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World Youth Day - Madrid 2011

August 28, 2011 - Lee esto en español

Hope for the future! I received this letter from my Mexican friend's daughter who attended the event this month, as a member of Regnum Christi. Even after translating and editing, it's a bit long, but so worth reading!

Dear family and friends:

I write after having lived through the experience of the World Youth Day. It was an unforgettable experience that I think that every young Christian should live once in life. It ends and you have a certain degree of nostalgia but it does not end. The fruit of the encounter with Christ and with each other (the Church) is marked in your heart forever and can not be erased. There were very difficult moments, of much fatigue, bad climate, and uncertainty but they lasted only one or two hours and those bad times you forget; so deep is the experience that the positive has much more weight.

I lived this experience with my brother, his fiancé, one of my best friends, and a group of Italians. Each one brought something to make it an unforgettable moment. I am sure that having shared this together brings us a very deep connection.

We were more than 2 million young people from around the world walking through the streets of Madrid united by one thing: God. There was an atmosphere of union in which it did not matter where you were from, your age, how you dressed. There were no barriers. You could and in fact did, greet everyone, ask them their name, nationality, and everything was well accepted. The heart of all was open. It was impressive to go on the subway where religious songs were listened to in a healthy environment of joy, enthusiasm. I did not feel insecurity for any reason.

The most special moments were several. One was the worship at the Cuatro Vientos. It was raining with a tremendous wind. Indeed the Pope was asked if he wanted to cancel and he said that he did not. Then he came out to expose the Blessed Sacrament in a beautiful monstrance. At the time that the Eucharist was exposed, the rain and wind stopped. It was as if God indicated his dominion over the creation. One and a half million youth knelt before God and kept silence. Felt the presence of God. The Pope consecrated all young people to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and ended the worship. After that it started to rain again. Finally the Pope had a few words that he wanted to say; he expressed appreciation for having been there and told us that the offered sacrifice would bring much fruit. God would make it rain blessings as it had rained that day.

The mass of the next day, which was the peak of the WYD event was very special. We were two million young people waiting for the Pope who came and toured all over the place in his Popemobile. We saw this very closely. The mass was simple but deeply felt. The songs we loved and helped elevate the soul. At the end of the mass we left and it was impressive to see a sea of young people with a joy overflowing in chants, songs.

An event which I liked was the Via Crucis or way of the cross. The stations from different cities of Spain were used. They are a tradition in Spain, of the various moments of the passion of the Christ which are lead in procession in the villages to help the faithful to live Holy Week. I was delighted to be grasped in the tradition of the Spanish people to say that no one can deny the Christian root of their land.

Another special thing was to go to the Parque del Retiro where young people spent the day. There were bands playing, groups praying. There were booths of the consecrated life of more than 50 different types. I was three hours in ours and the open spirit, the desire to know, to pray for loved ones was incredible. There were also confessionals, more than 100. They say more than 40 thousand confessions were made. And there was a tent of adoration where my brother and his fiancé and I prayed together.

The Regnum Christi were more than two thousand young people. An incredible atmosphere. The most beautiful event of the RC was a mass held by Fr. Jesús María, the territorial director of Spain, with all members of the RC and a total of more than three thousand. In addition to seeing so many people I know and love, the mass was a salve for the heart with the hardship and pain currently facing us.

Fr. Jesús María gave a very good homily which spoke of essentials of the Christian life and invited us, with great courage and strength, to recognize the goodness of the RC, be proud of it and live it as undeserved gift. It was special that he requested a round of applause for the consecrated which was very strong.

Since this has been my experience, I wanted to share with you as soon as possible to avoid losing detail. It was a gift from God that has filled me with grace and strength to go with my vocation.

I send you a big greeting and I hope you are having a good holiday, those who still have the privilege of having them, and a good start to the fall for those who do not.

You have my prayers,
Taís

 

Headline Justaposition

August 25, 2011

Sometimes seemingly unrelated news stories suddenly seem related...

Duke Professor: America's Religious Faith Waning
Mark Chaves has published a new study entitled, American Religion: Contemporary Trends. Seems only 8 percent are actually athiests, but an increasing number of the self-professed believers identify themselves not by a denomination but simply as 'spiritual.'

9/11 Ceremony Won't Include Religious Leaders: Bloomberg
Politicians and poetry but nothing pious.

Go figure.

Classic OMG News, Notes, & Links

Chicago, Feast of the Assumption:
Giant Life Balloon Rosary Floats Over Downtown.

What a great image, with a great story about the young girls and their camp counselors who put it all together.

See more photos here and read the story here.

The Hubris Poll: When asked if they approved of God's performance, 52% of Americans say they approve, while 9% disapprove. The rest aren't sure. --Public Policy Polling, noted in The Week.
Huh. And I thought we were supposed to be concerned with His opinion of our performance...

Lift the City is a video of a Eucharistic Flash Mob. Awesome!
Thanks to Fr. Valencheck and his Adam's Ale blog where I found the link to this.

A donor for a recent window project sent a link to a video called The Stethoscope which is clever, entertaining, and even heartwarming.

Need a break from your computer? Visit the Sistine Chapel now!
It's a virtual tour that allows you to look all around and zoom in.
Thanks to Brother Leonard of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception for sending this!