1.

The way of thinking that is dominating both in words and actions in our world seems to be the following: “If that person weren’t here, it would be better”. This way of thinking is at the antipodes of the thought and heart of Tonalestate, because it is at the antipodes of man’s true heart.

2.

A young student, during the university classes of Tonalestate, said that he was afraid of “radicality”: for us, to be radical means to go and to go back to the roots of our being and our existing, and to find out one origin and a common destiny that brings us to exclaim: “If that person weren’t here, my life would only end in crying”.

3.

Our calling, the reason why we came into existence, consists in imitating what the Psalm 101 says: “He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea”. As the meaning of my life is on the line, we cannot ignore the lament of the destitute, who is exhausted and squashed, because it’s our own lament, it’s the lament of my brother. In chapter VI of Les Misérables, titled “Works corresponding to words”, we can read: “My brethren, have pity! behold the suffering on all sides of you!”.

4.

For this reason, dear young students, dear teachers and professors, and dear friends all, old and new, we need to fight with the weapons “of justice and of rights, of love and of benevolence, of dedication and of loyalty”, against every “FIRST” that the power of some sad alleged little noblemen always want to favour before their personal interests. For us, “American FIRST”; “Italians FIRST”; “European FIRST”; “West FIRST”, don’t exist, as they recall that terrifying, horrible and inhumane Nazi slogan “ÜBER ALLES”. For us, what matters is “HUMANITY FIRST”, and, for this reason, dear young students and dear all, as Antonio De Petro writes in his novel Dies Irae: “Who, between us, will truly love the other and not himself, hurl the first word of meeting, prelude of love”.

5.

So, don’t let this “symphony of charity” proposed and lived in the Tonalestate International Summer University die, and don’t be afraid to let go of an individualistic understanding of life, of death, of pain and of happiness, but get involved instead, be committed, TAKE INITIATIVE, so that, when our time comes, “ONE finds you, distinctively, with your head dedicated to good things and not with your eyes stuck and hollow in front of a screen”.

6.

The friends of Tonalestate, even if aware of being a little flock, will not leave you alone, they wish to be Compagnia with you in this necessary work, and they will always repeat “Noli timere!”, because we will be with you, personally, and with you all.

7.

Yes, dear friends, let these words resonate everywhere: “Noli timere!”, because who discovers that they are loved will never be derelicto and sad.

So, I, Elena, will start: “Noli timere!”. Because we will be with you.

Good luck with your work.