Statistics would argue that virtually everyone reading this personally knows someone whose life has been upended or ended because of addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Roughly one in every 20 deaths globally involve the misuse of alcohol, and 130 people die in the United States every day due to opioid overdoses. Recent studies have shown that approximately 1 percent of eighth graders have tried methamphetamine (“Meth”) or crack cocaine, and 9 percent of high school seniors have huffed inhalants like solvents and aerosol sprays, and/or used hallucinogenic drugs. The overall rate of drug-related deaths has tripled since the year 2000 and continues to rise, with fentanyl now killing about as many people as car accidents annually.
These statistics speak to the unique realities facing young adults as they come of age in the 21st century. And while many of these numbers demonstrate that the situation is particularly and profoundly tragic here in the United States, it is unquestionably a global phenomenon. This is one of the main reasons that Pope Francis recently traveled to the home of the Cenacolo community (Comunità Cenacolo) in Rome to close the Year of Saint Joseph and to bless their chapel. Sister Elvira Petrozzi, known around the world as Mother Elvira, founded the Cenacolo community almost 40 years ago in Saluzzo, a hilltop village about an hour from Turin in the northwest region of Italy known as Piedmont.
The community provides a stable and prayerful environment to illumine a path for “salvation” that entails more than merely waiting for the next life to exorcize the demons of substance abuse and addiction. The community members are united by the cross that so many of them share, as they struggle to remake their lives on earth and to contribute in meaningful ways to society and to the people of God. Inspired by the Benedictine tradition of “Ora et Labora” – “Prayer and Work” – they are able to rediscover peace, order and the joy of loving: others, themselves and God.
Since its founding in 1983, the Cenacolo community has received international recognition for its work in offering a Christian means of escape for those who, like Dante, find their senses dulled, good intentions abandoned and themselves lost along the journey of life, far from their intended path.
The chapel blessed during the Pope’s visit honors the Good Samaritan, and is constructed from reutilized castoff and waste materials. Far from being disposable and of no use, these elements that are discarded by others end up serving a sanctified purpose, which is an apt metaphor for the lives transformed through Mother Elvira’s ministry. Today, the community started by the “nun of the drug addicts” has communities in over 70 cities. Listening to the experiences of young people has enabled the community to respond in creative and compassionate ways, and helped provide a means of discovering courage and dignity for those in need of transformative healing of mind, body and spirit.
In his address, the pope reiterated his conviction that suffering is not a problem to be solved or a failure to be avoided at all costs, but rather a mystery to be encountered: “Do not be afraid of reality, of the truth, of our misery. Do not be afraid, because Jesus likes reality as it is, undisguised; the Lord does not like people who cover their souls, their heart with makeup. … Help many young people who are in situations like yours. Have the courage to say: ‘Think that there is a better way.’”
While the vast majority of those whose lives are rebuilt amidst the difficult prayerful work of the community choose to re-enter society, some remain for life to help others through these difficult transitions. They have dedicated the rest of their days to helping bring Christ’s eternal light to those in the darkness of substance abuse. If you are suffering from addiction, I would implore you to reach out to one of their Servants of Hope at (904)-501-7872 or at HopeReborn.org.
Originally from Collingswood, Michael M. Canaris, Ph.D., teaches at Loyola University, Chicago.
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