Phra Ajahn Luce Ardente: “Kanlayanamitr of Interreligious Dialogue!”

He was born in Ban Paa Phai, Lee District, Lamphun Province in 1944. He was ordained as a novice in 1957 and as a monk in 1964. After being ill with diabetes and other complications for more than a year, he passed away on 10 November 2025. He was 81 years old and had been ordained as a monk for 61 years.

The Focolare has had a close relationship with Venerable Dr. Thongrattana for 30 years, beginning with the Focolare9;s invitation to meet with Pope John Paul II in 1995 in Manila. In the same year he met Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, in Rome, Italy. He has been involved in interreligious dialogue with the Focolare ever since.

Above all, the exchange of spiritual experiences was more than just a reverent visit or simply participating in a religious ritual.

Chiara Lubich had defined interreligious dialogue as an exchange of spiritual life and as a dialogue of life, so we chose that kind of dialogue and Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana agreed to our proposal.

He requested to spend time at the Claritas House with a group of religious, members of the various congregations who were receiving formation in the spirit of unity of the Focolare Movement in Loppiano, near Florence, Italy, where he can pray, work, discuss and exchange ideas about various matters, living together by putting love and compassion into practice in a concrete way.

In the 30 years that we have known Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana, we can define 30 years of 9;mutual love9;. While it has not always been easy, this is the story of a true dialogue: sharing joys and sorrows, going through difficult times together, even in the darkest moments at times.

Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana’s life with other monks had not been exactly smooth. Many monks did not understand and asked him: “As a Buddhist monk, how did you follow a Christian woman named Chiara Lubich?” He answered: 'I do not follow Chiara Lubich, but I follow her charism of unity and universal brotherhood.' And, another question: 'What have you gained? You see, you’re not receiving any donations nor envelopes”. Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana always responded to these criticisms by saying, 'I have received the charism of unity and universal brotherhood. That alone and Nirvana is enough for me.'

The Claritas House is a residence where men religious from various congregations around the world reside to receive spiritual formation of unity of the Focolare Movement in Loppiano, near Florence, Italy. Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana has stayed there several times. The first time was in 1995, he stayed there for two months. He had some beautiful and tangible experiences with the men religious at Claritas.

He recounted this following episode with us: One day, he had left his shoes in front of the house and the next day, he saw that the shoes were cleaned. The robes that had been ready for washing-were washed and ironed very well. He said, “I was very impressed and surprised because in Thailand, I could hardly find someone who would do it for me. So, I asked my fellow monk [a Catholic Christian one, also living in Claritas], 'Why did you do this to me?' He replied, 'Because I love you'. This taught me how to love one another. One day, I saw some dishes in the kitchen that hadn9;t been washed, so I went to wash them, cleaned the kitchen and put things away neatly. When my fellow monks came back, they were delighted and they rewarded me with chocolate. And, after helping the monks cut trees and collect branches, they again gave me reward.

But the most beautiful and profound experience of Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana was when he encountered the mystery of the crucifixion of Jesus at a church in Nemi, near Rocca di Papa. Inside the church of Nemi, he saw the famous big cross, which bore the face of Jesus as he was tortured, his head covered in blood and his body covered in wounds. He shared the following with us:

“I was so frightened and shaken by the sight of the cross that I had to leave the church.” After resting for a while, he re-entered the church. He asked the Focolare members who had been helping in translation, “Why was Jesus crucified and why did he die like this? What had he done wrong?” He was told, “He died out of love for all people. He died to reveal the love of God to us.” Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana asked again: “So, did He also die for us?” And the answer is: 'Of course, for all people.' This experience of Jesus9; pain, transformed into love, would from then on be forever etched in his heart. He told us: “It was the crucifix of Nemi that made me understand that ‘Christianity is a religion of love.’” He often told us about his experience of the cross of Nemi, over and over again.

From that day several years ago until about the last two months of his life when Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana had been seriously ill, we were visiting him very often until the time when he was recuperating at his kuti in Nakhon Pathom. One day, he invited us by saying, 'Come into my room and see real suffering, not the kind you see in the movies.' And he told us about his experience of the cross in Nemi again that day.

Last October, in his message to Margaret Karram, president of the Focolare Movement, while he was seriously ill, Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana said: “I suffer, but my suffering is nothing compared to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. As a son of Mother Chiara Lubich, I will endure, endure, and endure to the end! Margaret, we will not meet again, but one day I hope we will meet again.”

Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana suffered from a serious illness, but he never complained. He accepted it with perseverance. On the last day, the day before he passed away, we visited him in the hospital. We whispered to him, “Mary is waiting for you at the gates of Heaven, and all the Focolare brothers and sisters are waiting to welcome you into the arms of Jesus.” The next day, November 10, 2022, at 5:50 a.m., he passed away peacefully. Our best friend, a disciple of the Lord Buddha, who we might say knew Jesus crucified and forsaken and always spoke of him, has passed away.

Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana always kept a rosary in his bowl and he had a crucifix of Assisi from Maria Voce (Emmaus), the second president of the Focolare Movement. He also received a necklace with the Crucifix of Assisi from Cardinal Kriengsak Kovitvanich. When he was asked why, he explained, 'The Crucifix teaches us to love.'

We thank God for this remarkable and hospitable disciple of interreligious dialogue. He loved and cared for all people regardless of race or religion. He had people of all religions as his friends. Because he has put love and compassion into practice in a concrete way. He also has cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and imams, and Muslim brothers and sisters as his close friends.

The chanting ceremony for the merit of Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana was held for 5 nights, from 10-14 November 2025. Both Buddhists and Christians joined in the chanting at Phra Pathom Chedi Temple, Muang District, Nakhon Pathom Province. For 3 nights, there were three senior buddhist monks came to preach before chanting. They remembered the virtues of Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana and spoke of his example of a practicing monk, which he left to all of us as a will to carry on. The monks spoke of the Pope, of the Vatican, of inter-religious dialogue, and of the Focolare9;s art of loving. In this regards, Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana always said. 'Love everyone, love always, love with joy when you meet someone. And if you don’t understand, it’s because you are not loving.”

The cremation ceremony of Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana on November 15th was considered a grand event. There were Theravada buddhist monks from many temples and provinces. And there were monks from the Mahayana tradition from Wat Thammapanyaram (VietnameseTemple, Bang Chang Subdistrict, Nakhon Pathom), totaling approximately 200 buddhist monks, some buddhist nuns, male and female lay Buddhists and Christians, total participants were approximately about 600 people.

The words of Saint Pope John Paul II are still fresh in our minds today. He said: 'We must proclaim our faith with humility and modesty. Suggest with love and respect, not force.' The Holy Spirit knows how to work within people9;s hearts in a way that none of us can.

We have become good friends with Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana, Luce Ardente. Moreover, he has treated us, the members of Focolare Movement, and the followers of all religions that he has known, like a father, brother, friend, and teacher who always helps and advises us with overflowing love and compassion.

May our Eternal Father receive Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana in His arms among the saints, along with Chiara Lubich, all his co-member dear ones and the people of Heaven.

May God grant eternal rest and reward Phra Maha Dr. Thongrattana Rattanawanno Thavorn in Heaven.

Varaporn Phongphit - Luigi Butori