The Wonderful Witness of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano.

By TOM DENNEHY

Chiara Badano was born on 29th of October 1971 in the small town of Sasello in Italy. Her father was a truck driver and her mother worked at home taking care of Chiara. As a child she was brought up to love Jesus and to share her toys, talents and joy with others. She dreamed of going to Africa as a doctor and even as a child, sent her savings to the missions for poor children. She used to listen very attentively to the parables of the Gospel and prepared carefully for her first Holy Communion. When she was eight she came in touch with the Focolare movement and was captivated by its Christian ideals. She began a correspondence with Chiara Lubich, foundress of Focolore. To her, she confided all her trials, right to the end. Her special joy of living shine through her letters and testimonies. Her vision of life was positive and inspiring.

Chiara had several good friends and enjoyed normal teenage pastimes such as playing music, dancing, singing, hiking, tennis and swimming.

Chiara attended Holy Mass regularly and her love for Jesus radiated within her. When she was sixteen years old, she had a life changing experience in Rome with the Focolore movement. Chiara had an encounter with Jesus and then she had Luce, meaning light, added to her name. This encounter with Jesus meant she now had Him as her light in life. He alone would guide her way. Chiara was a genuine friend of Jesus.

During the summer of 1988, Chiara felt pain in her shoulder while playing tennis. It continued to pain her, so she went to the doctor and had some tests. The doctors then discovered she had a rare and painful form of bone cancer.

In February 1989 she faced her first surgery which left her with little hope. When she lost the use of her legs, she underwent another painful operation which was unsuccessful. The comforting presence of Jesus, who had died on the cross for her, kept her going in her toughest moments. People who visited her received love, strength and hope.

Chiara Luce went to Heaven on the 7th. of October 1990. She had planned everything for her funeral; from the songs to her dress ( white like a bride’s) adding a special request to her mum. She asked her that while she was dressing her, she would repeat the words, “Now Chiara Luce is seeing Jesus.” Her goodbye to her mother was, “Be happy, because I am.” Her final gift to the world was to donate the cornea of her eyes. What marks her life as extraordinary is her love of Jesus and the acceptance of God’s plan for her life, even though it was against her wishes. Chiara loved Jesus so much that she faced her painful days at the hospital saying, “For you Jesus, if you want it, I want it too.”

Chiara’s message to all of us is to say “yes” to God’s plan for our life, even if it is entirely opposite to what we want, because His plan has always a reason and a purpose.

“For surely I know the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord. Plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you hope and a future.”

- Jeremiah 29.11.

Chiara Luce Badano was declared Blessed on September 25th. 2010, in the presence of 25,000 young people from all over the world at the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love in Rome. The miracle attributed to Chiara was the miraculous healing of a boy who was given 48 hours to live due to meningitis. A newly built church was named in her honour in Sironi, India in September 2015. Her short life continues to inspire especially the youth and never ceases to amaze.

Prayer:

Eternal Father, source of all good, we give thanks for the wonderful witness of Blessed Chiara Luce Badana. Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and guided by Jesus, the light of the world, she always believed in your great love, determined to respond to it with all her strength, faithfully abandoning herself to your fatherly will. We humbly pray that you grant also to us the gift of living with you and for you as Chiara Luce did and we ask you with faith the grace that... (mention your intention). We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Chiara Luce Badano