Chiara Lubich, Italian Catholic activist, dies aged 88

[b_justb]

Chiara Lubich, who founded the Catholic socialist Focolare Movement, died Friday aged 88 at her home outside Rome, the movement said in a statement.

Considered a major spiritual figure in the Roman Catholic Church, Ms Lubich founded Focolare - which means “hearths” - in 1943, fleeing the bombing of her hometown of Trento in northeastern Italy to devote herself, along with a few friends, to serving the poor.

The Focalare Movement grew to count 140,000 members in more than 180 countries.

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I got an email from one of the Focalare leaders yesterday telling us of Chiara’s failing health and then again this morning of her passing.

I don’t like some of the wording in this article, like calling the Catholic Lay Movement, “socialist”. Oh well what can you do?

Here is the Focalare website that has all sorts of links and news about it as well. With Chiara’s passing it’s being hit pretty hard and it’s slow loading

 

[Dale_M]

May God receive her with mercy.

B_justb, I don’t have a good sense of Focolare, but based on a quick survey of their website, yes, “socialist” seems the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be “communitarian”? Or how would you describe it?

 

[b_justb]

May God receive her with mercy.

B_justb, I don’t have a good sense of Focolare, but based on a quick survey of their website, yes, “socialist” seems the wrong word. Perhaps a better word would be “communitarian”? Or how would you describe it?

“Communitarian” is exactly the term that Chiara used time and time again. I am very, very new to the Focalare Movement. I am not well versed in it at all. But from the little I see of it, it’s just living out the Gospel each moment of each day. Which is pretty much what we’re supposed to be doing anyway. So I like it.