Focolare spirituality defines seven areas of life, each a way of expressing love. Nothing is more or less important, more or less sacred. We use these seven colors as a tool to understand and organize everything, from each part of our daily routines to the way we structure Focolare activities, for instance.
“Love is light,” Chiara Lubich explains. When clear light passes through a prism, or even a drop of water, it refracts into the seven colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. And just as that light breaks into different colors, love too has a way of expressing itself in just as many ways.
It’s easy to get passionate about just one part of life, whether it’s sports, the arts, or social justice. These are all good, but they can become everything in our lives and take over. We end up too specialized and life just revolves around that one thing. For all of life to be fulfilled, instead, we need love to flow into everything we do—even the everyday stuff we’re not usually so passionate about.
Chiara and her friends understood that a fulfilled life comes from discovering the unifying presence of God in every specific aspect of life. “Everything was to flow from love, be rooted in love,” she explained. “This would make human life attractive, fascinating… Our lives would not be dull and flat, since they would not be made up of bits that are disconnected.”
Work and sharing
Love brings communion.
Outreach and witness
Love radiates.
Spirituality and prayer
Love uplifts.
Nature and health
Love nurtures.
Beauty and harmony
Love creates.
Wisdom and study
Love generates wisdom.
Communications and media
Love unites.