People are afraid of suffering
I received your letter and a sample of your magazine.
I like your initiative.
I don't want to talk about rejection, contempt, or indifference toward handicapped people, the ill, or the maladjusted. I wouldn't even speak of outright selfishness toward them. In my view, people are afraid of suffering, so they try not to see it—or even think about it. The sick and maladjusted are seen only as unfortunate, unlucky. But this attitude seems unjustified to me, because the world of suffering is far richer than the world of the healthy, much more mature and much closer to God.
Science has multiplied the means to fight pain. Yet today's person appears increasingly fragile and defenseless spiritually, facing himself. It is inevitable, given a widespread mentality that sees only physical well-being, beauty, pleasure, and success as spiritual values, while perceiving suffering as a reality to escape from as quickly as possible by any means. This is certainly not maturity. True love of life means accepting pain as an integral part of it, learning the difficult and sublime art of drawing from it—even from suffering—the progress of humanity in the values that elevate and fulfill the human soul.
Cordial regards.
Renzo Martini, Casaloldo (MN)
I wish people would help us
I'm writing to answer your letter. I've been reading the magazines that arrive for me these days. They're very interesting and I like them a lot. I apologize for not writing sooner, but I've been going through a hard time and still am. In two years I've had three operations—one on my knee and two on my foot. Now I'm slowly beginning to walk with a crutch, though it's difficult. Over these years I've already had 31 operations, hoping this last one was the end, but the doctor told me I need to do a lot of physical therapy, otherwise I might need more surgery. But it's really hard to do therapy here. To get a course of treatment you have to wait a long time. My mother already went to see the social worker, but it didn't help much. What I really need is a physical therapist to come to my home, but my family is poor, and besides, my mother has to have foot surgery in November too. There are always so many problems. I've already sent the money for my subscription to Ombre e Luci because I really like it. I also wish people understood us handicapped people better, that they would help us live better in society and not be ashamed of us for who we are. I hope I've explained myself clearly. Sorry if I've made mistakes. Sending you my warm regards.
Angela De Santi, Caselle Lurani (MI)
Ombre e Luci is full of inspiration
We work full-time with handicapped people, and as Sisters of Cottolengo, we live our charism through this way of life.
Your magazine is reliable and I would say ahead of its time in its commitment to human promotion among disabled and handicapped people.
The magazine, seen by us who in part share your experience, is full of inspiration and inventiveness in making disabled people increasingly self-sufficient, or at least aware of their dignity as persons, helping them take responsibility for even their smallest commitments.
We hope your magazine will grow its readership and continue to raise public awareness about the challenges facing handicapped people.
We're sending you the address of the Parish Community of St. Stephen, one of the most committed parishes in our city, which also provides home care for some disabled people.
Sr. Giorgina Cicotero, Piccola Casa Divina Provvidenza, PISA
Here is my thesis
In February I graduated in theology and defended my thesis: "Handicap and Christian Initiation. Experimenting with a didactic-educational pathway for faith education among young people with psychic handicaps."
To thank you for your help, I'm sending you a copy of this work, which is the fruit of two things: first, the journey I made together with some members of my parish community and the young people from ANFFAS in Macerata, and second, the books you made available to me with such generosity.
I wish all the best to your team for your work. I want to thank you again for the support you've shown me. With affection
Stefania (Macerata)
In our next issue, we will publish images and a report from the Faith and Light pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1991.