On Saturday, September 7, 2024, the end-of-summer retreat was held at Casa San Paolo in Martina Franca (TA), a wonderful opportunity to come together and restart after the summer break. This is how Gigi and Patrizia, the respective leaders of the Taranto and San Giorgio Ionico communities, envisioned it. The chosen theme: Holiness in the Family, a focus on "Sanctifying oneself to Sanctify others," which was a central topic of the recent Spiritual Exercises in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Participants arrived at Casa San Paolo at 9:00 AM and were welcomed by Luigi Fragnelli, who on this occasion stepped out of his role as the facility's director to join the group as an associate of the SdS family. After the recitation of the Lauds, Don Giuseppe Ancora spoke. The event also included the participation of our dear and zealous Don Emanuele Tagliente.
During his uplifting meditation, Don Giuseppe Ancora emphasized that if God enters into the life of a marriage, He never leaves: He enriches, purifies, supports, and helps the spouses on the path to holiness. Conjugal spirituality flows into the entire family and becomes family spirituality. There are three fundamental attitudes for those who seek Holiness in the Family: self-giving, hope, and fruitfulness. With self-giving, love must be given fully! It's not just about being together but continuously giving love to the other, because true love is not exclusive but inclusive! Christian hope cannot be lacking within the family; it provides the certainty of God's love. Fruitfulness opens up to 360° within the family, which in turn opens to others and manifests itself through the task of education. Fruitfulness transcends the laws of the flesh, encouraging us to pour love onto the poor so that testimony becomes openness to others. Everything must be a journey of indissoluble perfection! In the face of the world's confusion, spouses striving for Holiness do not limit themselves to listening to the Word of God; they do not remain trapped by failures but trust in Jesus, in His friendship, and generously reflect this toward others.
The day concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass and, afterward, in the spacious dining hall, the joyful celebration of Mariella and Luigi Zani's 24th wedding anniversary, crowning a happy day.