The life of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano was presented on the bustling campus of the University of Southern California (USC), in Los Angeles on February 28th.

Taper Hall sits on a corner, which in the afternoon, is crawling with students and professors biking and walking to and from class. It was in this Hall, with over a hundred people present, where the lively, attractive life of Chiara Luce was portrayed through songs, narration, and experiences. Her commitment and simple, but intense life of love became evident through her quotes and letters. Experiences of young people giving witness to their efforts in living a life of the gospel followed.

The program ended with a video documentary of the three events that took place on the occasion of her beatification back in September was shown. It gave the audience a chance to share in the solemnity of the beatification ceremony and mass of thanksgiving, as well as the enthusiasm that came across during the evening festive celebration.

Students from a nearby high school expressed how much they were taken by Chiara Luce’s simple life and they spoke of the powerful message that came across in the documentary video.

Young people from other counties, parishes and schools shared similar impressions.

• “The story of Chiara Luce was very touching. Knowing how real she was, how similar we are, inspires me to embrace suffering and offer it to Jesus. She made me want to be stronger in the midst of adversity, for myself and those around me.”

• “Chiara Luce Badano showed me that life must be lived to the fullest and not wasted since it is a gift from God. I am simply enlightened. She is a great example to everyone.”