Community of Sant'Egidio
Encyclopedia
- PrayerPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, centered around a reading of the BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations... - Spreading the GospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
to help people who are looking for a sense to their life. - Service to the poorPovertyPoverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, which is free and unpaid - Commitment to ecumenismEcumenismEcumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
(the Community of Sant'Egidio is also ecumenical, though being rooted in the Catholic Church) - DialogueInterfaithThe term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels...
with members of other religions and non-believers.
The Community of Sant'Egidio was founded in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1968 by a group of Roman high school students led by Andrea Riccardi
Andrea Riccardi
Andrea Riccardi is the founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio. "The Community of Saint Egidio was born in 1968 in Rome and is made up of more than 70,000 persons in more than 70 countries actively involved above all in evangelization and in the service to one’s neighbor, especially the most...
. It is named after the Roman Church of Sant'Egidio (Italian for Saint Giles
Saint Giles
Saint Giles was a Greek Christian hermit saint from Athens, whose legend is centered in Provence and Septimania. The tomb in the abbey Giles was said to have founded, in St-Gilles-du-Gard, became a place of pilgrimage and a stop on the road that led from Arles to Santiago de Compostela, the...
) in Trastevere
Trastevere
Trastevere is rione XIII of Rome, on the west bank of the Tiber, south of Vatican City. Its name comes from the Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". The correct pronunciation is "tras-TEH-ve-ray", with the accent on the second syllable. Its logo is a golden head of a lion on a...
, its first permanent meeting place. Since 1968, the community has gathered each night to pray and read from the Bible, reflecting on the Gospel, eventually spreading throughout the world with a mission of helping those in need. Their activities include setting up refuges for the old, hospices for AIDS patients, and printing a handbook titled "Where to Eat, Sleep, and Wash in Rome" as gifts to the homeless.
The charitable efforts of Sant'Egidio also led it to be a well-regarded mediator of peace negotiations. In the late 1980s, the Community came to the realization that their humanitarian efforts in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, then torn by the Mozambican Civil War
Mozambican Civil War
The Mozambican Civil War began in 1977, two years after the end of the war of independence. The ruling party, Front for Liberation of Mozambique , was violently opposed from 1977 by the Rhodesian- and South African-funded Mozambique Resistance Movement...
, could not succeed without peace. In 1990, the Community was accepted by the ruling FRELIMO and rebel Mozambican National Resistance
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
as a mediator, playing a key role in the Rome General Peace Accords
Rome General Peace Accords
The Rome General Peace Accords between the Mozambican Civil War parties, the Frelimo and the Renamo , put an end to the Mozambique Civil War. It was signed on October 4, 1992. Negotiations preceding in began in July 1990...
signed in 1992. They continue peace initiatives in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
(notably the 1995 Sant'Egidio Platform
Sant'Egidio platform
The Sant'Egidio Platform of January 13, 1995 was an attempt by most of the major Algerian opposition parties to put an end to the Algerian Civil War, which had begun in 1992 as a military coup d'état overturned election results that would have brought the Islamic Salvation Front , an Islamic party,...
), the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, and other areas, in the belief that war is the "mother of every poverty”.
The community of Sant'Egidio shows its commitment against the Death penalty by maintaining penpalships with many Death convicts, collecting signatures for a moratorium
Moratorium (law)
A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out....
of executions and inviting cities around the world to take part in the Cities for Life Day
Cities for Life Day
On the Cities for Life Day, November 30, cities around the world celebrate the first abolition of the death penalty by a European state, decreed by Peter Leopold Joseph of Habsburg-Lorraine in 1786 for his Grand Duchy of Tuscany...
.
Churches and places of worship in Rome
The Community of Sant' Egidio has its center in the Church of Sant'Egidio and the annexed convent (also called Monastery of our Lady of Carmel) which are used for daily prayers and meetings. Furthermore, it has in use several other churches in Rome, some of major historical significance, such as Santa Maria in Trastevere.
In this basilica - beside the daily parish schedule - every evening is hold the Community prayer, at h.20.30 (GMT +1). The prayer is open to everybody and simultaneous translation in provided upon request. The prayer is broadcasted live on internet at http://mediaserver.glauco.it/RecCMS/InBluDiretta.jsp
For further information on other events are or activities, see www.santegidio.org.
In the parish of Santa Maria is included also the small and ancient church of S.Calisto, which hosts prayers and masses according to the parish timetable.
- San Bartolomeo all' Isola (noted for being the resting place of St. Bartholomew the Apostle) hosts also the memorial of the martyrs and witnesses of the faith of the XX and XXI century. The church is open to public every day and guided visits are provided upon request.
Every evening the prayer of the Community of Sant'Egidio takes place there at 20.30. For further info, see http://www.sanbartolomeo.org/index.aspx?ln=en
In Rome several groups of the Community gather for regular meetings of prayer also in other churches or places of worship (such as Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini
Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, Rome
The Chiesa della Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini is a church in the historic city centre of Rome. In the Regola rione, it neighbours other important historic buildings such as the Palazzo Farnese, Ponte Sisto and the Via Giulia.In 2008 Pope Benedict XVI entrusted the parish to the Priestly...
and many others, mainly located in the outskirts of the city).
Awards
The Community of Sant'Egidio has received numerous honors and recognitions. These include:- 1997: World Methodist Peace Award from the World Methodist CouncilWorld Methodist CouncilThe World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
- 1999: Niwano Peace PrizeNiwano Peace PrizeNiwano Peace Prize is given to honor and encourage those who are devoting themselves to interreligious cooperation in the cause of peace,and to make their achievements known...
from the Niwano Peace Foundation - 1999: Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace PrizeFélix Houphouët-Boigny Peace PrizeThe Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize was established in 1990 by UNESCO:The prize bears the name of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, late former president of Côte d'Ivoire. It is awarded annually. The prize is 122,000 euros, to be shared equally in the case of multiple recipients.-Recipients:-External...
from UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations... - 2000: Formal recognition from the New York City CouncilNew York City CouncilThe New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
for commitment to human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, in particular efforts to stop the death penalty - 2002: Nominated by the Parliament of ItalyParliament of ItalyThe Parliament of Italy is the national parliament of Italy. It is a bicameral legislature with 945 elected members . The Chamber of Deputies, with 630 members is the lower house. The Senate of the Republic is the upper house and has 315 members .Since 2005, a party list electoral law is being...
for the Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who... - 2004: International Peacemaking Award from Common GroundSearch for Common GroundSearch for Common Ground is an international non-profit organization operating in nearly 30 countries whose mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict – away from adversarial approaches toward cooperative solutions. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with the majority of...
- 2004: Balzan PrizeBalzan PrizeThe International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man.-Rewards and assets:Each year the...
for humanity, peace and brotherhood among peoples. - 2009: International Charlemagne PrizeKarlspreis- See also :*Charlemagne*European integration*Leipzig Human Rights Award, originally called the "Alternative Charlemagne Award", formed in opposition to Clinton's recognition with the award- External links :* http://www.karlspreis.de/ *...
recognizing Andrea Riccardi, the Society's founder, as a "great European" whose life has been at the service of his neighbor.
See also
- Drug Resources Enhancement against Aids and Malnutrition (DREAM)DREAM (AIDS therapy program)DREAM is an AIDS therapy program promoted by the Christian Community of Sant'Egidio...
Books
- Sant 'Egidio, Rome and the World - by Andrea Riccardi, Peter Heinegg, ISBN 0-85439-559-8 / ISBN 978-0-85439-559-0, Saint Paul Publications
- The Sant'Egidio Book of Prayer - by Andrea Riccardi and the Community of Sant'Egidio, ISBN 1-59471-206-9 / ISBN 978-1-59471-206-7, Ave Maria Press
External links
- The Community of Sant'Egidio homepage
- DREAM (Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and malnutrition) programm - The Community of Sant'Egidio
- BBC Profile: The Community of Sant'Egidio
- UNESCO Courier, "Sant'Egidio's Diplomacy of Friendship
- Time Magazine profile of Andrea Riccardi, 3 April 2008
- "Sant'Egidio at 40: Linking friendship and service in world-changing ways," National Catholic Reporter, 16 May 2008
- Austen Ivereigh, "Changing the World Via the Crucified: The Community of Sant'Egidio", 22 December 2005
- Oomoto participates in Sant’Egidio conference Dialogue among religions and cultures On divided island nation of Cyprus November 2008, taken from OomotoOomotoOomoto also known as Oomoto-kyo , is a sect, often categorised as a new Japanese religion originated from Shinto; it was founded in 1892 by Deguchi Nao...
Website - Creating Peace In War Zones: The Roman Catholic Community Of Sant'Egidio, The Huffington Post, Oct. 16, 2010