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u no longer any doubt: the 27-year- How to Cross the Threshold
old had an aggressive form of of Love?
cancer. The operation to remove Chiara consciously prepared
large portions of Chiara’s tongue herself to bid farewell to her loved
did not solve the problem. It ones and to meet God. Above all,
would be necessary to operate to
remove her lymph glands and fol- she offered a final sacrifice and re-
low up with radiation therapy and treated from complete devotion
chemotherapy. In order to protect and care for her son, accepting that
the child in her womb, Chiara did it would be detrimental, not only to
not consent to these treatments. herself, but also to Francesco who
She also refused inducing a pre- would soon find himself without a
mature birth, reasoning that her mother. She began to teach Enrico
role was to provide Francesco about parenting and passed most
with the best possible develop- maternal duties to friends. To the
mental environment, and not put very end of her life, she was think-
his life at risk. After his birth, and ing about others’ needs, not her
with her husband’s support, she own.
accepted invasive treatments for Finding happiness in small
Chiara and Enrico at their wedding the cancer but refused them dur- pleasures, Chiara turned more and
ing the pregnancy. more toward eternity. She partook
that’s that. The Lord has given me
this cross, and I have to bear it. It is The Prayer of The couple came under of the sacraments of reconciliation
by carrying this cross that I can learn Consecration to Mary, harsh criticism for their decision and the Eucharist; spent time in
what God wants to tell me.” Dur- but were determined to find their adoration of the Most Blessed Sac-
ing Chiara’s pregnancy, the couple which Chiara and Enrico support not among men but from rament and prayed daily. As long
once again displayed tender love for prayed every day: God. During a stay in Assisi, they as her strength allowed she played
their child, through their peaceful- 0 Blessed Virgin Mary, You, who prayed, read the Scriptures and her violin at the weekly Rosary ser-
ness, their serenity of spirit, and by are my mother, who at God’s grew in faith. Enrico’s words at- vice and impressed everyone with Chiara repeated many times to God: “I don’t understand, but I consent.”
focusing their concern on others and side loves me so much, accept test to their great faith and obedi- her peace. She entrusted herself
not on themselves. They went on a today my wish for complete ence to God’s will: “We are not to Mary with a special prayer end- “The Lord has given The last hours of Chiara’s life
pilgrimage to Turin in order to pray angry at God, since we know that ing with the words Totus Tuus. She were very intense. The final Mass
before the Shroud “for the healing consecrationtoYou.IgiveYou it is He who is in charge of ev- talked about her experience of lov- me this cross, and celebrated by Fr. Vito made a par-
of their child, but above all for grace myentirebeingandmyentire erything. And to understand that ing God above everything. Four ticular impression on her loved
to be able to welcome this great gift life.IgiveYoumybody,my God is in charge of everything days before her death, during the I have to bear it. It ones. “It was wonderful to see Chi-
with open hearts.” thoughts, and my feelings, my is one of the most wonderful prayers of the faithful, she asked is by carrying this ara so much in love with God,” En-
things in the world.” Francesco
In his sermon at David Giovan- deep capacity to love and to see was born a few days earlier than for trust in God’s plans, adding that cross that I can rico said afterwards, adding that it
ni’s funeral on June 26, 2010, Fr. Vito truth.LeteverythingthatIhave expected on May 30, 2011. Chi- such trust “will never disappoint was worth living for that one Mass
referred to the Shroud of Turin as a beYoursandbelongtoYou.I ara was happy that her son, her us.” learn what God alone. When a few hours before
witness to the wounds of Jesus’ love giveYoueverythingsothatI third child, was born healthy but Chiara’s disposition, which was her final moments, Chiara gazed
and His subsequent passing through maybelongcompletelytoJesus, she had only two days with him full of humility and far from any- wants to tell me.” with love at the tabernacle. Her
death to Life in the Resurrection. The whoistheLifeofmylife.With before she was taken to the on- thing rebellious, was in union with (Enrico Petrillo) husband asked her: “My dear, is
little boy lived only 38 minutes. He greattrustandloveIrepeatto cology unit for surgery. Over the her husband’s submission to God’s God’s yoke really sweet, as Jesus
received Baptism and brought joy You: course of the following weeks will. “If my wife is headed toward wrote: “From what I have been said?” Even though she was dying,
to those around him. Chiara and En- she underwent intensive radia- The One who loves her even more able to understand through all she smiled and with a weak voice
rico bid him farewell with music and “Morning Star, lead me to tion and chemotherapy treat- than I do, why shouldn’t I be happy these years, I can only tell you answered: “Yes, Enrico. It is very
song. They also prepared pictures Jesus’’. TotusTuus! ment. The treatments arrested about it?” Enrico asked. He also that Love remains at the center of sweet.”
expressing their faith: “You taught the progress of the disease and heard an unusual question from our lives. Love brings us into the
us that love doesn’t create anything Francesco. From the beginning his Chiara dedicated herself to moth- his wife: “Enrico, if you knew that world, and we live to love and to Chiara Petrillo died on June 13,
imperfect. You are a unique, unre- development was normal and there erhood. But by the end of the your sacrifice could save ten peo- 2012. More than 2,000 people at-
peatable, and exceptional miracle. was no indication that he would year, worrying symptoms began ple, would you agree to it?” “Yes, be loved, and we die to learn the tended her funeral which was cele-
You gave us so much love! ... Your share the fate of his siblings. The to appear and the prognosis was but only with the help of grace,” he true love of God. The purpose of brated by Cardinal Agostino Vallini,
mere existence glorifies God better blow to the family came from an confirmed on March 28, 2012 that answered. “Me too, Enrico. That is our lives is to love and to always the Vicar General of the Diocese of
than we are able to.” unexpected direction. It began with the cancer had metastasized to why I pray for a miracle of healing, be ready to love others the way Rome. The process for her beatifica-
God teaches us... The Lord always
How to Accept a Love that is Greater ulcers on Chiara’s tongue. Despite her lungs, eyes, liver and breasts. but don’t really want it.” loves you and always shows you tion was opened in the summer of
2018. v
than Death? taking appropriate medications, The final two-and-one-half month On May 30th, the Petrillo family the way to go if you open your
they grew bigger. After a series of phase of Chiara’s earthly journey Reprinted with kind permission: www.
Soon, the Petrillos’ openness to celebrated Francesco’s first birth- heart to Him… It is worthwhile to
life brought about the conception of tests, when Chiara was in the sixth had begun. day. In a letter to her son, Chiara trust.” loamagazine.org/archive/2019/2019-46/
month of her pregnancy, there was we-live-to-love-and-to-be-loved
30 MICHAEL August/September 2019 www.michaeljournal.org www.michaeljournal.org MICHAEL August/September 2019 31
