Benedict XVI Tells Youth: Church Counts On You

Urges Them to Be Envoys of God's Love

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is encouraging young people to pray and live the sacraments, so as to be witnesses of hope and joy in a world that counts on them.

The Pope affirmed this in a message published today for the 24th World Youth Day, which will take place April 5, Palm Sunday, on a diocesan level. The event theme is: "We Have Set Our Hope on the Living God."

He told the young people that "we are journeying towards the international gathering due to take place in Madrid in 2011," reminding them that this youth day is one in a series of three, for which we are on "a path of preparation together."

Recalling the 2008 youth gathering in Sydney, the Pontiff reminded the young people, "I urged you to let yourselves be shaped by [the Holy Spirit] in order to be messengers of divine love, capable of building a future of hope for all humanity."

He added: "Youth is a special time of hope because it looks to the future with a whole range of expectations. When we are young we cherish ideals, dreams and plans. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition."

We ask ourselves, he noted, "Where can I obtain and how can I keep alive the flame of hope burning in my heart?"

The Holy Father observed, "Experience shows that personal qualities and material goods are not enough to guarantee the hope which the human spirit is constantly seeking."

This great hope, he affirmed, "can only be God, who encompasses the whole of reality and who can bestow upon us what we, by ourselves, cannot attain."

Societal needs

Benedict XVI told the youth: "My dear young friends, I have in mind so many of your contemporaries who have been wounded by life. They often suffer from personal immaturity caused by dysfunctional family situations, by permissive and libertarian elements in their education, and by difficult and traumatic experience."

He added: "Yet, even for those who find themselves in difficult situations, having been led astray by bad role models, the desire for true love and authentic happiness is not extinguished.

"But how can we speak of this hope to those young people? We know that it is in God alone that a human person finds true fulfillment.

"The main task for us all is that of a new evangelization aimed at helping younger generations to rediscover the true face of God, who is Love."

Paul the Apostle

Referring to St. Paul's example of virtue, the Pope said that "hope is not simply an ideal or sentiment, but a living person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

He continued, "If we are not alone, if he is with us, even more, if he is our present and our future, why be afraid? [...]

"Just as he once encountered the young Paul, Jesus also wants to encounter each one of you, my dear young people. Indeed, even before we desire it, such an encounter is ardently desired by Jesus Christ.

"But perhaps some of you might ask me: How can I meet him today? Or rather, in what way does he approach me?"

The answer, said the Pontiff, is in prayer. He said, "When we express our faith in prayer, we find him even in times of darkness because he offers himself to us."

He exhorted the youth, "Make space for prayer in your lives!"

Finding Christ

The Holy Father pointed out: "There are experiences, groups and movements, encounters and courses in which to learn to pray and thus grow in the experience of faith.

"Take part in your parish liturgies and be abundantly nourished by the Word of God and your active participation in the sacraments."

He said, "If you find your sustenance in Christ, my dear young people, and if you live profoundly in him as did the Apostle Paul, you will not be able to resist speaking about him and making him known and loved by many of your friends and contemporaries."

Benedict XVI emphasized: "The Church depends on you for this demanding mission. Do not be discouraged by the difficulties and trials you encounter.

"Be patient and persevering so as to overcome the natural youthful tendency to rush ahead and to want everything immediately."

He added, "Following in the footsteps of the people of hope -- composed of prophets and saints of every age -- we continue to advance toward the fulfillment of the Kingdom, and on this spiritual path we are accompanied by the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope."

Rome vs USA

"Look at our Government! A mere hollow shell! It has no moral fiber! Content with its luxury, indolence, and profligacy, its extravagant pageants in honor of its silly gods; ruled by an insane dotard and a drunken nonentity!...Rome is doomed! I do not venture to predict when or how Nemesis will arrive-but it is on its way. The Roman Empire is too weak and wicked to survive!" (Chapter 1, page 20)

I read this passage in the book, The Robe, which by the way I highly recommend, and it struck me how similar it was to to America. For those of you who don't about this book, it is based on Centurion Marcellus who crucified Jesus, and his conversion to Christianity. It was made into a motion picture (which my family owns), but, as always, the book rules! It is truly sad how the United States is so like the crumbling Rome and is threatened to fully collapse under our possible, immoral, candidate for President, Barack Obama. We must pray! We must pray hard for the upcoming elections, and that the God would spare the USA from what it deserves for its wickedness.

A Poem

* Once Upon A Time... *

Once upon a time,
To be pregnant out of wedlock was to be a disgrace.

Once upon a time,
Couples got married to bring forth children.

Once upon a time,
Children were thought of as blessings and gifts from God.

Once upon a time,
“Spare the rod, spoil the child” was taken seriously.

Once upon a time,
Parents knew better than the child.

Once upon a time,
People worked on their land instead of their computer.

Once upon a time,
Religion wasn’t forbidden in school.

Once upon a time,
Seniors were respected for the very fact that they were old.

Once upon a time,
Your elders’ advice was valued.

Once upon a time,
To be gay was to be happy.

Once upon a time,
The majority of the US was not liberal.

Once upon a time,
Modesty was the fashion.

Once upon a time,
The US was close to God.

-Yours truly

Please tell me what you think and if you have any suggestions. Thanks!