From January 13 to 15, 1978, Brussels hosted an International Meeting of Faith and Light delegates—80 people from 16 countries: Canada, the United States, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Poland. Brazil could not attend due to distance. For three intense days, they gathered to exchange and pray together.
Given the number of countries represented and the richness of the exchanges, the meeting held particular importance for Faith and Light's growth. What was lived in those three days should nourish the life of Faith and Light groups everywhere, respecting each country's character.
Seven people from different Italian cities made up the Italian delegation: Anna Maria (Milan); Liliana (Cuneo); Father Francesco (Parma); Mariangela; Romeo, Clara, Maria Grazia (Rome). Father Luis participated as a guest invited by the organizers for the roundtable on "The Right to Life."
More than 22 hours by train passed between the moment a small group of friends sang "goodbye" on the platform at Rome station and the moment another group helped us unload our luggage in Brussels.
By then, our three friends from the North had caught up with us in Milan, where snow covered the streets and prepared us for Brussels's climate. The whistle of the train interrupted a snowball fight and rushed us to final preparations.
For many of us, it was our first time in Brussels. But the warm welcome from our friends—among them we found Elsa again!—made the city instantly feel like home. The unforgettable time we spent at the "Roof," the Ark's Foyer in the city center, showed us from within what this community's life is and the hope that animates it: a family where each person does their best to share material and spiritual goods. Patrick, one of the community members, said: "When you believe in the other, you no longer know who gives and who receives. And you are very happy."
There lay the secret of this communal life—whether at meals, at work, or during free time. The Mass, celebrated every evening by Father Roberti, nourishes this family spirit and brings together members of the nearby Arks and neighborhood friends.
A few hours later, we went to the Franciscan house for the start of our meeting. What an adventure! Imagine 80 people with 80 suitcases, a few guitars, and various odd objects, gathered around a table, all asking 80 things at once. Every so often came a shout: the reunion itself reminded us that at Faith and Light, friendship knows no borders.
Proof came at dinner, which was truly international. Italy brought prosciutto (naturally from Parma), Ireland brought sausages, France brought cheese. Too bad we had to wash it all down with nothing but beer!
Songs began while we washed dishes and continued during the vigil, where each country presented a mimed song. (You know "Brick by Brick"?)
The days were led by the International Team: Jean Vanier, coordinator; Marie Hélène Mathieu, vice coordinator; Father Hviid, international assistant.
Each was responsible for one of the day's themes:
- "The Faith and Light Community"
- "The Prophecy of the Poor"
- "Listening"
Before beginning on Friday morning, Jean Vanier reminded us why we were in Brussels:
"In words, we know very well that with the Beatitudes, Jesus overturns all systems. But deep down, we have not yet given up the world's hierarchy. We are here to stir up our faith and believe more deeply in the hierarchy of the Beatitudes!
Faith and Light was born as a family. We need to gather from time to time to show ourselves that this family exists!
Faith and Light lives in a difficult world. Evil exists in the world. Faith and Light must know how to enter that struggle.
We must be ready to be persecuted. The poor are troublesome; they are killed. This is why Faith and Light cannot afford to be merely sentimental. We are not a band of sentimentalists. We need competence. Jesus's disciples must live in truth, not in pure sentiment or paternalism."
Then we heard the coordinators of each country present their teams and how Faith and Light lives in their countries, aided by a geographical map illustrated with photographs commented in French and English (these languages were adopted for exchanges throughout the stay).
Two words stick with us from these presentations: diversity and unity. What a difference between France with 40 Faith and Light groups and Poland, for instance, whose sole representative carries hope for the entire nation almost alone!
Yet how could we doubt that in all these countries, the same Spirit makes possible what once seemed impossible? We saw this in small group meetings: the Spanish student, the Danish mother, the young Austrian woman all gave witness in different ways but profoundly similar in essence.
Prayer held these days together, kept us listening to the Holy Spirit, and helped us recognize the Spirit's presence in one another.
Speaking with someone, I discovered that Jesus is not a word expressing an idea or a memory, not a mystical exaltation, but a living person. I found confirmation of this in the faces of Patrick and Marie Jo, who speak of joy and freedom.
This prayer was not difficult for us, despite our many activities: it was like the very air we breathed all day long.
Father Hviid's talk on "The Faith and Light Community" Friday afternoon invited us to look at reality without illusion:
Faith and Light now enters a second stage—a time when we must mature, when we must reflect and seek to understand Faith and Light's role in today's situation. This situation is very different from 1969, when Faith and Light was born. Today we have abortion, euthanasia. Today society accuses "the handicapped" of being "too costly" and asks, "Who should survive?" We are learning that institutions are not the solution. The optimism of the 1960s has given way to the depression and despair of the 1970s. Where is Faith and Light in all this? What is our calling? What does God expect of us? How do we build community in a society so divided, so alienated? We have received a talent, and we are bound to develop the talent God has given us in Faith and Light.
The Eucharist, led by England, was followed by dinner and a vigil where we heard many testimonies. Friends from the Arks who had joined us were moved, as we were, by one mother's long, truthful testimony:
There are all those who are poor in their gestures, their words, their attitudes. You discover Jesus in them. It is through Jean Pierre that we discover Jesus. And we cannot keep this to ourselves—it is impossible! It is too strong; it would burst the heart. We have to pass it on to others; we cannot keep it. We must tell others about it. Yes, it is hard; of course it is difficult! It is 365 days a year, and the nights, and you have to start over! Sometimes you are at the end of your rope, truly at the end! To go find other parents, those who are suffering, and share this message we have discovered in our children—there is only Faith and Light to help us. Because society treats us like crazy people, visionaries, "out of it," like our children themselves!
Saturday began with presentations from countries we had not yet heard from. Two young American representatives (whose rhythmic singing the first evening had made us sweat!) spoke about the difficulties they face spreading Faith and Light across their vast country.
These difficulties that exceed us call for help that exceeds us:
You, Lord Jesus, You are our Friend,
Thank you for your Death and your Resurrection,
Holy Spirit, You give us a new heart:
keep us far from the Tower of Babel,
keep us small in humility.—From the prayer that Doctor Yasse, a friend of Faith and Light, recited in the chapel Saturday morning.
After lunch, we gathered at the Collège St. Michel in central Brussels. The hall was enormous. When we arrived, the steps were already nearly full. Friends of Faith and Light had come from every corner of Belgium, and we sang in every language.
The Mass, which as every Saturday is celebrated here, is presided by Father Roberti and about to begin. First, Jean Vanier's words prepare us for the celebration:
Like Jesus, the poor disturb us. That is why they are prophetic. For us, they are like a word from God: we flee from them and we follow them.
Something would have been missing from these days if that evening had not brought us all together in a crescendo of joy and friendship. Through songs, games, and dances, it reminded us that celebration is an essential element of Faith and Light's life.
A surprise awaited us Sunday morning! The International Team's composition had changed: while Jean Vanier remains in the Faith and Light family as friend and inspiration, Marie Hélène takes on the role of international coordinator. Countries are grouped into three regions: America, Latin Countries, and Anglophone Countries. Three vice coordinators, one for each region, assist Marie Hélène.
Bishop Brewer of England now also joins the International Team. Bishop Brewer was for several years rector of the English Seminary in Rome, which explains his excellent Italian. This pastor, who has known Faith and Light for so long, will ensure respect for Faith and Light's own charism within the communion of the Church.
The Final Theme for Reflection: "Listening"
"Whom should we listen to?" Marie Hélène asked.
We listen to those in front of us, those we meet in our communities, among our friends. But there are also those we do not meet, whom we do not listen to because they have been completely cast aside—particularly in psychiatric hospitals. I think Faith and Light should increasingly concern itself with listening to those we cannot listen to because they have been discarded and no one is left around them.
At prayer (led by Italy) and then at the farewell lunch, the various countries exchanged gifts they had brought.
Italy offered Germany a Cross of Saint Francis of Assisi and received from France a cross made at an Alsatian center. Our candle was given to England and the bell to Portugal. We returned home with a magnificent candle from Luxembourg.
Also greatly appreciated were the Faith and Light paintings—only Parma knows their secret!
After roundtables in French ("The Right to Life") and English ("The Church and the Handicapped Person"), Jean Vanier spoke for the last time. His farewell message was both an exhortation and a program:
Jesus has given us an exceptional gift in our internationality. Let us remain very attentive to brothers and sisters throughout the world. The danger is that one day we close ourselves into our little city and territory. There are language barriers that make things difficult. The poor, the small are here to help us understand that we must overcome our problems.
The final Eucharist brought us close to the Carmel of Cognac. Bishop Brewer wore a stole specially embroidered for Faith and Light by the religious of that community, showing the design we all know—the light of the sun illuminates us, despite the clouds.
A moment of gathering but also of commissioning. During the universal prayer and the sign of peace, we thought of those we would soon see again. We felt them very near us all along. Their friendship and their prayers sustained us greatly during these days. But now a stronger bond tied us to the other representatives and to all those each of us carried in our heart.
In this spirit, we exchanged cards on which each had written a thought and a Gospel passage.
Suitcases. Kisses. Time to go! The same scene as three days before, but in reverse: 80 people exchanging 80 addresses, promising that tomorrow, despite time and distance, we would continue to live what we had discovered together today.
Returning to Italy, each of us felt deeply that we had lived something important. But this Brussels meeting will have its full meaning only if the hope kindled in each participant is shared with every country, every city, every group, every person.
When you believe in the other,
you no longer know who gives and who receives.
And you are very happy!