A month ago, my wife was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that needed to be removed. This is the kind of news that “cuts you at the knees.” My thoughts immediately went to the difficulties that lie ahead, to our three small children, to what could happen, as if in the end, everything depended on me. At the same time, I felt a desire to share everything that was happening with my dearest friends. That same evening while speaking with my wife, I found her to be incredibly serene, especially when she said, “there is nothing that says that what is happening to us is not for our growth.” I shot back, “let’s get rid of the ‘there is nothing that says!’ God has never let us down. We can say this in light of the similar experiences of our friends.” Upon further reflection, I realized that on paper, what I had said to her was “ok,” but that reality might very well cause us to reduce this phrase to just a beautiful “CL catchphrase.” I need to verify this, to discover this. Facing our challenging circumstances, I was immediately struck by so many things, especially the caring friends who were moved to offer their physical and spiritual support through prayer. Through the help of a few friends we were able to have a medical examination at a clinic in Milan where they could schedule the surgery and where we met a neurosurgeon who impressed us with his deep humanity. On a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Sacro Monte in Varese, we entrusted ourselves to Mary. In this gesture I experienced dependence, a dependence that I desperately needed. On June 6th, the tumor was removed. During the hospital stay, so many things happened through encounters with unexpected people with whom we shared our pain and a small part of the journey. We chatted with nurses who came to us to tell us of their pain and problems, though it was clear that we could not resolve them. There is a need to share life with someone who gazes at you as Christ has gazed upon us, with love. I constantly ask myself why this is, and I leave it as an open question. This gratitude, which grows everyday, for having been preferred by God, is changing us, making us attach ourselves more and more to Him, always wanting an original and truly free position before everything we face. This is not a sentimental attachment, but the recognition of Him at work. This changes you and redeems everything, because the point is not only my wife’s healing, it is also our conversion and the desire to bring Him to the world with a radiant face.

Gabriele