Forty Years for the Families

By Anuska Sans

An interview with Danilo and Annamaria Zanzucchi, international directors of the Focolare’s New Families Movement

You have been married 54 years. Is it possible in today’s world for couples to remain faithful to their wedding vows? Can people really stay “in love” forever?

We were fortunate to have met Chiara Lubich’s spirituality of unity at the beginning of our marriage. It helped us see that our love as a married couple—filled with affection and physical attraction—could be strengthened and enriched by the love of God. As Benedict XVI explained in his encyclical, “God is Love,” human love is a reflection of the infinite love of God and therefore is made stronger through this communion. It was a wonderful discovery for us. It brought us closer and helped us overcome the inevitable trials of life.

Yes, it is possible to remain faithful to one’s marriage vows. And this holds true for couples today as well. It is with profound gratitude to God and to the many people who have helped us along the way that we are able to say that our love has remained strong.

Yes, we are still in love with each other.

You have been members of the Pontifical Council for the Family since its beginning. Could you share something of your experience?

1970 audience with Pope Paul VI: Annamaria and Danilo Zanzucchi

There are many vivid memories. Everything began in 1970, when Pope Paul VI received us in an audience. He knew we belonged to the Focolare. That day, as he took our hands in his, he said: “The task of showing the wonders that God has placed in the sacrament of matrimony belongs to married couples. You are the only ones who can bear witness to the world of the Christian values of the family!”

Three years earlier, Chiara had founded the New Families, a movement within the Focolare that focuses on family life, and we were already actively working for it. The words of the Holy Father resounded in our hearts like a further mandate to dedicate ourselves even more to this field.

In 1979 we were asked to join the Commission for the Family that John Paul II had established. Then in 1980, we participated in the Synod of the Family at the Vatican. This extraordinary experience offered us the opportunity to understand more fully the needs of families in a variety of situations. A fruit of the synod was the establishment of the Pontifical Council for the Family, of which we became members.

During these years, it has been a continual experience of the maternal love of the Church for family life, a love aimed at enlightening the many gifts inherent in the sacrament of matrimony, which are extremely valuable for the good of the couple, for the upbringing of the children and for the contribution that the family can give to society.

What is the fundamental goal of the New Families Movement?

The purpose of New Families is to show a model of the family based on values drawn from the Gospel. We offer families a proposal: there exists a love that can last a lifetime, with full sharing of everything, with reciprocal forgiveness that goes beyond the limitations of each person. It includes the responsible and generous acceptance of children as a gift from God, and the transformation of suffering into a resource for the family and a source of solidarity for others.

In its 40 years, New Families has contributed to spreading a new culture. This has its roots in the love between a husband and a wife and is open onto society, as an outgrowth of the family experience. In this way, the family becomes a source of fraternity and peace in society.