Each year, a special atmosphere seems to envelop us. And it cannot be otherwise, because in the space of just a few days we recall and re-live many of the mysteries of our faith. In fact during these days, that which we call to mind is all love.

Holy Thursday

The priesthood is love; it possesses a ministerial character - which means service – and is therefore concrete love.

The Eucharist is love; here, Jesus gives all of Himself to us.
Unity, which Jesus asked of the Father with the priestly prayer, "That all may be one as you and I are one", is love, an effect of love.

Love is the commandment which Jesus kept in his heart through his whole life, only to reveal it the day before his death: "Love one another as I love you. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another". We cannot let this day pass without remembering to tell Jesus of our desire to adhere completely to "his" and the "new" commandment; a commandment which did not remain unexplained, because he added: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

Chiara Lubich