Collective spirituality : old wine in new bottles? : aspects of collective spirituality with special focus on the Focolare Movement

Abstract

This study is about aspects of 'Collective Spirituality' with special focus on the Focolare Movement. Chiara Lubich foundress of the movement since 1944, during the ravages of the war, felt inside her, the first inclings of the vision which would become an international movement to attain religious unity and peace. Lubich has brought to the fore this communitarian spirituality since 1994. Today after 2,000 years of Christianity one has still to go back to the source, that is, to the Vita Apostolica and through the history of spirituality right up to the present time. This is what Lubich has done and which has shed light and enabled her charism to reach every corner of the globe. The secret of success of the movement's spirituality has been the authentic christian life lived by members who instead of preaching the gospel have evangelised by their way of life. In 1991 when interviewed by F. Zambonini Chiara after giving a. brief account of the movement since its institution said that they are only a small hand in helping the church to realise Jesus's WILL: "That they may all be one".