The first member of the Focolare Movement to be beatified, Chiara Badano was born to parents who had been awaiting a child for eleven years.
Coming into contact with the Focolare Movement when she was nine after attending along with her parentsa Focolare family festival in Rome, an event that left a decisive impact on all three, she extremely active in the movement. Likening sports, dancing and singing, at age sixteen she decided to consecrate herself to God.
Just a year later, while playing tennis, Badano experienced sharp pain. Doctors soon discovered bone cancer. As the disease progressed, she faced hospitalizations and increasing pain. She often repeated, "For you, Jesus. If you wish it, so do I!"
Soon Badano had to endure one of her harshest trials: the loss of the use of her legs. However she confided to one of her friends: "If I had to choose between walking and going to Paradise, I'd have no doubt, I would choose Paradise. Now I'm only interested in that."
Badano formed a close relationship with the foundress of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich. She wrote her founder on July 19, 1990, to tell her that doctors had decided to halt treatments, since the cancer could not be reversed.
"Medicine has laid down its weapons," she wrote. "With interrupting the treatments, the pains in my back have increased. I can scarcely move. I feel so small and the road ahead is so hard. ... I often feel that the pain is suffocating me. It is the Bridegroom who is coming out to meet me, no? If I also repeat with you: 'if you wish it, I also wish it' ... with you I am sure that together with him we will conquer the world!"
Lubich wrote back to answer her: "Don't be afraid, Chiara, to say 'yes' to him, moment after moment. He will give you the strength, be certain of this. I also pray for this and I am always with you. God loves you intensely and wants to penetrate the depth of your soul and make you feel drops of heaven. 'Chiara Light' is the name I have thought of for you. Do you like it? It is the light of the Ideal that conquers the world. I send it to you with all my affection ..."
During her illness Badano wanted to prepare her funeral: the songs, the flowers, the hairdo, the dress, which would be white, a wedding dress for her "wedding feast."
Her father asked her if she wished to donate the corneas of her eyes and she answered with an approving smile. The last words she spoke to her mother were: "Be happy, I am happy!" Badano died on October 7, 1990, aged 18. Some 2,000 people attended her funeral Mass.
Her process of beatification began in 1999. A miracle was approved for her beatification on December 19, 2009. It was the cure of an Italian boy from Trieste who had meningitis and had been given only 48 hours to live.
Badano was beatified in the presence of her parents, on September 25, 2010, in Rome, in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Angelo Amato SDB., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Coming into contact with the Focolare Movement when she was nine after attending along with her parentsa Focolare family festival in Rome, an event that left a decisive impact on all three, she extremely active in the movement. Likening sports, dancing and singing, at age sixteen she decided to consecrate herself to God.
Just a year later, while playing tennis, Badano experienced sharp pain. Doctors soon discovered bone cancer. As the disease progressed, she faced hospitalizations and increasing pain. She often repeated, "For you, Jesus. If you wish it, so do I!"
Soon Badano had to endure one of her harshest trials: the loss of the use of her legs. However she confided to one of her friends: "If I had to choose between walking and going to Paradise, I'd have no doubt, I would choose Paradise. Now I'm only interested in that."
Badano formed a close relationship with the foundress of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich. She wrote her founder on July 19, 1990, to tell her that doctors had decided to halt treatments, since the cancer could not be reversed.
"Medicine has laid down its weapons," she wrote. "With interrupting the treatments, the pains in my back have increased. I can scarcely move. I feel so small and the road ahead is so hard. ... I often feel that the pain is suffocating me. It is the Bridegroom who is coming out to meet me, no? If I also repeat with you: 'if you wish it, I also wish it' ... with you I am sure that together with him we will conquer the world!"
Lubich wrote back to answer her: "Don't be afraid, Chiara, to say 'yes' to him, moment after moment. He will give you the strength, be certain of this. I also pray for this and I am always with you. God loves you intensely and wants to penetrate the depth of your soul and make you feel drops of heaven. 'Chiara Light' is the name I have thought of for you. Do you like it? It is the light of the Ideal that conquers the world. I send it to you with all my affection ..."
During her illness Badano wanted to prepare her funeral: the songs, the flowers, the hairdo, the dress, which would be white, a wedding dress for her "wedding feast."
Her father asked her if she wished to donate the corneas of her eyes and she answered with an approving smile. The last words she spoke to her mother were: "Be happy, I am happy!" Badano died on October 7, 1990, aged 18. Some 2,000 people attended her funeral Mass.
Her process of beatification began in 1999. A miracle was approved for her beatification on December 19, 2009. It was the cure of an Italian boy from Trieste who had meningitis and had been given only 48 hours to live.
Badano was beatified in the presence of her parents, on September 25, 2010, in Rome, in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Angelo Amato SDB., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The first member of the Focolare Movement to be beatified, Chiara Badano was born to parents who had been awaiting a child for eleven years.
Coming into contact with the Focolare Movement when she was nine after attending along with her parentsa Focolare family festival in Rome, an event that left a decisive impact on all three, she extremely active in the movement. Likening sports, dancing and singing, at age sixteen she decided to consecrate herself to God.
Just a year later, while playing tennis, Badano experienced sharp pain. Doctors soon discovered bone cancer. As the disease progressed, she faced hospitalizations and increasing pain. She often repeated, "For you, Jesus. If you wish it, so do I!"
Soon Badano had to endure one of her harshest trials: the loss of the use of her legs. However she confided to one of her friends: "If I had to choose between walking and going to Paradise, I'd have no doubt, I would choose Paradise. Now I'm only interested in that."
Badano formed a close relationship with the foundress of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich. She wrote her founder on July 19, 1990, to tell her that doctors had decided to halt treatments, since the cancer could not be reversed.
"Medicine has laid down its weapons," she wrote. "With interrupting the treatments, the pains in my back have increased. I can scarcely move. I feel so small and the road ahead is so hard. ... I often feel that the pain is suffocating me. It is the Bridegroom who is coming out to meet me, no? If I also repeat with you: 'if you wish it, I also wish it' ... with you I am sure that together with him we will conquer the world!"
Lubich wrote back to answer her: "Don't be afraid, Chiara, to say 'yes' to him, moment after moment. He will give you the strength, be certain of this. I also pray for this and I am always with you. God loves you intensely and wants to penetrate the depth of your soul and make you feel drops of heaven. 'Chiara Light' is the name I have thought of for you. Do you like it? It is the light of the Ideal that conquers the world. I send it to you with all my affection ..."
During her illness Badano wanted to prepare her funeral: the songs, the flowers, the hairdo, the dress, which would be white, a wedding dress for her "wedding feast."
Her father asked her if she wished to donate the corneas of her eyes and she answered with an approving smile. The last words she spoke to her mother were: "Be happy, I am happy!" Badano died on October 7, 1990, aged 18. Some 2,000 people attended her funeral Mass.
Her process of beatification began in 1999. A miracle was approved for her beatification on December 19, 2009. It was the cure of an Italian boy from Trieste who had meningitis and had been given only 48 hours to live.
Badano was beatified in the presence of her parents, on September 25, 2010, in Rome, in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Angelo Amato SDB., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Coming into contact with the Focolare Movement when she was nine after attending along with her parentsa Focolare family festival in Rome, an event that left a decisive impact on all three, she extremely active in the movement. Likening sports, dancing and singing, at age sixteen she decided to consecrate herself to God.
Just a year later, while playing tennis, Badano experienced sharp pain. Doctors soon discovered bone cancer. As the disease progressed, she faced hospitalizations and increasing pain. She often repeated, "For you, Jesus. If you wish it, so do I!"
Soon Badano had to endure one of her harshest trials: the loss of the use of her legs. However she confided to one of her friends: "If I had to choose between walking and going to Paradise, I'd have no doubt, I would choose Paradise. Now I'm only interested in that."
Badano formed a close relationship with the foundress of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich. She wrote her founder on July 19, 1990, to tell her that doctors had decided to halt treatments, since the cancer could not be reversed.
"Medicine has laid down its weapons," she wrote. "With interrupting the treatments, the pains in my back have increased. I can scarcely move. I feel so small and the road ahead is so hard. ... I often feel that the pain is suffocating me. It is the Bridegroom who is coming out to meet me, no? If I also repeat with you: 'if you wish it, I also wish it' ... with you I am sure that together with him we will conquer the world!"
Lubich wrote back to answer her: "Don't be afraid, Chiara, to say 'yes' to him, moment after moment. He will give you the strength, be certain of this. I also pray for this and I am always with you. God loves you intensely and wants to penetrate the depth of your soul and make you feel drops of heaven. 'Chiara Light' is the name I have thought of for you. Do you like it? It is the light of the Ideal that conquers the world. I send it to you with all my affection ..."
During her illness Badano wanted to prepare her funeral: the songs, the flowers, the hairdo, the dress, which would be white, a wedding dress for her "wedding feast."
Her father asked her if she wished to donate the corneas of her eyes and she answered with an approving smile. The last words she spoke to her mother were: "Be happy, I am happy!" Badano died on October 7, 1990, aged 18. Some 2,000 people attended her funeral Mass.
Her process of beatification began in 1999. A miracle was approved for her beatification on December 19, 2009. It was the cure of an Italian boy from Trieste who had meningitis and had been given only 48 hours to live.
Badano was beatified in the presence of her parents, on September 25, 2010, in Rome, in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Angelo Amato SDB., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
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