A Testimony from CLC Italy

Spreading the Word. Reaching the World.

It was a quiet afternoon in our Torino bookshop when she walked in—someone clearly different from our usual visitors. Her long dreadlocks framed a thoughtful face, and there was something about her presence that felt both grounded and searching.

She came straight to the counter and asked for something simple. “A small book about God,” she said.

A Search for Peace

“It’s for my father,” she explained. “He’s in the hospital. He never believed in God—not once in his life. But lately, I’ve seen him reading the Bible. I don’t know if it’s faith or just something to pass the time, but I want to help him find some peace.”

I led her to a book that has brought comfort to many over the years: Peace with God – The Secret of Happiness by Billy Graham. She looked at it briefly, then said with certainty, “Yes. This is it.”

With that decision, something in her began to open.

A Heart Open to Truth

She shared more of her own journey. She was Buddhist, she told me, but deeply open. “I believe in something bigger,” she said, “and I think truth shows up in many ways.”

As she moved through the shop, she paused in the children’s section, clearly drawn in. She was a teacher, always looking for good material. Her Catholic colleagues had shown her kindness, and she wanted to give them something meaningful in return.

She chose calendars with daily verses and small devotionals for children. Before long, her arms were full.

A Prompt to Give

As she returned to the counter, I felt a quiet nudge—one I’ve learned not to ignore. I stepped away briefly and returned with a copy of Death of a Guru.

Just as I came back, I heard her say, almost to herself, “I love giving gifts to people. I really do. But sometimes it’s hard. I hardly ever get anything in return.”

In that moment, the response felt clear.

I held out the book and said, “Then this is for you. Since you’re always giving to others, today you get to receive. I hope that in your search, this speaks to your heart—with the love and truth of Jesus.”

A Moment That Could Not Be Explained

She froze. Her eyes filled with tears. “Really? For me?”

When I nodded, something in her gave way. She began to cry, holding the book tightly to her chest. Unable to say much, she whispered a quiet thank you and stepped out of the shop, visibly moved.

It was one of those moments that cannot be explained—only received.

A Joy Shared

Hours later, she returned—different somehow. Lighter. Radiant.

She told me she had just met an old friend on the street, someone she hadn’t seen in years. “I had to bring her in,” she said. “This place… it’s full of something special.”

She chose a calendar for her friend, then turned to me with warmth and gratitude. Before she left, we shared a brief moment together.

“I’ll be praying for you,” I said.

She paused, nodded, and smiled.
– A testimony from Silvia Viola, CLC Italy