15 Days of Prayer with Blessed Chiara Badano
Florence Gillet
Bill Hartnett (Translator)
Focolare Media
ISBN 9781565485549
ASIN B01CDMP60G
Last year I stumbled upon a different volume in this series, 15 Days of Prayer with Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati by Père Charles Desjobert, OP, and really enjoyed it. I did some research on the series and this was the fifth volume I decided to work through. The volume I read before this one was the one on Chiara Lubich, I was unaware of the connection between the two, it was just the random order I picked to read them. About Blessed Chiara Badano I was aware of her name, her cause and he youthfulness.
I believe as of the writing of this review there have been 40 volumes in the series; the earliest I found was from 1999 through to a volume which was published in 2025. Only about a dozen seem to be in print currently and of those only a handful appears to have eBooks. With my dual form of dyslexia this is disappointing. I greatly prefer eBooks so I can change the font, and the colour of font and page to make reading easier. I have added all the eBook editions I could find to my wish list. About the Series we are informed:
“15 Days of Prayer Series
On a journey, it’s good to have a guide. Even great saints took spiritual directors or confessors with them on their itineraries toward sanctity. Now you can be guided by the most influential spiritual figures of all time. The 15 Days of Prayer series introduces their deepest and most personal thoughts.
This popular series is perfect if you are looking for a gift, or if you want to be introduced to a particular guide and his or her spirituality. Each volume contains:
• A brief biography of the saint or spiritual leader
• A guide to creating a format for prayer or retreat
• Fifteen meditation sessions with reflection guides”
Many of the books in this series were written in French and translated into English. That does not appear to be the case with this volume. This book was originally published in 2013, the physical volume appears to be out of print but the eBook is readily available. The description of this specific volume states:
“Blessed Chiara Badano, named Chiara "Luce" by Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement (or Work of Mary), was a young Italian, who died at the age of 18 from aggressive bone cancer. The name was chosen because her life conveyed the message that it is the "light" of God that conquers the world. She was beatified on Sept 25, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, who acknowledged her heroic virtues and tireless work for the poor, despite the pain of the disease from which she suffered. Chiara Badano's feast is celebrated every year on October 29. Translated by Bill Hartnett.
In the fifteen days of prayer contained in this book, the first seven, which describe her human and spiritual journey before the illness, provide a key to her spiritual life. Her faith shines through in days eight through eleven, a clear sign of strength for those who suffer and hope. The final sections, days twelve to fifteen, present another dimension of her spiritual life, the ecclesial and communitarian, which are a necessary corollary of her union with the Crucified-Risen Lord.
"I have come to realize that this very young woman bore witness above all to the beauty of being a disciple of Christ. As such, she kept herself in an attitude of listening, trusting and conforming herself to Jesus the Teacher to the point of becoming similar to him." From the Introduction”
Another states:
“This book is based on the life of Chiara Luce Badano, who was beatified on Sept. 25, 2010 in the presence of 12,000 young people from all over the world. The 15 days are a journey to help us grow in love and faith, and appreciate the indescribable joy of being among those whose faith is not in vain, because they are witnesses that He is truly risen.”
There is no ‘about the author’ section in the book or on the back. But we are informed on the page with the book description that:
“Florence Gillet earned a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She has published several studies on the spirituality of unity of Chiara Lubich, including 15 Days of prayer with Chiara Lubich, to be released in 2016.”
The chapters in this volume are:
How to Use This Book
A Brief Biography
Introduction
Day 1: Jesus, the Travelling Companion
Day 2: It Was Jesus Who Asked You
Day 3: I’ve Found Friends That Are Different from the Others
Day 4: God Loves Me Immensely
Day 5: Attuned to God
Day 6: Give
Day 7: A Path of Freedom
Day 8: It’s Jesus Forsaken
Day 9: My Life Has Been Transformed
Day 10: Beyond the Wound
Day 11: Chiara Luce’s Faith
Day 12: Wisdom and Light
Day 13: A People on a Journey
Day 14: Wherever Mutual Love Reigns
Day 15: Abundant Fruit
Also available in the “15 Days of Prayer” series:
I highlighted a few of passages while reading this volume some of them are:
“This was the beginning of a personal correspondence with Chiara Lubich, whom she considered her spiritual mother. In her letters, she addressed Lubich as “Mamma.” When she was eleven years old, she wrote:”
“Her adolescence was characterized by friendships, sports, reading, and taking part in Focolare events. At first there were only two girls at the meetings: Chiara and Chicca Coriasco, who in the end became like a sister to her. But soon other girls joined in.”
“As each day passed, Chiara Luce’s love for Jesus became more and more refined. She offered up her suffering, refusing morphine because it “takes away my clarity.” She wanted nothing “but [her] sufferings to offer Jesus.” Everything around her spoke of life and eternity. As she felt death approaching, she prepared her funeral, down to the most minute details.”
“Over the course of the months in which I studied the life of Chiara Luce Badano and wrote this book, I have come to realize that this very young woman—a person of our own times, who didn’t have any special form of consecration in the church other than baptism (the so-called “royal priesthood”)—bore witness above all to the beauty of being a disciple of Christ.”
“Through Chiara Luce Badano, God offers us the gift of a reminder that people are still being called today to reproduce the image of Christ and to become sons and daughters in the Son.”
“n the fifteen days of prayer contained in this book, the first seven, which describe her human and spiritual journey before the illness, provide a key to her spiritual life. Her faith shines through in days eight through eleven. The final sections, days twelve to fifteen, present another dimension of her spiritual life, the ecclesial and communitarian, which are a necessary corollary of her union with the Crucified-Risen Lord.”
“For a small child like Chiara Luce, living the Christian life in this way could have a playful dimension. Isn’t it a game, a most exciting game, to be with Jesus, becoming completely involved with him, concretely, by loving a poor person, perceiving his response and his almost grateful acknowledgement in an exchange of love?”
“Thus the meaning of personal pain can change; it can become God’s nearness. This does not mean loving pain, but loving the One who has taken it on himself. It requires that we not try to escape from suffering—which would be our natural instinct—but to stand firm and look into the face of the One who embraced it fully, and in our turn embrace him as a spouse.”
“On this eighth day of prayer let us recall the first days of these meditations, when Chiara Luce invited us to open wide our hearts and ears to the cry of Jesus within us and in all of humankind. Jesus’ cry resounds throughout the ages, announcing God’s betrothal to humanity in Jesus Christ. Out of love he took on all our suffering by experiencing within himself separation from the very source of his being.”
“Life is transformed through love for Jesus in his forsakenness on the cross; our vision of the world changes, as if by a divine alchemy.”
“Sharing in Jesus’ Passover means giving to God the joy of seeing that his gifts are not being wasted but are allowed to come to fruition. Since God has reconciled us to himself in Christ, then let us reconcile with God, as Paul begs us to do.”
“This fits in with Johannine faith. Chiara Luce strove to believe in his love and to remain in him, her eyes fixed on him, sharing in his suffering. This demonstrates how mortal illness can be transformed into a sign of life and resurrection.”
“Love personified had made a triumphal entry into her soul, bringing to her gifts of understanding, peace and joy. Her suffering was immersed in Love. Because she knew the sweetness and tenderness of the Consoler Spirit, she could truthfully write:"
“The spirit of fortitude that she called upon assisted her in every moment. The spirit of piety helped her to love Jesus and to offer him her life in preparation for her marriage to him.”
“The Spirit of love of the Father and of the Son is the “most blessed light divine” that fills the heart of his faithful. Chiara Badano was filled with the light of the Holy Spirit; even the name given to her by Chiara Lubich means “light” (Luce). Nothing could have been more appropriate.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. I picked this volume because though I am aware of the name Chiara Badano or Chiara Luce and was unaware of the relationship and interactions with Chiara Lubich, or the Focolare Movement. This was an interesting read not knowing much about the young woman or the movement she started. It was deeply moving and very inspiring.
This is a great volume in an excellent series. Spending these 15 days with Chiara Luce, the written reflections and the discussion questions was a moving experience. And I loved the numerous quotes from Chiara’s own words. Not knowing much I found sometimes I had to reread sections. I can easily recommend this book and look forward to reading others in the series. I just really wish all of the 40 volumes were available as eBooks, I would work through them all if so.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books in the 15 Days of Prayer With Series:
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam - Christian Verheyde
Brother Roger Of Taize - Sabine Laplane
Charles de Foucauld - Michael Lafon
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Matthieu Arnold
Don Bosco - Robert Schiele
Henri Nouwen - Robert Waldron
Jean-Claude Colin - Francois Drouilly
Johannes Tauler - Andre Pinet
Meister Eckhart - André Gozier
Peter Joseph Triest - Brother René Stockman
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - André Dupleix
Saint Alphonsus Liguori - Jean-Marie Segalen
Saint Augustine - Jaime García
Saint Benedict - André Gozier
Saint Bernard - Pierre Yves Emery
Saint Catherine of Siena - Chantal van der Plancke
Saint Clare of Assisi - Marie-France Becker
Saint Dominic - Alain Quilici
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton - Betty Ann McNeil
Saint Eugene de Mazenod - Bernard Dullier
Saint Faustina Kowalska - John Cleary
Saint Francis de Sales - Claude Morel
Saint Francis of Assisi - Thaddée Matura O.F.M.
Saint Jeanne Jugan - Michel Lafon
Saint John of the Cross - Constant Tonnelier
Saint Katharine Drexel - Leo Luke Marcello
Saint Louis De Montfort - Veronique Pinardon
Saint Martín de Porres: A Saint of the Americas - Brian J. Pierce
Saint Philip Neri - Jean-François Audrain
Saint Teresa of Avila - Jean Abiven
Saint Therese of Lisieux - Victoria Hebert
Saint Thomas Aquinas - Suzanne Vrai and André Pinet
Saint Vincent de Paul - Jean-Pierre Renouard
The Curé of Ars - Pierre Blanc
Thomas Merton - Andre Gozier
…
