Addressing the youth of St. Ambrose Cathedralon April the 1st, Palm Sunday(World Youth Day 2012)
Hello Everyone,
My name is Adam Blanchard, I have been asked here this afternoon to speak to you about my personal experiences from World Youth Day 2011. It’s very difficult to put into words how life changing this journey has been, my hope for today is that I am able to paint a picture from memory, and with it, strengthen your faith. Our modern church today needs more young people like you. With that in mind, I’d like to begin with a somewhat brief history of World Youth Day…
· World Youth Day began in 1984 by Blessed Pope John Paul II
· That year, the former Pope invited the young people to come to Rome for Palm Sunday.
· More than 300,000 turned out for the celebration.
· On Palm Sunday of the following year, 1985, young Catholics came to Rome once again.
· After this Pope John Paul II declared that WYD become a tradition, the first official international one took place in Argentina in 1987.
· Every Palm Sunday World Youth Day is celebrated at a diocesan level (which is what we’re doing right now); however alternately it is celebrated internationally about every three years (it’s kind of like the catholic Olympics).
· There have been 13 International World Youth Day celebrations.
· As I said it’s very had to describe it without actually going, but the youth continue to answer the invitation of the Holy Father in staggering numbers and carry home the message received there to be Christ’s light to the world.
· John Paul II left behind a legacy for the youth, to which our current Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has faithfully carried on with the celebrations on the hope of inviting them as Christ’s disciples to be faithful living witnesses.
I could discuss the stunning sights and sounds of Madrid, but instead I’d like to take a few moments to share with you all five key lessons that I took out of World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain.
#1) Universal Church -
The first lesson I received in Spain is that I really was able to experience and witness a new way to see the Catholic Church, The Universal Church. When you travel to another country you sometimes have a form of culture shock, and while there was plenty of that, I was fascinated with how similar the actual liturgy was.
It’s not that the religion or practices are any different; in fact the word Catholic means ‘Universal’. It’s one of the main belief systems that is celebrated the same all across the planet, the same set up, same format, and the same traditions. There were 193 nations present at this World Youth Day, the countries with the most participants were Italy, Spain, & France (I guess we’ll need to make sure more Canadians attend the next one) We attended Mass practically every day, and in this area I and adapted very quickly participating, taking out the language barrier of coarse. I felt we all did our best to respond to the prayers and liturgy in English, we even began to make the sign of the cross in Spanish.
A fond memory I have that expresses this point I think is when we celebrated Mass in the Love & Live centre not too far from our hotel. The Love & Life Centre was the place where all the English speaking countries practiced our daily catechesis and prayer, as well as received the majority of the sacraments. The location held 20,000 people, holding about twice as much than Yarmouth’s Mariners Centre. We had what I like to call ‘Concert Masses’, the centre filled to the brim with people, they even had to turn away many pilgrims.
The universal church is the name that is given to the church worldwide. Basically, don’t underestimate the global attraction to Catholicism, do not merely think that it is invisible, it means a heck of a whole lot to many people, if not, and there wouldn’t be a World Youth Day to begin with!
#2) the Volunteers -
The second lesson to draw your attention is to the volunteers. It was released that between 1.5 and 2 million people participated in World Youth Day. This would rank Madrid as the third highest attended World Youth Day (behind the Philippines in 1995 and Rome in 2000.)
That is a lot of people, to help out 30,000 people volunteered to help, placed throughout the city, they handed out bottles of water, gave directions, and applied assistance to anyone anytime when needed. I cannot stress how helpful and understanding they were, some could hardly speak English, but that did not stop them.
These people devoted their precious time and energy to helping all of us out, through their example, they reminded me the fact that life only truly has meaning when, it’s given to others. On top of all that, to help with crowd control, over 18,000 police and civil servants were also present.
Sincerely, I wish to offer my heartfelt thanks to all those who aided us when we needed it, again I think they exhibited massive amounts of charity, something I think we can all learn from, especially in the time of Lent. “For Christians, volunteer work is based on a personal experience of Christ, the first to serve humanity, who freely gave his life for the good of all.” Those who look at it in this sense, see clearly that the only way to deal with Christ’s love is with love.
#3) the Use for Confession & the Rosary -
Thirdly, I’d like to focus on confession and the rosary, two things I gained a new appreciation for, two things I firmly believe that are underrated. I encourage all of you to go to Confession on a regular basis; the same can be said for the rosary. When seeking forgiveness, one must recognize their own actions and take reasonability for them. The rosary is a great prayer and through the Virgin Mary, Blessed Mother, great promises will come.
#4) Respects for the Papacy -
Before attending this pilgrimage, I did not really pay attention to what the Pope really had to say, but now, I see that he is a prime example of evangelization and spreading truth. This is the third WYD event to be presided by Pope Benedict XVI, he had much to say to us (If it were not for time, I would love to share them to you)
Some fellow pilgrims and I were actually able to see him drive by in his Pope mobile, we were very lucky to have seen him this close, and it will continue to remain in my long term memory.
Do not make any mistakes, the Holy Father is not infallible, he is but a follower of Christ, the Successor of Saint Peter, a Bishop of Rome. To me, Pope Benedict has become a very prominent role model to me, and I think too many. The Archbishop of Spain went as far to say that we were “the generation of Benedict XVI, which is unlike the generation of John Paul II.”
Wherever he went, the large crowds chanted his name; he was treated like a rock star. I believe it is a duty for the faithful to respect the current Pope and his own unique papacy, and to listen to what he has to say.
#5) “God Is Love” -
The fifth and final lesson is by far the most important. I believe this is the key message of World Youth Day, and if I had to sum it all up, I’d say I learned that we are all loved unconditionally by God. God loves all of us, and his love knows no bounds.
Each WYD has a special theme taken from the Bible, Spain’s theme was “Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the Faith.” (Col 2:7).
I feel extremely blessed to have gone on this journey, I have gained a deeper understanding of my faith, and I will never forget the lessons I learned in Madrid, Spain.
Closing -
In closing, I would like to share a few quotes from his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. He said this during the final mass held in the Cuatro Vientos Airfield (The size of 48 soccer fields.)
“Dear Young People, as you return home, take back with you the good news of Christ’s love which we have experienced in these unforgettable days. Fix your eyes upon him, deepen your knowledge of the Gospel and bring forth abundant fruit! God bless all of you until we meet again!” - Pope Benedict XVI
Thanks again all of you for your attention, and like the theme of todays World Youth Day 2012, “Rejoice in the Lord Always.” - (Philip 4:4)
God Bless,
Adam Blanchard
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