World Youth Day Trip: A Pilgrimage Focusing On Mercy
I submit this article in anticipation of participating in my first World Youth Day, being held in Krakow, Poland, July 25-31. That’s quite a long “Day!” Departing on Saturday, July 23, I will be joining 48 other members of our Diocese along with millions of others from around the world for this grand event. Pope Francis, of course, is sure to be one of the highlights of the experience.
World Youth Day is an international Catholic event with a focus on faith and youth. The last World Youth Day was held in Rio de Janeiro, in 2013. As many are aware, Krakow was the home of Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II and now St. John Paul II. Not surprisingly, since this particular World Youth Day is being held during the Jubilee of Mercy, the 2016 theme is taken from Matthew 5:7; “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Hence, celebrating the Divine Mercy of God will permeate our prayer and activities. In fact, the three figures of World Youth Day 2016 include the image of the Merciful Jesus (Divine Mercy devotion), St. Mary Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II. No doubt, we will have much to consider with regard to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
As Pope Francis has reiterated on several occasions, we must be attentive to both the young and the elderly. Youth and young adults have a vital role to play in the Church’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel message. They are not the future of the Church, but young members of the Church here and now. They are not merely wanted, but needed. Notice that I keep using the pronoun “they.” At age 55, though still considered “young” among bishops, I am quite aware that I belong to a generation that precedes the so-called “generation y” or “millennials.” That said, however, I am confident that I will be able to keep up with everyone over the course of WYD activities.
One is expected to approach World Youth Day as a pilgrimage experience. Although it involves a great deal of fun and occasion to meet people from all over the world, it is primarily about missionary discipleship and conversion. Deeply rooted in spiritual enrichment and religious devotion, it provides a unique opportunity for an ever richer personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This is at the heart of evangelization, a theme very near and dear to the heart of Pope Francis. It is also central to what it means to be Catholic. Authentic discipleship and conversion requires that each and every Christian believer be Christ-centered, rather than self-centered or placing another before God. This is at the very core of our Church’s teaching on the Eucharist as the “source and summit” of all worship, service and activity among its members. It is in keeping the proper balance or priorities that we most fully realize the joy and peace of Divine Mercy.
I look forward to sharing my experience of WYD after returning to the Diocese. In the meantime, I invite you to join me in praying the World Youth Day 2016 Official Prayer:
God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman.
We entrust to you, in a special way young people of every language, people and nation: guide and protect them as they walk the complex paths of the world today and give them the grace to reap abundant fruits from their experience of the Krakow World Youth Day.
Heavenly Father, grant that we may bear witness to your mercy. Teach us how to convey the faith to those in doubt, hope to those who are discouraged, love to those who feel indifferent, forgiveness to those who have done wrong and joy to those who are unhappy.
Allow the spark of merciful love that you have enkindled within us to become a fire that can transform hearts and renew the face of the earth.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us. St. John Paul II, pray for us. AMEN.
