Every 11th August, on the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi, Chiara Lubich would reflect on the life of St. Clare of Assisi, using these moments as a reminder to return to the essentials of her own calling. Her words, when read today, offer a powerful guide for our divided world and its longing for peace.
The Radical Choice of God
In her message on 11th August, 1987, in Mollens, Switzerland, Chiara recalled how St. Francis of Assisi asked Clare, “My child, what do you want?” and Clare replied with the simple, unwavering answer: “God.” This was a radical, all-encompassing choice that Chiara saw as reflecting the foundational experience of the Focolare Movement. Chiara stated that the Movement’s single choice during wartime Trent was also “God,” and that “we do it by choosing the way of unity.” This choice of God, she explained, means placing Him first, not just as an idea, but by living His will in every moment.
Fidelity to a Charism that Heals Division
On 11th August, 1989, Chiara invited the Movement to imitate Clare’s steadfastness. She pointed out that while St. Clare was faithful to her charism of poverty, the Focolare Movement’s charism is unity. This fidelity to unity requires concrete choices like dialogue over suspicion, forgiveness over resentment and shared action for the common good. Chiara often suggested that this unwavering commitment can help us to be like small bridges of peace in a fractured society.
Mirrors that Multiply Light
On 11th August, 2002, Chiara reflected on St. Clare’s beautiful image of looking at Christ “as into a mirror.” She explained that by fixing one’s eyes on the “mirror of eternity,” we can be “totally transformed in the image of his divinity.” For Chiara, this creates an “uninterrupted chain of mirrors.” Each person, by reflecting Christ’s love, can radiate reconciliation and hope, multiplying peace in places where it seems impossible.
A Courageous Word for Today
In a time of deepening violence and division, these messages from Chiara and St. Clare resonate with prophetic power. They remind us that choosing God and unity is not a passive or “soft” spirituality. Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant’Egidio Community who collaborated closely with Chiara, often greeted her on the feat of “Santa Chiara”. His words, recently published in New City, echo the call to work for peace: “Peace is not for cowards. It is for the brave.” These messages show that true courage lies in resisting hatred, choosing God above all, living unity faithfully, and daring to mirror Christ’s love into a world in need of peace.