LETTERS

Niebuhr, Giussani,
and My Thesis
Here is what happened to me with my thesis advisor. My thesis premise is a delicate topic (Reinhold Niebuhr’s critique of pacifism–Niebuhr was the American theologian on whom Giussani did some of his work in the sixties); it is a project that has been moving along for a year now. My director, decisively of another slant in his ideas, contributes to Il Manifesto(an Italian Communist newspaper) and its magazine. Late in the morning of Wednesday, February 23rd, I was in his office in order to get the corrected version of my second chapter and hand in the third(and last) with the introduction–I was at the end. Result: he wasn’t satisfied with the chapter. “I know you want to graduate by March, and I’m not trying to make you miss the term…” It was clear that he was speaking of a piece of work that didn’t convince him, not so much because of what was written, but due to its methodology. Feeling uncomfortable, I tried to take some more time to review the chapter according to his indications. I said, “Well, why don’t you give me the day and we’ll meet again during your office hours tomorrow?” He cut me off with a question: “Excuse me, but have you already been to Milan?” I understood immediately what he was referring to the fact that Fr. Gius had died the day before. I told him, “No, and if I am with you at two in the afternoon tomorrow I can’t be in Milan by three. But it’s not a problem for me… really. If Giussani were here, I think he would agree that I should stay to do my work.” He looked at me better and said, “Look, for me Giussani was no one. I’m being frank in telling you, as I’m sure you’ve understood, that I was never interested in following what he said or did. But for you, we’re talking about a father, someone who was a part of your experience.” Then, indicating the pages of the thesis on the table, “This is certainly an important passage in your life, but surely not as much as what has happened recently. So do me the favor of going down, tomorrow, to the funeral, and say farewell to him for me as well.” I didn’t know what to say; I had a lump in my throat. Paradoxically, from his words, I understood better what I was losing. At the end he asked me if I had ever met Giussani personally. “No.” And he, in turn, said, “I, however, did meet him thirty years ago at the State University. I was there for a meeting, I believe, and some common acquaintances introduced us. Well, both of us were thirty years younger, with all that that means in terms of decisions, tone, and spirit in sustaining what one thinks. I remember that he made this wish for me: ‘You’ll see, the moment will come for you as well.’” Having left my professor’s office, it took me a bit to tell what happened to the people in the community, this unexpected re-occurring of something new, that once again destroyed my preconceived ideas.
Leonardo, Bergamo

Surfing the Internet
Dearest Friends: Our very small community in the Philippines recently had the great opportunity to meet for a day of retreat with Fr. Ambrogio Pisoni. In addition to him, our very efficient and unstoppable friend Malou was the soul of the preparation and development of the retreat. Among other participants, there was a newly engaged couple from Mindanao, Romel and Luz, and a very nice guy from Cebu, Gabriel, whose encounter with the Movement happened through the Internet. He used to surf the Net because of his job and, by chance, while searching for information about ecclesial movements, he bumped into the CL website. He was so struck by its charism, as described by the site, that he decided to write immediately to the secretarial office. They sent him Malou’s e-mail address, whom he contacted right away, until they finally met, “flesh and bones,” like he described during the day of the retreat. What impresses me–particularly someone like me who has belonged to the Movement practically since I was born–is his familiarity with the terminology we use in the Movement, as well as his passion for reading several authors. In talking to him, I was reminded of how Fr. Giussani started the Studium Christi while in the seminary. In fact, Gabriel also belongs to a group of friends who share the same passion: they read books and they meet to exchange opinions about what they read. So I suggested to him that he name his group Studium Christi. While explaining the activities of the group, he expressed a longing for a guide. When they read such different authors, they are often fascinated, yet they lack the ability to evaluate whether what they read is according to their faith. I have the desire to help them but I do not exactly live around the corner. For some of the new participants, this occasion has been an encounter for sure; for others (not quite new, like me), it has been a new encounter, Philippine style.
Fr. Giuseppe, Philippines

Not Alone
Dear Friends: As many of you may know, my mom is worse and nearing the end of her life. Yesterday, she decided that she no longer wants to fight cancer and in fact wants to die. As a Scientologist, she believes that she can “drop her body,” basically deciding when she wants to die. My mom’s cancer has spread so much that she can no longer eat nor drink because it causes her to vomit. I want to first thank you for your prayers. The fruit of your prayers and my mom’s suffering are already being made apparent. Yesterday, my mom wanted to say goodbye to me and my brothers. To me she said, “Jen, I just want you to be happy.” I told her that I am happy and she said, “I know.” Then she said, “Jen you are perfect. I don’t even want you to be a Scientologist, I just want you to be happy.” I later said to her that while she doesn’t believe what I do, I am certain that when she dies our love does not end and where she is going she will be completely loved and happy and she will always be with me. I told her I was certain of this, and she looked at me, smiled, and said, “I know.” Secondly, this morning my grandma came over, my mom’s mom, and of course she was very sad and crying. It is very hard for me to stay in front of my grandma and other people. I often don’t know what to say or do. This morning, I talked with Fr. Jose, who reminded me to keep praying. So as I was folding clothes and my grandma was crying in the kitchen, I invited her to pray the Angelus with me. It was such a beautiful moment. My grandma left the Church some 40 years ago. To sit there in my parents’ house with my grandma praying the Angelus changed my morning, to affirm that I am not the saviour of my mom but He is, and to ask that through Mary He come. It was so beautiful! Thank you all for your prayers. While I may be physically alone with my family, most of the time I do not feel it. I know that when I am praying, my friends in Sacramento, LA, NY, Italy, and everywhere are praying with me. This unity that we have is very evident to me and my family. Really, I don’t know how to express my gratitude.
Jen, California

To Discover
a Presence
Dear Friends: I am Aloysius Kamara, a Sierra Leonean seminarian living and working in the Diocese of Makeni, in the north of the country. My encounter with the Movement could best be described in the words of Fr. Julián Carrón as “the surprise of encountering a presence that corresponds to you.” I owe this testimony to my Bishop, H.E. George Biguzzi (a native of Cesena, Italy) who, knowing I have a penchant for solid philosophical and theological thoughts, suggested I read Traces. Since that fateful day, I have come to discover something more than philosophy and theology. I have come to discover a presence, a presence that is the reason of my being. I live in a country that has just emerged from a ten-year period of madness called war; and it is entering into a new phase of political, social, and cultural development. Thus, this encounter has shifted my horizon and, as a result, life and all its ramifications is assuming a new light for me. Face-to-face with this presence, I am no longer scandalized by my limitations nor weighed down by the poverty and desperation of my country. Beyond all these I can now glimpse the hand of God beckoning my country and me to renew the event of the beginning. All this, thanks to you at Traces. Through you, I have come to follow the Movement even from such a distance without fear or hesitation and to identify with its ways of thinking and of seeing things. I have never met a single “CLer.” However, when I read of Samar and the wonderful work she does for the orphans of Bethany, of Fr. Mario and his efforts in promoting education among the poorest of Buenos Aires, of the members of Memores Domini and their decision to live and work for Christ, of the thousands of people who gather each year in Rimini for the Movement’s annual spiritual exercises, I feel like I have known you people all my life. In fact, I feel the pride of belonging totally to Christ and, what is more, I feel the presence of the Movement even in its absence. What I have met is the presence of Christ through the presence of the absence of the Movement–that presence which makes you live and share life with anyone, anywhere.
Aloysius, Sierra Leone

A Life Worth Living
Hello everyone: As most of you know, I am leaving this evening for Italy where I will be living for the next year and a half to straighten out my problems with substance abuse. Before I go, I want to tell all of you of the great gratitude I have for the way you accompany me. The only thing I am certain of in life is the divinity of Jesus Christ, He who expresses His fullness to me through the reality that is our companionship. In simple words, the friendship you offer to me is the one and only thing that makes my life worth living. Every beauty, every pleasure, every abundance I perceive in life takes its cue from the experience I have with our company of sinners, through whom I am certain my salvation is assured.
Mike

Doctor in Charity
Dear friends: Things are going pretty well here in Hoima. The situation in the hospital is still critical, but we are thinking about how to better things in the future. In addition, perhaps someone will come to join us soon, and that would make us very happy. It has been seven weeks now since we received that last I.V. shipment from the store in Kampala and we are trying to cover the gap with the money we received in donations. Imagine that last Thursday, before starting his shift in the operating room, the anesthetist asked me if I had told the patients to bring their own fluids because there weren’t any more in the operating room. I got really angry, and I went to the surgery ward and said that I couldn’t ask the patients to buy fluids and so the operations (which were all non-urgent) were postponed. The next day, I performed surgery using my fluids. Sunday morning, we went to do charitable service in an area of Hoima where there are many patients who are HIV positive. We took along some candy and the guitar. It was beautiful; we sang with the kids for two hours. We have been caring for one of the girls, Flora, in a special way. She is nine months old and weighs 8 1/2 pounds. Her mother died of AIDS, and the father showed up at the Meeting Point drunk some days ago saying that he couldn’t look after his daughter. We found someone willing to take her in and we began food support. Every day she gets better, and to see her is a wonder. One friend of ours, who is also HIV positive, gave birth two days ago. She had a Cesarean in an attempt to avoid transmission of the virus. The baby is doing well, as is the mother. Though tired and struggling, I am rediscovering the beauty of giving myself totally without limit or reserve. Truly living the dimension of charity changes your head and your heart. The Mystery takes flesh through our tininess; this unexplainable thing is the face of the Mystery within the quotidian.
Andrea, Hoima (Uganda)