LETTERS

LETTERS

From Syria to Russia:
something good for me
When I lived in Syria, before the recent tragic events, I had a beautiful relationship with Jesus, Whom I met through my family, my children, and my wife. I lived in the Lord and I noticed His loving presence in my life, in my family, and in my work as a medical doctor. I worked a lot, because I wanted to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, and convey His compassion to the sick people for whom I cared. Terrorism destroyed everything, and replaced bonds of affection with anxiety, fear, and a sense of loss. As an outcome, evil and egotism could have become the rule in every human relationship. We lost everything, including any possibility of dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Relying on my faith–according to which, after death comes the resurrection–I prayed to the Lord to grant me the strength and the patience I needed to face this circumstance and the inability of the human mind to find a way out. I knew that His ways were not my ways, so I said, “Let Your will be done.  It’s better for me, and I am more serene.” I had plans to come back to Italy to further my scientific studies, but the difficult situation of my country vanquished any possibility to do that. Instead, a new path appeared in front of me: Russia. I asked God to show me the good that was in store for me, if this was what He wanted. According to His will, I met members of the Movement three months after my arrival in Moscow. Up to that moment, I lived in darkness, fear, and with a sense of loss. The first CL encounter happened on February 23, 2012. I didn’t know anything about them, except that they were a group of people getting together in the name of the Lord. I kept attending the weekly meetings but, due to my poor Russian, I only had mediocre conversations. Nonetheless, with them I felt safe and loved. This gave me strength, and I started following them. At the same time, a question began to form in my mind, brought about by my natural inclination to consider the lack of knowledge as a weakness: “What is more important for faith, knowledge or love?” I am inclined to love as well, so I decided to go on attending the meetings, despite my poor knowledge of the language. Because of my experience, I knew that a doctor who is lacking in knowledge but who loves his patient will do everything he can for him; while a doctor who is very knowledgeable but doesn’t care for his patient will not offer the same things. In the same way, after my journey with the Movement, I understood that true faith needs both knowledge and love. In fact, the doctor who loves his patient but is lacking in knowledge will not be able to heal him. Now I live in another city, with a new group of Movement friends. I often stop to consider who I once was, and who I am now. I have changed, like Zaccheus and the Samaritan woman.  Are my circumstances better or less challenging? No, they might even be harder than before. Then, what happened? The Movement taught me a new, realistic understanding of Christian life, and I learned how to face the difficulties of my own circumstances. I accepted the challenge of seeing the extraordinary way in which God participates in my life, and I keep accepting that challenge, in order to see His presence. The role of the Movement in my life could be compared to that of a therapeutic strategy for a doctor. Those guidelines show the doctor the fundamental steps to approach the patient, but the final and most important decisions have to be made by the doctor alone. Faith is the method that God gives us to discover and recognize His presence in our lives. If we follow this method, life changes: what is ugly becomes beautiful (like for the Samaritan woman); sadness turns into joy (Zaccheus); beauty and joy become something even greater (Mary, Mother of God.)
Soulaiman, Saint Petersburg (Russia)

A priceless freedom
in the face of disCOVERY
During our most recent event for Crossroads-Houston, we had the opportunity to present Dr. John Lienhard. He is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Houston, and the voice and author of “The Engines of Ingenuity,” a daily 3-minute show on National Public Radio that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity. Our first meeting with Dr. Lienhard was surprising:  while posting flyers at the University of Houston for another Crossroads event, a chance encounter with him soon turned into an hour-long conversation. During that time, we discussed our desire to share our passion for culture with the general public.  “Culture is not just for experts, but for everybody. It is part of our human desire,” we said. He replied, “Yes, but you have to have a question alive.” We are always attracted to people that reawaken this question in us, so we invited Dr. Lienhard to speak at one of our events! We proposed that he speak about the driving force behind discovery and invention, as we wanted to better understand the event of discovery. But Dr. Lienhard did not agree to the proposed topic, and at that point we were no longer in control of the event. At the same time, his reaction was a provocation to ask ourselves what we were looking for. What were we expecting? What was being asked of us? It was evident that there was a risk and that reality was imposing itself, it was given to us. Our curiosity increased and we decided to make space for what was in front of us. So, our response to Dr. Lienhard became a reaffirmation of our original impetus for the work of Crossroads and the source of our certainty. We gave total freedom to Dr. Lienhard with his topic, as we became more interested in his approach than in our “good ideas.” This placed us in a position of total poverty, openness, and curiosity.  We were more attentive to his words because it was all a surprise. Indeed, even our usual format was changed. There was no moderator, and Dr. Lienhard left about half of his speaking time for questions from the public, which turned into a wonderful one discussion unlike any we have ever had. The audience was very much attentive and engaged in the discussion. In responding to a question about the constant “need” for invention, Dr. Lienhard spoke about how invention and discovery begets more questions, and hence more need for invention and discovery.  “The tree of man is always restless. Discovery will never stop because this is what constitutes man,” he said. Lastly, Dr. Lienhard also spoke about the “stages of invention,” one of which is the need to share it with a trustworthy friend. In fact, Dr. Lienhard asserted that friendship is a necessary element for invention. Afterwards, we went for dinner, as is our tradition after every event. At the end of the evening, as we were thanking Dr. Lienhard for his time and his presentation, his wife asked, “What is Crossroads? What is your agenda?” We found ourselves surprisingly free to speak not only of our desire for knowledge and truth, but also about the origin of our curiosity being our encounter with Christ. In a very simple way, we expressed that we had no agenda other than the honest pursuit of the truth in all things.  This was also the reason for our fearlessness in front of any topic. At this point, Dr. Lienhard’s countenance changed, and with a warm smile conceding the sincerity and truth of our statements, he said, “This is so fascinating.” Having accepted the risk of trusting him instead of our ideas on how the event should have transpired, we found ourselves humble in front of it and in front of the dinner. This gave us a priceless freedom that is not attainable by possession, but simply by affirming that which is before us.
Francesca, Sergio, Eveline,
Houston (USA)

For a knight, “the
journey of life is a feast”
A few weeks into seventh grade, I was unhappy for a number of reasons, and I felt I was the loneliest girl on the face of the planet. One day, Eleonora, a schoolmate of mine with whom I had never talked before, invited me to a meeting and fieldtrip. When she told me it was going to be a beautiful experience, something that doesn’t happen to just anybody, I thought: “How can Eleonora know that I have been waiting for something like this all my life?” I accepted her invitation. The following Tuesday, we went together to the parish where the meeting was held. I entered the room, introduced myself to a very welcoming group of people, and I realized that I felt good being there with them. The day of the fieldtrip came along, and I was surprised to see how many among the Knights (that’s the name of the group proposing the Christian experience to middle school kids) were enthusiastic and excited; most of all I was struck by the tee-shirts that some of them were wearing, which read: “The journey of life is a feast.” I had found what I had been waiting for. The day was very beautiful, filled with songs and games, in which I shyly participated. With the passing of time, I became more and more attached to the Knights, to the point of feeling I could not do without them. December rolled around, and Maria Antonietta gave me the invitation to “the Promise” (a ceremony where the Knights make a commitment to follow Christ in their daily lives), which was entitled: “You are Magnificent.” Nobody had ever used those words with me. I felt fortunate and happy, like I had not felt in a long time. After the Promise, spending time with the Knights became even more beautiful, just like my days–up until the day when my parents told me we had to move to another city. I was overwhelmed by sadness. I immediately asked Maria Concetta for help, because she is the kind of person who never lets circumstances bring her down, and always helps people see that everything has a positive side. She told me, “You can go now, because you are not alone anymore. You know there is something good for you, and you’ll be able to find the Knights in Tortona, too.” Leaving my house, my relatives, and my friends wasn’t easy at all. I remembered the sentence on the tee-shirts that had struck me so much a few months before and I realized that, since meeting the Knights, I had found a good reason to take risks, I had started a journey, and my life had become a feast. I also realized that nothing had happened because of my doing. Then, why should things be different now that I had to leave? I had changed and I wasn’t alone anymore, even if my friends were miles away. When I arrived in Tortona, I immediately started looking for the Knights, asking at parishes and schools. Every time I received a negative answer, my hope diminished even as my desire grew. All in all, I was doing okay; I had new friends and schoolmates, my new school was beautiful, and yet I felt lost without the Knights. I couldn’t get them out of my mind, so one day I called Maria Concetta, who said, “When in need, the most intelligent thing one can do is ask for help.” She immediately called all the friends she knew, until she found somebody in Tortona. On October 26th, I had my first meeting with the Knights; I invited my schoolmates, and two of them came along. My mother finally understood what the Knights were, and she told me she wanted to know them more and spend time with them, too. I explained that she couldn’t come (it’s intended for middle school kids only), but I asked my new friends in Alessandria to invite my parents to CL meetings.
Miriam, Tortona (Italy)

One morning, looking at my son…
Dear Fr. Carrón: My son has needed therapy since age three because of developmental issues. At the beginning, that felt like a burden, albeit one I gladly carried, because I loved my son. Later on, thanks to School of Community, I understood that it could be a possibility for me to be closer to him, and to look at him in a different way. Throughout the years, we had times of struggle and of growth, which forced me to devote myself to him and, most of all, to ask myself, and God, why He had given me this labor. Accompanying my son to his first day of school, I looked at him skipping and hopping ahead of me, happy and unaware of the possible difficulties he might have to face. Thinking about my personal history, I remembered you once told us about an artist who, after finally fulfilling her dream of a personal exhibit, felt dissatisfied and unhappy. I had the opposite experience: I, too, have always desired to achieve something that could fulfill me; yet, that morning, looking at my son, I realized that no achievement could be compared to the joy I felt seeing my son’s happiness, and realizing how much I had changed.
Letizia, Italy

Devoting time and space  to the most precious  thing
I  had been a lapsed Catholic for years but sudden serious issues had me searching. Although supported by the usual compliment of family and friends, counselors and good doctors, I needed more. I knew I should return to my roots but despaired that there would not be anything strong enough to help. I had no strength to paint on a happy face nor the will to take up an empty ritual. A dear friend introduced me to Communion and Liberation by lending a copy of “Life as Vocation” (transcript of the September 2012 CL Beginning Day). Little did I realize the impact this would have. In my first reading, I was highlighting so many sentences, I was in danger of coloring the entire article, but one phrase in particular stood out. Fr. Carron wrote that “even in the most pressing circumstances, the content of our self-awareness fills us more and more with silence, urges the memory of Christ within us as the most precious, most desirable thing to which to devote time, space, our heart” (Traces, Vol. 13, No. 9, 2012, p. XII). Since my current circumstances had rendered me silent, struck down, and frozen, this was reassuring. It gave me something to focus on as I sat mute before the altar, and it lent a sense of purpose to the hours. Some days there were glimpses of calm, enough to keep me returning. Luckily, my first experience with the CL Spiritual Exercises retreat occurred soon afterwards. The art work, music, and prayer reached deep inside. I was especially impressed by CL’s constant effort to stay focused on Christ. This earnest inquiry was exactly what I had hoped for, particularly the discussion on reductions of faith, as I no longer have time nor appetite for “meaningless babble” (Ibid, p. IX). I needed a mature faith–and fast–and CL was proving to be the gateway. There is no shortage of materials in CL to study and I am eating them up, hungry for more. At the same time, I am learning that CL is more than intellectual study alone. It has been my good fortune to have found both focus and friends in the community of CL. I am strengthened by the community, by their conviction and cheer. Because Christ is real for them, Christ becomes possible for me. Devoting time and space to a newly fascinating Christ is becoming the most natural thing in the world, the one place I can stand.
Cathy Larmand, British Columbia (Canada)

A life given freely
Below is a letter written by Maria Grazia Beghin (a member of the Fraternity of Saint Joseph) a few weeks before dying, after a long illness, on December 15, 2013.
“I am Jesus crowned with thorns, and He is with me in my sufferings.” Earthly life is terrible. It is a real martyrdom, a Calvary we have to climb. Pope Francis is right in indicating the Cross as the heart of our faith. That is, the Cross is not intended as a curse, but as the beginning of a mysterious, and yet real, way to love. In the same way, whatever my mental and spiritual state when I go to the hospital (even when I feel rebellious), as soon as the needle pierces my flesh, I am reminded that I am Jesus with the crown of thorns, and He is with me in my sufferings. Certainly, to live this way one needs lifelong asceticism and the gift of Grace that one can only obtain through the sacraments, a burning desire, and prayer. Being part of the Mater Ecclesia (not of an association), and venturing in deep waters with Him for the salvation of all men, even those I will never meet, is a great thing for me. Touching the apex of what I have always desired–which came before me and I only have to accept–is a Grace that I constantly have to ask for, in order to keep walking.
Maria Grazia, Buccinasco (Italy)