This is
today's news of 1rst of July
(from Marcia)
CENSORSHIP
A characteristic of the spirituality of
the Movement, which we find recurring in
the experiences gathered, is the lack of
free use of books, films or new
technologies (television, telephone, film,
music, etc.) by members above all of
consecrated focolarini.
It is not possible to read texts other
than those established by the superior or
admitted by the Opera, neither for
personal training, nor for leisure, nor
for meditation, which is mandatory once a
day.
In fact, meditation can only take place on
the texts of Chiara Lubich or on other
spiritual writings decided by the
superiors, if they are consistent with the
training course proposed by the Work.
The formation foreseen for consecrated
persons, which takes place in Loppiano for
a period of two years, is centered only on
the spirituality of Chiara Lubich. A
critical evaluation of theology or a free
reading of the writings of the saints of
the church is not permitted.
C. During the period of my stay in the
focolare, music and films were evaluated
and authorized by the focolarina who dealt
with the defined aspect of "violet", which
referred - in the symbolism of the colors
of the rainbow - to the dimension of
communication.
Therefore the films, seen in the few
moments of leisure in the hearth, were cut
and censored in the scenes considered
scandalous, because they could have
affected the state of purity of the soul.
Knowing that even the books were screened
by the head of the hearth for reading, I
remember having decided to secretly read
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, a
classic of literature, which I had never
been able to read during the period of
high school and university. and Story of a
soul from Santa Teresina.
We never watched television, except for
the news, but only for the first 15
minutes, because after the first quarter
of an hour, as we were told, only gossip
news was broadcast that was not useful to
our training.
This way of using knowledge produced many
inhibitions and fears, which however were
unfounded and absurd for adults, who
should have had the critical spirit to
independently evaluate what is good and
what is not.
Furthermore, this way of using information
greatly limited the knowledge and
knowledge we could have of current events
and culture, thus also compromising
professional training.
