Chiara Lubich’s Relationship with the Capuchin Franciscan Third Order in the Early Years of the Focolare Movement (1943-1949)

Abstract

The origin of the Focolare Movement is historically set in the years 1943-1949, the period in which Chiara Lubich and the first group of Focolarini were a part of the Capuchin Third Order of Trent. The article starts with this fact to describe the features of the relationship between Franciscanism and the new ecclesial reality that was coming to life, making use of documentary sources and witnesses, most of which are unpublished.