Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Presented yesterday at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome the book “Il Rischio Educativo” (The Education Risk) by the late don Luigi Giussani. Speakers at the meeting organised by the seminarians of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo were University rector Bishop Rino Fisichella and Superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo Mgr Massimo Camisasca
Both men stressed the relevance of the book particularly the parts on freedom and the use of reason. For Camisasca author of two volumes on the history of the Movement Communion and Liberation “Il Rischio Educativo” is one of Luigi Giussani’s most important works: “Anyone who wants to know don Giussani should read it. Education is in fact the central view-point of his figure”. The Superior of the Fraternity underlined that for Giussani the word reason was all important: “Il Rischio Educativo was born from trust in reason. It is a title which expresses anti-ideological interest and the need to live life together, master and disciple. Risk means accepting the possibility of making a mistake, of having to forgive ourselves”.
Another salient theme of Giussani, underlined by Mgr. Camisasca was the figure of the educator: “The educator - Camisasca explained - is one who involves others and helps them realise who they are. Only a true educator can be a true disciple. And the disciple becomes a protagonist because he or she is called to live the heritage received personally”.
By way of conclusion Mons. Camisasca spoke of the book as a "work conceived as a major attack on secularism which denies all belonging. This book is an affirmation of belonging. We are only authentically free if we belong ".
Bishop Fisichella began by calling Giussani “an apologist of our time”: “I can find no better expression. Apologist because he communicated to others both his deeply rooted faith and the reasons for this faith”. Bishop Fisichella said “Il rischio educativo” is not only a book for Christians: “It is a book which helps Christians discover reasons for their faith and non Christians to find reasons for life”. The theme of reason and a don Giussani tireless defender of reason returned more than once in the intervention by the rector of the Lateran university who underlined that in the modern world there was a war on the correct use of reason.
Bishop Fisichella dwelt on another word particularly dear to the Lombard priest, “realty”: “Realty obliges us to grasp a significance present, to use our critical intelligence and to ask questions”. With regard to the meaning of life the rector said don Giussani’s geniality consisted in “agreeing that life has meaning and that this meaning must be understood and lived”.
(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/12/2005; Righe 33 - Parole 474)
