Pope Benedict XVI has gathered more than a million young adults to celebrate in Madrid the JMJ or World Youth Day. It is very interesting to note how young pilgrims from different countries are living together the day to day activities in Madrid without minding the inconveniences of sleeping together on hard floors and bearing the sometimes more than 35 degs. temperature, depending on the time of day, to celebrate a big festive Catholic event preceded by Pope Benedict XVI.
According to Cardenal Archbishop of Madrid and president of the local organizers of JMJ Madrid 2011, the JMJ carries the implicit message of joy, life, love, freedom and future. Naturally, and mainly, of course is faith. Here is what Antonio María Rouco Varela said:
1) Joy - There are more than enough reasons to lament so many tragedies in the world, such as hunger that strikes a brother muslim country like Somalia or unemployment and the lack of housing that hold a tight grip to millions of Spanish people. Even then, my encounter these days with thousands of youth who came to Madrid makes me believe that there are reasons to celebrate and ideals to keep on doing good. The youth understand more than any other the Pope's affirmation: "I think that God has a great sense of humor. Sometimes he gives one a shove and says: Do not think highly of yourself too much". Actually, humor is a part of the joy of creation. In many questions in our life, it is noted that God also likes us to be a little lighter; to perceive joy, to descend from our pedestal and not to forget to have fun".
(Dios y el mundo, pág. 13).
2) Life - I am grateful to the youth for so many lessons that they frequently give us, to us who are not so many anymore. Change, improvement, freshness, movement, advances... they are all related to what Cardenal Newman said: "to live is to change, and he who has changed much has lived much". From the vital contexts, each generation can discover new dimensions that the Church has not previously recognized".
(Dios y el mundo, pág. 31).
3) Love - It may seem paradoxical that the commandment that Jesus Christ handed 2000 years ago, sometimes, seems to be learned the first time. Love is in tune with listening, forgiveness, caring, comprehension... as a legacy to the gentleness of God who loves us, who listens, who forgives, who understands us and wants us to be happy.
4) Freedom - The evangelical phrase that says "the truth will make you free" continues to be valid as ever. He speaks to us about courage and geniuneness ... without fear to search and discover the truth about ourselves. It is not seldom to resist acceptance of it. An objective compromise with freedom and respect for all. That is why, when in certain occasion the thereby Cardenal Ratzinger was asked how many ways there are to get to God, he replied immediately: "So many times as there are men. Because even within the same faith, each one has his own personal way. We have the words of Jesus Christ: "I am the way". Therefore, there is only one way and all that leads to God is in a way already in that path, that is Jesus Christ. But that does not mean that consciously, voluntarily, all the paths are identical, it means that the path is so wide that everyone else can take it as a personal path for himself". (La sal de la tierra, pág. 36).
5) Future - The foundation of JMJ arises from a message with a long and protracted past, whose geniune effect is sustained until now and impulses us towards the future. That is why it stimulates illusion, trust and hope that a better world is possible. The Pope and the Church both trust in the youth... because God trusts even more in them .
Source: Reggio's
Source of image: Adelaide Now
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