini.” the “Giorgio invited had who know didn’t I but connected, actually was parti of list the checked I mine. of onein with is class daughter youngest her because her know only I and GS, to go doesn’t son her movement, the in not is lady this because confused, little a was I speaking?” is who gentleman the is “Who a me wrote students my of one of mother the speaking, was them of one While by Giorgio Vittadini and Mireille from Cameroon concerning the AVSI Christmas Tents initiative. On Friday at t our in collaborates and ismade. therefore nodecision Mystery the dynamic, this Through salvation adherence. our eliciting us, among an flesh becomeonly has that name, a is face, a on taken it has that grace this becauseevening, this here all are we If ours. and freedom their of all aroused that flesh made histor into burst event Christian the when happened what of reflection pale a just is This most. the freedom your your moved what is grace,overwhelming this of gift, this of presence Theclear? this Is attractiveness. provoked else nothing wife, your become would who woman the met you when that is point the Instead freedom. is it or grace is it either that think We freedom? your what wasit sparked freedom, alternative or toyour Oh! an this Was Oh, verymuch! Have thegrace youreceived lov ofbeing inanymy which willpower, caseand isneverenough, a tome loves anwho You the to answer my entrusting of mistake the make not not I can How expression? sympathy a of grace the is sense what In you for help with this with the following two questions (which have already been addressed a bit): has position this asking I am answer . my toregret Inever had thosecircumstances, but take of difficulty away the that say must I happy. therefore overcome the thousand objections and fears that inevitably accompanied these moments. I and myself, more become to opportunity if that meaning I moments, Him to closely more adhere could I that so happier, be life my of what I can do to myimprove adherence to Him. Yet, if I look at my story in some crucial moments have to work harder,” “I still betray too many times,” “I u am still weak,” I and which so yes, my on, on making dependent me still are question following and adherence companionship our signs th little to do with my decision to adhere to the Mystery present in reality. The problem is not that the at He is present are lacking: in my daily experience and in the testimonies offered to us by — — — without the establishment of this attraction, of this sympathy, freedom does not move not does freedom sympathy, this of attraction, this of establishment the without when it was more obvious more was it when and my friends know this know friends my and he Radius meeting of GS (the group of CL high school students) there were witnesses
y. When the disciples met Christ, when we met the Christian event, it was grace grace was it event, Christian the met we when Christ, met disciples the When y. I said no it would be something less for my humanity, that I would give up an up give would I that humanity, my for less something be would it no said I — if I stop to look at them at look to stop I if
the lady wrote to me again, saying, “This woman is beautiful, and it is it and beautiful, is woman “This saying, again, me to wrote lady the
that what was happening to me was for me, so that I could I that so me, for was me to happening was what that — instead of saying yes, asked, “How can I not say yes?” say not I can “How asked, yes, saying of instead ed?
— 8 it is true that it is easy to recognize Him. But Him. recognize to easy is it that true is it
cipants in the meeting and saw that my student my that saw and meeting the in cipants freedom like her presence, her beauty, her her beauty, her presence, her like freedom traie o reo, u rte is fullest its rather but freedom, to lternative — as we can see — when I was asked to follow in those in follow to asked was I when — nderstand to mean that “I “I that mean to nderstand is weak? is d continues to dwell to continues d
message asking, message nd stop nd t didn’t t didn’t © 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation rationality, according to Fr. Giussani? In John and Andrew. John and Andrew were glued to Jesus of apex the reach you where know you Do reality. to openness that total a as sympathy nature its and to according friendship is it why is That measure. to reason reducingfrom you prevents that affection Itis reasonwell. using be wouldn’t she teacher, herfor hap as it, from himself detaching of instead felt, he affection the follow to had he measure, a becoming from reason prevent To reason? and affection between relationship the is What saw. he what to using Azurmendi, for b did not only reasona not certain way in fact, In him.” for case the not was this understand I book, Azurmendi’s seems to block my ability to fully experience an affection for Christ,” but then you added, “Reading You identified a crucial question, dearest friend, and you expressed it with the everything entreaty. canan become my mind. Thank you for helping me not censor anything of myself and for the fact that in this place that me to seems It event”? an is “rationality that mean and affection make a I places he met, the more his affection seemed to grow. In him reason and affection go hand and in people hand. the in saw he what understand and explain, describe, to reason applied he more The an experience fully to ability Azurmen Reading Christ. my for affection block to seems reason My year?” next stability finds life my as you have always wanted.” Then I ask myself about the future: “What should I do to ensure that have don’t still you and old yearsmany 26 are howYou have. people these at flaws look instead and companionship, large a with city big a in live to wanted always re kids GS the in and students my in arise that questions the follow to desire my Community, of School my with dialogue in for look I actions, I can’t deny that there is a point of affection that starts from an encounter I had. The truth my at look I If me. for suffocating bit a friends, of companionship small my and school, small my my find often I lately because you ask I 70)? (p. event” an is rationality [...] sympathy, deep a into turns that generated is relationship a “where that mean it does What you toth attaches that reason of manifestation a reason,an of or phenomenon a attachment was It sentimental phenomenon. emotional a of because wasn’t it mother, that For end. the until connection a for arises that sympathy this of grace The described. been has it way the in happens which event, Christian the of simplicity the being drawn by them, remaining glued to the video until the end. The last ones to arrive document str two of front herselfin found simplypeople; sheknow to get to class a take didn’t She her? to unknown totally people two these to lady that glued What see? you Do Peter,happened andeven Azurmendi, me. with Thank you.” I was very surprised, because it seemed to end. the until listened and stayed I testimony. moving and intense an was “It me, answered She ason then takes over, which gives way to an objection: “This cannot be everything; you have you everything; be cannot “This objection: an to way gives which over, takes then ason m so jealous! I understand that rationality cannot correspond to my thoughts, but how can I can how but thoughts, my to correspond cannot rationality that understand I jealous! so m — all of this speaks to me of a sympathy for something that ultimately determines me. Yet, me. determines ultimately that something for sympathy a of me to speaks this of all pens to you. If the daughter of our friend who spoke earlier broke away from her affection affection her from away broke earlier spoke who friend our of daughter the If you. to pens e ofyou. person Yet, infront we sometimes hard findthis tounderstand,don’t we?
sympathy, which I also see in me, become one with my reason? What does it it does What reason? my with one become me, in see also I which sympathy,
coworkers, the time I spend preparing for Christmas Eve with my with Eve Christmas for preparing spend I time the coworkers,
person then leads one to adhere, to not turn off the video video the off turn not to adhere, to one leads then person di’s book, I understand that this was not the case for him. for case the not was this that understand I book, di’s lock this ability, but he was able to stick more stick moreable and buthewas ability, to lock this
9
me the same dynamic of the beginning that rationality is something that comes from comesfrom that something is rationality
ae u ue esn well, reason use us makes angers and couldn’t avoid couldn’tangers and a stable job and a family, a and job stable a
small town, my work in work my town, small
words, “My reason
© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation (even after twenty years during which she hasn’t gone to the gatherings of the community) through how many coats of glue must have been added and continue to be added to m aboutthoughtI aword!Then saying andwithout bed her in mothermy to happened exactly what (therefo Him for had he esteem the by explained was that adherence of and tenderness of chain whole a ofemergence, surfacing the the was It man. Simon, the ‘decision’of a of result northe willpower value”(p of judgment a is it since you, but a phenomenon of reason, a manifestation of that reason phenomenon, that emotional ‘attaches’ an you attachment, to sentimental the a person not before was “It Peter: about says Community everything followed She mother. my ago, we had the Fraternity Advent retreat (also via video connection), which I participated in Day, with Beginning the at watching on becaus insistence your echoes This fail! not does tired, grow not does heart her years, twenty for bedridden been has she Although excuses! no are There me! to gesture of the heart that experien a but reality, about opinion an of formulation intellectual an not is judgment a itthat clearbecame moment, that At judgment.” a is “This thought, I tears. to moved was she as even (!), sing to La Strada our liked she that me struck It eve The EncuentroMadrid.the during singing of evening an organized Spain from friends our weeksago, few A condition. health a to due years twenty for retreats or exercises the in participate to able working on in the School of Community. M I wanted to tell you about two episodes involving my mom that I connected to the point we are now to Christianity reduce inwhichitwouldsituation seem impossible. ultimately we witnessed all you as knowledge, fact, of kind new sentimentality and reason to rationalism. Instead, Fr. Giussani’s genius is to follow experience. In a promotes continuously (as event present no is there if something), know divided. are We see? you Do affection. Therefore, if there that is nothing that facilitates the unity of our of “I” (which is the only way results to properly the from himself detaching by it the about and something to affectively himself attach cannot One measure. own one’s using attempts one’s only verify to continue and away turn book, Azurmendi’s finishing after second the rule, great the is this that realize must We rationality. is that it, following of point the to fact a of admiration by all the characteristics of an absolutely rational man, allows all of his reason beto dilated, widened anintelligent p Instead, that see the rationalist we when mentality. are, after all, rationalists, and we always overlook the element of affection, which is an obstacle to person, whom to reason their allowed Him, to glued expand being their Him, for affection their speak, Him Seeing them allowed this and afternoon, all e yourself letting begenerated step, and passesthis through becomes affection. Afewdays — nt was presented online because of the health emergency, and I watched it with my mom. mom. my with it watched I and emergency, health the of because online presented was nt re it was an act of reason), which meant his only answer could be be could answer only his meant which reason), of act an was it re , which our friends made us all sing together with Benedetto C according to its true nature as openness as nature true its to according they didnotleave whyreason again. is exist apart That doesn’t from affection. We
great suggested method that the charism offers us for our journey. One can, a can, One journey. our for us offers charism the that method suggested great , if one simply follows the charism, then everything happens, even in a a in even happens, everything then charism, the follows simply one if , Fado ces a correspondence in the path of grace, as my mom witnessed , but what really moved her was the last song of the evening, the of song last the was her moved really what but , — to leave his home saying, “We have found the Messiah.” Messiah.” the found have “We saying, home his leave to lesson and assembly! I am str am I assembly! and lesson . 69), and then: “Peter’s yes was neither the result of of result the neither was yes “Peter’s then: and 69), . y mother belongs to the Fraternity, but she hasn’t been
10
— we studied in the School of Community) that Community) of School the in studied we to include the totality of the reality of that of reality the of totality the include to erson like Azurmendi, who has Azurmendi, whohas erson like uck by what the School of School the what by uck hieffo. My mom also tried y mother’s experience yes .” (p. 70). This is is This 70). (p. .” n reason n © 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation can take advantage of this opportunity forcan opportunity aadvantage more few take ofthis days. ended promotion The price. good Satur until very open kept a been has at but yesterday friend a to subscription a give to opportunity the the joined have people Many treasure). drive: subscription Traces This easilycan readable text helpa usthateducation is show permanent ofthe dimension person. for theLaunch ofthe GlobalCompact onEducation humanity fraternal more a of sake the for relationships “ to able individuals” mature “form to order in Francis Pope by desired pact” ultimately the wayis we a this self”; one’s of communication a is “Education said, Giussani Fr. As on. rest we that is it what are, we who express we make we move every in educators because way some in fact,are in evening from a number contributions, that education is not a We propose everyone bookto this well, we as because perceived know we already have even this One’s Self entitled Paolo, San Edizioni Book of the month the World secondthe of 8 point on work will we month This 2021, at p.m. 9:00 School of Community to the it possible makes to follow the what event even is after twenty This years spent in bond. bed, still able that to see from life change in themselves you free to them for impossible it making added, and Peter glued that judgment a glue, like was that judgment a attachment, an became that judgment a but sentimental, something not was astonishment initial Peter’s said, you As 70). (p. ” Him for had he esteem the by explained was tendernes of chain whole a of “surfacing the is it Peter, for as but, effort, your mother from experiencing that jolt that gives rise to her yes; it does not involve a superhuman dearest you, Thank and realThank you. father. concrete, familiar, increasingly an becoming is that You a of front in “I” say, to circumstances, again, to challenge the nothingness of all my ideas, projects, and opinions, and even the weight of take to possibility new a involves It freedom. my to offered be to continues that good us to happens addr being are I which feel things, by Iam these am scandalized, provoked butbecause I becausenot saying this am I back? us hold can What lacking? still is think you can What object? you can How well! as this at that so Jesus, with relationship m sympathy profound personal this moment unexpected her in family, her and friendships many her
point point of being moved to tears. This is the promise Christ makes to us, no matter our situation. , entitled “TheConcreteForm of Is theElection inTime.” theTemple ), available also as), available an also e — essed to me, as your company provokes me, Julián, to look at everything that that everything at look to Julián, me, provokes company your as me, to essed even this mysterious and painful period of the pandemic the of period painful and mysterious this even
. The book of the month for January will be my text on education, published by
friend. No condition, not even being bedridden for twenty years, can prevent can years, twenty for bedridden being even not condition, No friend. . The next School of will beCommunity held on ffect the world in which we live and how we contribute to the “educational
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© 2020 Fraternity of Communion and Liberation Veni Merry toeveryone! Christmas that attractswe loseit. adhere towhich don’t us, sothat we revolve around our effort to achieve something, but instead draw on the simplicity of an encounter we have heard in some of today’s witnesses humanity, because Christmas, after all, simplifies everything Giussani chisaid a as small as fact A everything. drives that affection the in supported be we that and willpower, our of efforts the on rely to choose not we that ask We oblivion. absolute amo presence His of aware become to us to offers Mystery the opportunity an as time this live we Therefore, in. drawn be can we that presence real a of front in are we when is it evening, this seen have we that desire of full mind of simplicity the with attentive, and ready us find days these that Lady Our ask we so Christmas, to close now are We Sancte Spiritus — ng us because if there were no concrete human reality we would live in the most the in live would we reality human concrete no were there if because us ng amazes and captivates us because it is able to intercept and correspond to our whole
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