Love knows no distinctions. The blessing of a gay couple in Milan

Article by Paolo Fabbri, weekly Reformation, 8 July 2011, p.12

10 in the morning on Sunday 26 June just began, Guido Lanza walks along the central lane among the long double series of benches in the Valdese church of Milan.
For those who have known him for years, his attitude is rigid, he walks almost impetusing, betrays a certain nervousness, perhaps there will be that there will be little people to accompany him in such an important moment of his life as a "yes" declared in front of everyone: The community, friends outside the Waldensian world, even strangers, perhaps, perhaps, televisions, newspapers.

It all seems unreal, even if the event could have a media impact of a certain breath, being the first case of the blessing of a homosexual couple in Italy (after the pronouncement of the 2010 Synod).

Perhaps this is exactly what Guido fears, the indiscreet presence of the media that risk c over the delicate intimacy of a love relationship, which is firmly expressed in a world largely hostile.

Ciro chose, sitting on a bench, observes the goalkeeper of his partner with greater relaxation.

I don't know him enough to imagine his thoughts, I limit myself to observing a slight tension from the way he holds the bench with one hand and a substantial serenity with a firm gaze, veined with sweetness.

The church room, which is not small, has gradually filled; We see people who come from other communities, other strangers; I question someone, others greet them and find that they are present because they are friends of the two interested ones, others who would like to follow their example and relatives of these.

It becomes clear, then, that this ceremony has taken on, in the world of gay believers and not only, a relevance that goes beyond the specific case.

I see Ivan Scalfarotto, vice -president of the Democratic Party, that this theme, also for personal reasons, has always treated, then I see the first journalists, the cameramen with their bulky equipment, others with the microphones at hand: there are all the ingredients for a media event of a certain level.

Guido is rigid like a statue, he looks around, greets, holds his hands; He seems to ask: but these are all here for me and Ciro?

The president of the Constoro, Samuele Bernardini, takes the situation in hand with simplicity but also with adequate firmness; He explains the terms in which they can move and take photos or take shots, private individuals, journalists and operators.

In the meantime, shepherd Plato has stored on the pulpit, the church is packed with standing people who fill the space at the bottom; Giulio Piovani attacks the organ prelude to C. Ph. E. Bach.

The greeting, as always friendly and communicative of the shepherd, begins the cult. The confession of sin is already a significant fact for many, with personal prayer directly to the Lord and the anthem 186 by Mendelssohn Bartholdy who accompanies it.

After the biblical readings, the Valdese choral gives a musical interlude, to prepare the bystanders to listen to the word.

Guido and Ciro participate components: their emotion, however, transpires from the intense fixity of the looks.

The sermon is on the John 3,18-24, and the words stand out: «This is his commandment: which we believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and we love each other, as he has given the commandment ».

Love in all its forms constitutes fulfillment of the great commandment of Jesus. The lively words of the preacher are perfectly associated with the prayer presented by one of the members of the VALCO group: «We are gathered here, listening to your word, which announces us Your grace, salvation, your paternal and maternal love.

For too many centuries, ladies, the Bible, the result of authors inspired and containing your word of life, has been exploited, contested to hurt, separate, to sow hatred.

Justify violence, a few centuries ago even death. Your word consoles us, illuminates us, builds us, through a key to reading without which the biblical texts would no longer be able to talk to us and would be a dead letter ... that is, that you, Lord, are love.

Lord, today we celebrate in front of you the public recognition of a love that you first have blessed, supported and protected and for which we make you thanks. The love that shows us every day, Lord, is the real one, knows no distinctions of race, faith, social class, language, sexual orientation, nor of gender identity.

Lord, you who are our father and our mother, open our hearts in reading your word, to welcome the message of your Son Jesus Christ, who invites us to love us each other, without discrimination, of a free love and to cancel , in the heart of each of us, the prejudice derived from blind literature, which insinuates doubts that generates exclusion and suffering, which shields our hearts from the irrelevant breath of the Holy Spirit, which frees us and consoles us. Illuminated us, O God, with the light of your love. Amen".

These intense and heartfelt words open us at the moment of the meeting: the blessing of the love of Guido and Ciro, who have sworn each other and now intend to reaffirm him, receiving the blessing of the Lord invoked by one of his minister.

The atmosphere is full of tension, the emotion is perceived as electricity when it is about to burst a thunderstorm, which, however, does not burst.

The pastora Anne Zell, who first, seven years ago, made a spiritual guide to Guido and Ciro, witnessing them in the idea of ​​lifting the problem of the blessing of a homosexual couple in front of a Synod, to obtain a pronouncement that traced a way New, a way that is now open with the recent synodal resolution, with the delicacy, sweetness and sensitivity that characterize it, calls Guido and Ciro, looks at them with a smile and imposes their hands over their heads, invoking the blessing of God about their love and their life in common.

From the top of the balcony that hosts the organ, the wonderful voice of Roberto Balconi, now well known in the European musical world, rises clear, wonderful in Haendel's Eternal Source of Light Divine, to add emotion to sign a moment destined to remain in the memory and history of the Waldensian community of Milan and beyond.

The sang Amen has just turned off at the end of the cult that the organ postlude is overwhelmed; In fact, the cameras, flash, interviews are unleashed and a thunderous, spontaneous, long, felt applause broke out. Best wishes Guido and Ciro, we are grateful to you to be with us.