The Vision and Praxis of Nothingness and Unity in the Spirituality of Chiara Lubich
Dr. Lolita Castillo
De La Salle University
Abstract
The Vision and Praxis of Nothingness and Unity in the Spirituality of Chiara Lubich is a qualitative inquiry using the descriptive and evaluative methodology which takes into account the spiritual, theological and pedagogical dimensions. Unity and nothingness are the key elements of the vision and praxis in the spirituality of Chiara Lubich. Unity and nothingness are both human and supernatural realities. Nothingness in Lubich's spirituality is Jesus forsaken. God-love is Trinity where the Three Divine Persons are in a relationship of nothingness and unity. Lubich discovered that nothingness and unity are Jesus Himself. When people love one another in the measure of Jesus forsaken, being nothing, they experience unity - the presence of Jesus in them and among them. Unity and Jesus forsaken are like two faces of the same medal for there is no authentic unity without Jesus forsaken. Jesus forsaken on the other hand is the apex of love. Love, in Lubich's paradigm is like a light that passes through a drop of water and is turned into a rainbow, producing different reflections and colors while remaining light, so the seven colors are aspects of one reality. These different aspects, which are active in people's lives, are all important and interdependent. The seven aspects are as follows: Red - Communion of Spiritual and Material Goods; Orange - Witness and Diffusion; Yellow - Union with God and Prayer Life; Green - Natural World and Physical Life; Blue - Harmony and Environment; Indigo - Wisdom and Study; Violet - Communication and Unity. All of these aspects have a divine and human dimension. When lived concretely, it can be a means for dialogue among churches and religions. This is a fourth kind of dialogue called the "dialogue of life". This "dialogue of life" is the major contribution of Lubich for the Church in the third millennium. Furthermore, the seven colors framework can be utilized as dimensions of holistic living for the religious and values education of individuals and specially the youth of all cultures and religions.
