Neighbors: Short Reflections on Loving the People Around Us

The wisdom of this collection is remarkable. It is mystical and practical at the same time. Lubich says, 'We can't go to God alone, but we must go to him with our brothers and sisters, since he is the Father of us all.' Bill Hartnett's foreword sets up the book beautifully, noting that each aspect of the spirituality of unity insists upon the presence of our neighbor. The neighbor is never an obstacle between us and God but a sacred archway through whom we come into God's presence, and through whom God comes to us. Indeed, the neighbor is a necessity if we are to have mutual love, the profound love that is receptive to the grace of unity.

The pages also have a constant presence of Mary as a perfect model of neighborly charity. 'Love is only mindful of the beloved like Mary.' And, 'We can't imagine Mary staring at herself. Mary looks to Jesus.' Each phrase from Lubich offers a new color for the palette we use to love our neighbor, and you'll find that the book sends you forth with a heart eager to love as Jesus loved.

An internationally known religious leader and writer, Italian-born Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) was president of the Focolare, a lay ecclesial movement in the Catholic Church. She has been awarded 15 honorary doctorates, numerous civic awards, the Templeton Prize for Progress of Religion, and the UNESCO Peace Prize. She has published over 50 books in 29 languages, with more than one million copies sold.