At 9 years old she became a member of Focolare, a lay movement aimed at spreading the message of unity from Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21, “May they all be one,” across the world. Being part of Focolare was central to Chiara’s life. She was inspired by the message of Jesus Forsaken, the crucified Christ, proclaimed by the movement founder, Servant of God Chiara Lubich. The two Chiara’s carried on a correspondence. Badano’s faith was so full of joy that Lubich gave her a new nickname, “Chiara Luce,” meaning “clear light.”
 
Chiara Luce was an ordinary teenager. She had many friends, enjoyed listening to pop music, dancing, and loved sports like hiking, tennis, and swimming. But at 17 she was diagnosed with a rare and devastating form of bone cancer. In just a year she could no longer walk, and it was clear that the disease would claim her life. Throughout her illness from the time she was diagnosed, she offered her suffering to Christ. Just as she had offered her joy in health, she freely gave her pain. Even at the end of her life she refused morphine so that she could be alert enough to share the pain with Jesus.
 
Chiara Luce was beatified in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, she is the first member of Generation X to be Beatified. In 2018 she was one of the patrons of the Synod on Youth. Blessed Chiara Badano, pray for us!