During this time, all this continuous chatting, video calling, sharing articles, homilies, novenas, Rosaries (almost as though we do not want to surrender to the evidence that today is longer like before) began to disturb me, to distract me. What I have discovered in recent weeks is the dimension of silence: taking the time to think, reflect, to try to understand what is happening to me, to discover new things about myself, to pray in a different way and to desire to understand what the Lord wants. And then to look at reality as it is today: which, for me, is playing with my granddaughter; looking at the trees; the flight of the birds; the bells that my parish priest rings when he celebrates mass alone; working in my garden; chatting with my neighbours from a distance, some of whom I did not know before; calling friends. Re-reading Carrón's letter to the Fraternity, I perceived, as never before, that those words describe what I am experiencing. "To say ‘yes’ at every instant without seeing anything, simply adhering to the pressures of the occasions.”

In recent weeks, I have learnt of the important struggles that some friends - whom I have not seen for some time - were facing. While in other situations I would have said, "Whoever is closest to them will take care of it," this time I picked up the phone and called them. Dialogues started with a simple: "Hi, how are you?" But they immediately became familiar, full of truth and depth, with the discovery that unity in common belonging is much more than participation in gestures or initiatives, which should never be taken for granted. "It is a dizzying position" to be suspended "at every instant without seeing anything." But when Grace does happen, life becomes really interesting. And gratitude for everything is triggered. I wake up in the morning and say, "Thank you, Lord, for giving me life." And so relationships and the use of time, the curiosity about things take on a new form. I have a sort of "list of people", which is getting increasingly richer, who I have begun to call in a fairly systematic way.

Read also – I need to continue to say “yes”

Furthermore, in his letter, Carrón writes: "At this time, in which nothingness is rampant, our recognition of Christ and “yes” to Him, including in the isolation each of us might be forced to maintain, is already our contribution to the salvation of every man and woman today, before any legitimate attempts to accompany one another, which should be pursued within the allowed limits. Nothing is more urgent than that self-awareness.” And so I realize that working on School of Community, reading of Traces, testimonies that are published every day on the CL website, and the book of the month mark a path that helps me realize that there is Someone who overcomes fear. I was reminded of a phrase Benedict XVI said to some friends when faced with complex difficulties: "Everyone does what they can, but then... There is Jesus." Jesus’ companionship is greater and more evident in daily life as the tender companionship of the Church, in the liturgy, in simple gestures, but full of affection and care for each one of us , as Carrón and the Pope evidence…

Vincenzo, Lugo di Romagna, Italy