The spirituality expressed by Chiara Lubich soon became defined as a ‘collective’ – or better yet – a ‘communitarian’ spirituality, always in view of ut omnes unum sint’ (Jn. 17:21). This spirituality unfolds into 12 chief points, which are all connected:

• God is Love
• The Will of God
• The Word
• The Neighbour
• Mutual Love
• Jesus in the Eucharist
• Unity
• Jesus Forsaken
• Mary
• The Church
• The Holy Spirit
• Jesus in the Midst

Chiara did not develop these 12 points of the spirituality of unity through thought-out plans or reflections or as theological points.  Rather, the spirituality demands an immediate adhesion.  It brings life.

In the splendid history of the Church, among individual members, saints and communities, there has always been a clear line and result: it’s the individual person that goes to God.  That's still the case within the spirituality of unity, in the sense that the individual’s experience of God is unique and can never be repeated.  However, in addition to this indispensible personal spiritual experience, there is also a deep emphasis on the communitarian dimension of Christian life.  It's not a complete novelty – the Gospel is eminently communitarian.

Chiara Lubich brings her own spirituality, which is an original communitarian way of going to God: being one in Christ, according to the Gospel of John: “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, so may they be in us.” (Jn. 17:21).  This became Chiara's own style of living.

A “communitarian spirituality” was foretold for our era by contemporary theologians and is also mentioned by the Second Vatican Council. Karl Rahner, for example, speaking of the spirituality of the Church of the future, saw it as a “fraternal communion in which it is possible to make the same basic experience of the Spirit.”  Vatican II directed attention to the Church as the body of Christ and people assembled in the bond of love of the Trinity.  If St Teresa of Avila, doctor of the Church, spoke of “an interior castle,” the spirituality of unity helps to build an “exterior castle” where Christ will be present and illuminate every part of it.

Check out the menu to the left for a taste of some of the aspects of this deep spirituality.