At the Mariapolis, in Norwich, at the beginning of this month, one of the speakers said that God is like a ‘Dad’ who, playfully and lovingly, places his son on his shoulders – full of love and care for his ‘lad’. Observe, carefully, and you may see that often the lad does not even feel it necessary to cling on to his father’s head, but looks around, full of happiness and joy, plays, and feels completely safe. So it is with God and ourselves, if we believe – and live by – the truth that God loves us, immensely, and with the same degree of care. Now they say that the ‘proof of the pudding is in the eating’ and my coming to Slovenia, just a few days ago, has borne out the truth of that maxim, in a very personal way. On arrival at Ljubljana airport, not only did I have no idea where to go, but was brought, safely, to this place some 50 miles distant; then, my plastic card – at the ‘Hole in the Wall’, appeared to lose 400 Euros in the transaction – that, too, got sorted out; on the accommodation front, and instead of the single room  I was expecting, I was asked to share – but, even this, has worked out better than being in a room on my own. Well, you may say, these things are ‘small beer’ – just simple every day happenings – but, what about the bigger ones?

Last week, my ‘Blog’ was about ‘Charisms in Unity’. Today, it is about God, his care for us and how he looks after us so closely. I am still with the company of Religious at Celje in Slovenia, but now, the group has changed and expanded to include a total of some 61 men. We are no longer involved in a magazine, but are trying to discover what it is that God wants from us, as a group of Religious men, to help support the growth of unity in the world.   God calls us to be his close disciples, in the Church, and in our respective Religious Orders, where there is great variety, and this variety is reflected here in Slovenia: there are members of the younger Religious Orders, like Marist brothers, brothers of St. Gabriel, Divine Word Missionaries, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, De La Salle brothers, Cammillians and so forth. Also, there are representations from the ancient orders, such as Benedictines, Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits – and a whole lot more besides!

The Religious of Celje after meeting the President and co-President of the Focolare Movement.

All of us have also been given another calling by God – a call to live for Unity: we have been ‘touched’ by what the Church has authenticated as a ‘Charism’, (from the Greek, meaning ‘gift’) of the Church, in "The Work of Mary" (the official Church title of the Focolare Movement); under the ‘umbrella’ of this ‘Movement’, all categories of people can belong: men and women in Religious Life, people of other Churches, those of other Religions and those of no Religion, but who appreciate and follow the spirit of unity. To be, and to work ‘for a united world’, is something that attracts even some who think ‘religion’ is outdated, I think, largely, because such people are attracted by the spirit in which "Unity" is lived – as at a Mariapolis – and this very much includes mutual love and support. Here, I would like to be very precise, also, by stating that this new calling to unity, does not mean any lessening of the original call each of us Religious has, to his, or her, own vocation.

Returning to our roles in Religious Life, this being called ‘into the life of unity’ is something that accords with the will of God, for Jesus prayed just before he died "… …that all may be one" (John 18, 21) … … and this ‘all’ must include those in Religious Life. Right up to fairly recent times, Religious Orders have been isolated – sometimes even opposed, or less than fraternal, towards each other.  You may find this, opposition, antagonism even, something very strange, when you come to think we are all brothers and sisters in the Church.  On this point, I well remember seeing a medieval fresco, at Subiaco, Italy, where St. Benedict lived and founded his first monasteries; the picture showed ‘white’ monks fighting and killing ‘black’ monks.  Surprising!  Remarkable! However, we are saved from this dire situation, I am sure, because belonging to a ‘life of unity’ only strengthens the love we have for our own particular calling as members of our Religious Orders – and for each other. That has been my own experience, and it may come as a surprise to some readers of this Blog, to be told that, without this gift of ‘unity’, (to put it simply), from God, I am certain I would not still be a monk within my own monastery.  God has certainly carried me, on his shoulders, many times, and in many different ways.

Perhaps this helps to explain why, here in Celje, we are an enthusiastic ‘band of men’, some of whom are distinguished members of their Orders, with important positions and duties to perform within them. The times in which we live are not so different, fundamentally, and in reality, to the time when Jesus was alive, or even to the times of our own founders; all times are difficult times, and God helps us, now in our times, as he did, then, in theirs. This ‘new’ experience from God is something which helps, considerably, in the life of the Church today.

God carries us, individually and collectively, on his shoulders, now, as he has done all down the centuries, in other times and in many other ways. Consider for a moment, how hard it is to keep a small group of people, together, in harmony and peace;  here, I am thinking, for example, of family life, life in our neighbourhoods and life in our streets, life in a parish, or diocese, in a religious order; there are many other examples.  This simple exercise of mind shows us the need for this ‘gift’ of unity. We are a ‘large’ group, here in Celje; the agreement reached, about new plans to help us grow, in our progress as Religious, with our one aim of ‘unity’ is, to my mind, a miracle, because we come from different countries, with different backgrounds, different outlooks, temperaments, characters and also with different experiences. Despite our diverse cultures, etc, we really are, all pulling in the same direction, overcoming all possible difficulties, along the way. But be aware, please, that working together in unity it is not always easy – it requires some effort, some sacrifice, some self-giving every day.  And, of this I am convinced – it could not have been achieved without God’s help – without God ‘carrying us along on his shoulders’.

Last Saturday, the whole group of us went on along on a five-hour drive to a place in Croatia, to the site of a "Mariapolis Centre for Unity" run by the Focolare Movement, and there we met the President of the Focolare and her Co-President. Interestingly, the Church insists that the President of the Focolare will always be a woman, and if you look, carefully, at the group photograph of all our Religious, you will see a small, insignificant looking lady surrounded – almost engulfed – by men. She is Maria Voce, who, before becoming a part of the Focolare Movement, was a lawyer from the south of Italy. In the evening, we were invited to a party in honour of Maria Voce, and her Co-President – arranged, with much love by the peoples of this part of the Balkans: Romania, Moldavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia.

(L) Getting ready for the Party with children and families, from most mid-Balkan countries.  (R) The Greek Catholic Priest, and his family, who sang at the Party – Saturday Evening,  7th August

This centre was a place of refuge for many who fled their homes, in the ‘recent’ Balkan wars, when NATO was involved; British troops were involved, as ‘peace-keepers’ also. In complete contrast with the ugliness of war, it was so beautiful to see the harmony among those present from countries that, not many years ago, had been in bitter conflict, fighting each other. Of course, this was just a ‘drop in the ocean’ but, sufficient to make us realise that it is possible to bring about peace and reconciliation – given the opportunity, and the will to respond.

Fr. Leopold Grcčar OFM, from Slovenia

Finally, I would like to tell you something of how Fr. Leopold was feeling, during his journey to Croatia, on that Saturday, because here was another expression – another example – of God ‘carrying us on his shoulders’ through the most difficult of times. We reached that quiet period, after the excitements of the main event, and that time when some of us like to sit down and share their thoughts on the day. Fr. Leopold then told us we had travelled, on the ‘bus, through the place where he had lived, as boy and young man. He shared with us some of the memories the journey re-kindled, because, as a young boy during World War II, it was very dangerous as many were being killed by Nazis, or by Partisans. His family was a Religious one, but, it seems, that was no help, for ‘Religious families’ were thought not to be on the side of the Partisans.

One day, he saw a long column of prisoners, marching by, under guard, and all of them were taken by their captors and shot – mass murder – under no other name.  (Sadly, this slaughter of Slovenian people, and other nationalities, happened a lot – all too often, in fact – in the Second World War, and in this area, for the record, such atrocities were to continue even after the war finished.) Some time after this mass execution of prisoners, an Austrian soldier came to his parents’ house, and, at this, the family were very frightened, as his presence could place them in great danger. The soldier was in need of food and drink, and Fr. Leopold’s mother gave what she had to him – to her, it mattered not that he was a soldier and an Austrian - he was ‘Jesus at the door’. He then confessed to them, that if he could, he would go back to his own country, over the mountains between Slovenia and Austria, on his knees, after all he had experienced – in repentance for what had happened – just so long as he never again, had to kill another human being.

 Madonna on the side of a house in Celje today, showing  a still  strong Catholic faith among many Slovenians

Fr. Leopold finished his account – essentially, one of outrage and repentance – and it was then that a young Austrian Religious, in our group, and another good friend, admitted that, on the journey to Croatia, he had felt a bit ‘agitated’. He went on to explain that, as he travelled, it was with the full expectation he would meet, that day, peoples from nations killed by Austrians fighting for the Nazi regime, during the war.  From a deep sense of personal sorrow, he felt, that he wanted to apologise, profoundly, for what his fellow countrymen had done; in their name, he said ‘sorry’ to the rest of us. These were moments of profound meaning, for me, thinking at the same time, of the joyful people we had met, and the tragic experiences through which they had lived.

God brings good out of evil, as he did for martyrs like St. Lawrence, patron of Ampleforth Abbey, my monastery, and it happens to be on his feast day, 10th August, that I write this.  Jesus is … … "The way, the truth and the life" … … and in Him, we can remain sure of divine help, ‘riding on the shoulders’ of His Father, whilst entrusting ourselves to him. That is what all true Christians are called to do.  Dear Lord, help me to have more of that Spirit!

Readers of this blog might well ask: "What, in the name of heaven, is Fr. Jonathan doing in Celje, Slovenia, a guest of the Lazarist Fathers –  they follow the spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul – with 20 or so others in Religious Life?" It is from this beautiful and tiny country in Europe, at the top of the Balkan peninsula, with a population of only 2 million, that I write to explain.

Each year, a special meeting (more strictly, perhaps, a series of meetings) takes place for men and women in Religious Life, and I have been involved in this activity for about 20 years. The meeting is international in structure, and consequently, we meet where most can reach a central venue, without too much difficulty; this year it has been the turn of Slovenia. It goes without saying, that all those involved have a strong experience of God and his Love; moreover, each individual’s faith has been reinforced, within their own calling as Religious, by a God-given gift – the gift of knowledge and experience of the Focolare Movement. The Focolare Movement is, itself, the recipient of a very important, gigantic, gift from God; I refer to the gift of UNITY.  Unity  involves all types of people in this world, lay-people, young and old, all the different races, all the different Christian denominations, and many of the different World Religions –  even people of no religious beliefs. Why?  How? Basically, because it comes to spread ‘LOVE’, in and throughout, the world; that was  Jesus’ task – Jesus who gave us the chance to be ONE with God, and, as we know, ‘God is Love’. It is love that will unite people everywhere; it is this love that many have experienced, including those of us in Religious Life. All Christians are meant to know God who is Love, experience Him, know Him and Love him. The Focolare Movement does this in a new way, just as when each Religious Order was founded it was an expression of Love in a new way.

Above,  there are, from left to right, Religious from Italy, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, USA, France Germany, Holland, Poland, and England taking the photo!. Some are on the Theological Commissions of the Church, teaching in universities, others retired, others in charge of novices or juniors. There are Benedictines, Jesuits, Franciscans, Redemptorists, Divine Word, Carmelites, Brothers of St. Gabriel, Claretians, Oblates of Mary Immaculate and from the congregation of the Child Jesus among others

Our latest meeting finished just a little while ago; it was about the publication of a magazine on the Religious Life – the life in which all of us are involved. It was a kind of annual editorial meeting for the magazine that is called ‘Charisms in Unity’ and is produced by Religious men and women, (and others) trying to share, by means of the written word, the immense gifts that God has given to the World, the Church and to those in Religious life through the auspices of the different Religious Orders. There are eight different editions, in eight different languages.

‘Charisms in Unity’ is different from the many other magazines on Religious Life, because it emphasises the unity between Religious Orders – as well as the specific differences. I will try to explain a little further. Each Religious Order is, in itself, a gift from God, and this gift is usually called its ‘charism’; the word ‘charism’ means gift, from the Greek. The different charisms of the many hundreds of religious orders are all inspired by one Holy Spirit. These charisms are, essentially, different expressions of the life of the One Jesus; for example you could say that the Benedictines shared the unity of Jesus in his ‘prayer and work’. Most readers will know that the monks who serve St. Mary’s, in Leyland, are Benedictines. But then there are Carmelites: their charism might be expressed in ‘the prayer life of Jesus’. Franciscans emphasise ‘the poverty of Jesus’, missionaries emphasise ‘Jesus who sent out disciples to spread the Word, as he did himself, teaching orders ‘Jesus the teacher’, and so on. Searching for a good analogy, I would point you to a garden, in which there are many different flowers, all placed quite artistically to complement and show off each other. There is just one garden, but many different types of flower. By analogy, we have discovered that all these ‘charisms’ make much more sense if they are ‘united’ with each other, when they are ‘in communion’ with each other – but, united in a way that allows them to keep their individuality. Thus, the ‘SPIRIT’ of the magazine is underlined, is given its ‘raison d’être’, by its title, ‘CHARISMS IN UNITY’.

It is fascinating, always, to meet up with others, from different backgrounds, the product of very diverse experiences, to share with them those experiences, and furthermore, to be encouraged by them, in coming to know God, as Religious, in our world today.

Apart from working out the best way to write and spread our message, we are very aware of the challenges facing the Church in the world today. We realise that the Holy Spirit is calling the lay people to be protagonists in the life of Faith and in the life of the Church.   This would add to – compliment if you like – the work of priests and religious, who remain essential to the life of the Church, and bring about a working combination, potentially very beneficial. We know that much good work is done by people who do not belong to the Church, but are actively involved in promoting justice and peace in the world; actively involved, also, in the issues concerning the very survival of our planet and the threat of ecological disaster; actively involved in many other important challenges facing our world. At the same time, we know that the Church is criticised by many people; that, in Europe, the majority of Religious Orders are in a weakened parlous state with few novices, and that the present prognosis for the developmental future of the Church lies with those peoples in Africa, India, the Philippines and, in parts of South America. We are aware of the major problems many individuals have with the Church itself; many find its, seemingly, autocratic ways hard to cope with; many have an affection for Jesus and his teaching – but not for the Church, itself: many intellectuals, together with, perhaps, a majority of ordinary folk in Western Europe, think that the Church is irrelevant, and that faith in God is out-dated.  It is true that many Christians fail to practice their faith as their forebears used to do.

Bearing all this is mind – taking on board all the pros and cons – in all of this, it is good to know that God has also inspired new life, often in small new groups, often not very well known new groups, within the Church. These are the new ‘Movements’ of which the ‘Focolare’ is one. When one meets some of the people involved, in a two-way sharing of stories and experiences, it can be very heartening, and all this helps many to continue with their faith in God, because they see people making a real contribution for good to this world of ours – in many different ways – and from many different situations.

On this note, I want to end my blog with an introduction to a few of these people, my friends, for the benefit of my readers.

 Fr. Fabio Ciardi OMI

Fr. Fabio Ciardi OMI from Italy is the person who has helped to run these meetings for many years. He teaches theology in Rome, and has a great deal of experience of Religious Life, not only having responsibility for young students in his own order, but is also in touch with many other different religious orders. He has published many books on Spirituality, on the Gospels, on Spiritual Theology. He also has personal knowledge of inter-faith dialogue with Jews, Moslems and Buddhists. He once came to stay in Leyland, and I had the joy of going on a 10 day holiday with him to Ireland, some years ago.

 Fr. Germano,  Brother Matthew, Fr. Ludwik

Fr. Germano, on the left, is a Divine Word Missionary from Brazil. He has been there all his life, though he is a native of Holland. He is talking to Fr. Ludwik and in the middle is Brother Matthew, both Benedictines from Poland. Fr. Ludwik founded the monastery of Biskopow. He used to be the Prior and allowed Fr. Suawek to come to Leyland on two occasions. Now Fr. Suawek is his prior. Fr. Ludwik has had a very full monastic life, is the author of various books in Polish, and Br. Matthew is the novice master at their small monastery in the South of Poland, where all the nine monks are young, with the single exception of  Fr. Ludwik.

Fr. Paolo Monaco SJ

Fr. Paolo Monaco SJ, is an Italian Jesuit from Naples who works also to co-ordinate the Religious who are interested in this life of unity. He is an expert on the computer and has been helping, especially, the young religious all over the world, who are also involved. He seems to hate fuss and bother, and simply gets on with his work, though has many interesting things to say about the present and future of the Church.

 Fr. Carlos Andrade

Fr. Carlos Andrade on the right is a Spanish Claretian missionary, the same order as Fr. Florencio who came to stay with us in Leyland, from Spain, on 3 occasions. Carlos is a theologian who has taught in Madrid for many years and at present is doing his thesis and doctorate in Rome. He writes many articles for ‘Charisms in Unity’ and always has something interesting to say.

Fr Theo Janssen OFM

Fr Theo Janssen OFM is a Cappuchin from Holland who has worked for many years in Rome at the General House. He also lectures on Spiritual Theology in Rome, and has been involved in the Focolare for many years. He now runs a special "School for Religious" (St. Benedict spoke about the monastery being a school of the Lord’s service) at Loppiano near Florence, where men in Religious life go for 6 months to learn what it really means to live in ‘unity’. Loppiano is the first international town of the Focolare, and Religious are helped there by the example of the thousand people who live there, mainly laity and make it a town where Gospel values are lived out, especially the new commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you". His great advantage in life is that he speaks well, German, French, Italian, English, some Spanish, and of course Dutch, and also knows Latin and Greek. He is a humble and homely person, very easy to get on with.

Nearly every news item contains headlines of frightful teenage atrocities and our immediate reaction is to have them put away for life.  There is absolutely no excuse for their behaviour, but there are a number of reasons that may well be the cause.  In our high school, in south Liverpool, roughly 70% of the pupils have only one parent – usually a mother on her own, or with a partner – many of these children are "keyhole kids" because, when they get home from school, their parent is at work and there is nobody home to welcome them.  The lucky ones have a "Nan" who will look after them until someone comes home; consequently their Nan and Granddad are the people they know and love most.  

Family life at home is a rare or unknown experience.  They seldom – if ever – eat together as a family, but have their tea on a tray in front of the TV, often watching unsuitable and violent programmes until well into the night.  In a word, they lack any real experience of discipline.

The ‘Mission Statement’ of the College is as follows:

"That we provide a safe, secure and happy environment.

We provide opportunities for all pupils to develop their talents,

recognising and celebrating their achievements and success.

We believe that God loves each person and we encourage

respect for people and treat them equally.

We encourage a spirit of cooperation,

responsibility and self-discipline.

We affirm the Christian values of faith, hope and

love – love being the greatest of these."

That, I think, is why the School is the centre of their lives,

though they would be unlikely to admit it!

What about the rest of the young people, we hear so much about, because of their totally unacceptable behaviour?  Judging by the number of pupils who are sent to our Support Centre from other schools where, if they have a ‘Mission Statement’, it would seem to fail to deal successfully with the pupils’ problems; as a consequence, on some occasions, the pupils express a wish to change schools, and after a six weeks trial period, they begin to show some signs of stability, self-discipline and punctuality. The Managers of the Centre may well recommend them to be accepted, provided their previous school is willing to give them a transfer – which they usually give – only too happily!

Most of their problems are anger management, attention seeking, truanting and considerable insecurity.  So they easily get themselves mixed up with even more unsuitable companions, who are already ‘fixed’ on alcohol and drugs.  One of the glaring problems is the lack of discipline in their lives and we would do well to listen to one of St. Paul’s letters: he says: "The Lord disciplines him who he loves.  It is for discipline that you have to endure.  God is treating you as sons, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which, all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." – tough words, but badly needed advice, we would do well to heed.

One of the problems is the lack of safe, well run, places for young people in which to recreate, such as youth clubs – well organised, with plenty of things to do – and rules which they must keep or be asked to leave.  Some time ago, I came across an article in the paper about a family who are running a youth club from their home, making a place where they know they are loved and respected – but run also with strict discipline.  The point of the article was to say how successful it is, and that they are overcrowded with applications, and in great need of somewhere in which to expand.

The other day, there was a programme on the TV about a gang intent upon doing violence and damaging property.  A young lad of about 11 years was anxious to join them.  The gang leader gave him a brick and said: "If you want to join us, throw this through the old woman’s window."  The lad dropped the brick and said: "If that’s your game, frightening old women, you can get lost."  The leader stabbed him with a knife and left him bleeding on the ground.  He was taken to hospital and eventually recovered, having nearly paid the price of his life for doing what he knew to be right.

What can we do, as individuals, to help young people feel secure in themselves, and not want to get involved in all that they see on the streets, hear what is going on in other young peoples’ homes and what their friends tell them?  If it is possible to give a welcome in your home, to your teenager’s friends and get to know them, they will feel loved and accepted, and hopefully want to change their lifestyle – should it need to be changed – and feel at home with your family.  In my experience, when they are shown respect, love, and are willing to accept the rules, they usually react in a positive way, and want to respond in order that they may continue to be accepted.

It is easy for me to make these statements, when I am not immediately subjected to teenagers constantly knocking at my door, or taking advantage of the family’s generosity, but, for them, it might be the beginnings of a change of pattern of behaviour; it may just help them to cope with the many disadvantages most of them face.

 Fr. Theo