Day Four of WYD

We continue our journey with the Holy Father into the heart of Christ.....

Today we began the day again by going to catechesis session in the Love and Life center, which was again filled to capacity. We entered to a beautiful time of praise and worship, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.... A wonderful way to wake up in the morning. Following praise and worship, we were blessed by a talk by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York. He gave a wonderful talk about the necessity of evangelization, of giving away the gift we have received. He gave four key ways in which we can effectively evangelize: our charity, our joy, our hope, and our love for the Church. After the catechesis, he celebrated the Mass for the Spread of the Gospel, along with over 50 bishops and 350 priests. In his homily, he spoke more on this topic, going into the concept of "invitation" as fundamental to evangelization. We do not impose, but propose, inviting people to experience the joy we ourselves have received in following Christ.

In the afternoon we again headed over to Cibeles Sqaure to find a place for the evening Stations of the Cross. Again the Lord led us to a good spot, for to our great joy, the Holy Father passed by us on his way in and out of the square. What an immense gift and joy to see him so close yet again! What a moment of grace for our hearts.

The Sations were very beautiful and powerful. The life size stations lined the street, and the cross was carried to each Station along the way. The statues and images in the Stations were some of Spain's most beautiful artistic heritage. The meditation on the Passion of our Lord was a powerful gift to our hearts, especially in these days, in which the fatigue and heat and crowds begin to more and more overwhelm us. We needed this meditation in order to give us the strength and the grace to continue to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. We thank the Lord for the many graces He has given us thus far and will continue to give. Please pray for us that we may imitate the generosity of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary in these coming days. We look forward with great anticipation to the Vigil which will begin tomorrow. Until Sunday.....

Viva el Papa!

Another day full of dirt, heat, fatigue....and GRACE. What a gift was today. We again gathered in the morning after another night with our dear host families, and headed off to our morning catechesis session in the Love and Life Center. However, when we got there, it was full and we were not able to enter. The Lord had other plans....

Therefore, we decided to go back to visit the dear Visitation nuns again to see if we would be able to celebrate Mass in their chapel, since we could not enter the other. Beautifully, the Sisters again opened the doors of their convent and chapel to us. Upon our arrival, it was evident that the Lord intended it that way to begin with. On the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we celebrated a votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in preparation for the consecration to the Sacred Heart the Holy Father will be leading the youth in making at the Vigil this weekend. Very powerfully, we were celebrating this Mass in the convent of the Visitation, the order of St. Margaret Mary, to whom was given the revelation of the Sacred Heart; a painting of this revelation was the prominent background of the sacntuary in the chapel. Therefore, we were able to celebrate an intimate Mass in this beautiful chapel together. It was a profound and moving Mass, a gift for all our hearts.

Following Mass, we picked up both lunch and dinner to then quickly head down to Cibeles Square to reserve a place for the papal welcome ceremony in the evening. We found a place along the way where believed the Holy Father would pass. The afternoon was very hot, as we were out in the sun, and very dirty, as the people and crowds increaded.....however, we joyfully offered all to be present for our dear Holy Father. As the afternoon progressed, they began spraying the crowds with water, and eventually the fire department brought out the fire hoses and began spraying the crowds all the way until the time the Holy Father arrived. Despite the heat, intense crowds, and dirt, everyone was in joyful spirits in anticipation for the arrival of our "Papa." 

Finally, the moment arrived....the Holy Father arrived! First, we watched on the big screens as he entered the city in his pope-mobile, being greeted by great crowd lining miles of city streets. He stopped at the gates of the city, for a ceremony in which the mayor of Madrid presented him with the keys of the city. Then he continued on to enter Cibeles square where he was greeted with roars by well over a million youth.....and we prayed he would come our way. And then much to our great joy, the pope-mobile turned and headed up the street our way! We roar increased as he came closer, and the crowds pressed us in. But we were right at the edge of the barrier, some in the first row awaiding our Shepherd. Finally, he passed by, just feet in front of us, waving and greeting us! What a jubilation! And the joy only increased when we he turned around and came back by us again! Some of the students found themselves crying with unexplainable joy.....

After passing by the jubilant youth who welcomed him with joy and open hearts, he passed back into the square, and commenced a welcome ceremony and a Celebration of the Word. After greeting all the pilgrims, each in their own language, the Gospel of Matthew, about building our houses on rock and sand was read (Mt 7:24-27), and the Holy Father followed this with an address, in which he exhorted us all to build our hearts and lives on the rock of Christ; to seek truth always and to be willing to live by it. What powerful words he offered us by which to direct our lives. May we live by them and thereby become a loving balm to

his heart and those that will follow him. After receiving a final blessing, we watched the Holy Father leave the square to chants and cheers, full of great love and affection.

What a powerful encounter it was....to finally be able to greet our beloved Peter. All the difficulties of the day faded in the light of this joy. Everyone was deeply touched by the loving encounter with their Papa. What a connection and union of hearts we experienced between him and us. What joy he had in his smile as he waved to us one last time. We have deep gratitude in our hearts for all he is and all he chooses to carry for the sake of us his children. May we, just like today, always be willing to stand by and be present with and for him....even when it is difficult. We love you, Holy Father, and are proud to be your faithful children! 

Viva el Papa! Esta es la juventud del Papa!

Day Two of WYD

We finish today again very tired, dirty, hot.....and joyful. It was another beautiful day in which we received many graces and experienced again the beauty and the power of being Church.

Our day began again by gathering again at our parish after another night in our homes. Again, everyone arrived very well-fed and well-loved. We headed off to the morning catechesis session at the Palacio de los Deportes, a large area in which was housed the Love and Life Center. This arena, run by the Sisters of Life and the Knights of Columbus, was the home for English speaking pilgrims - over 12,000 of them. The morning session featured two talks - one by Cardinal Pell from Australia and the other by a Sister of Life - and Mass. Cardinal Pell spoke about faith and reason, and Sister spoke about our call to change the world through our faith and witness. The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Pell, and concelebrated by over 30 bishops (including Bishop Noonan from Orlando who we saw after the Mass) and 300 preists from around the English speaking world. In the afternoon, we stayed for one of the featured talks by Curtis Martin, who exhorted us to seek greatness and holiness by living each present moment with our last moment and eternity in mind. 

 

We then proceded to the Prado Museum, which has been opened to all the WYD pilgrims. It was very special to visit this world-renowned art museum and to see first-hand some of the most beautiful works of art in man's history. We were all moved to see the original painting of Deigo Velazquez of Christ crucified, whose replica hangs as the primary crucifix of the Cathedral of Peoria. As well, there were many other famous works of the Blessed Mother and the Saints.

After dinner, we visited the Parque del Retiro, a beautiful park in the center of the city, which can be compared to Central Park in NY. After walking around for a while, we attended a concert for the WYD pilgrims in the Park in which all the pilgrims enjoyed singing and dancing together. 

In general, the day was filled with great joy, as we were constantly surrounded by excited youth from all around the world. More than anything, there continues to be a great sense of the power of seeing the young universal Church so alive with life and joy. All the students continue to enjoy interacting, singing and speaking with one another. There seem to be no language barriers.....because all speak the common language of the Church: Love. May it always be spoken.......

Day One of WYD

What a powerful day. We finish the day very tired, dirty, and hot, but filled with a great joy for the gift of the faith and the Church. What a powerful experience of both today....

We began our day each at our homes, and met at the parish in the morning to gather. Everyone arrived full of joy and gratitude for all the love they had been shown in their homes by their host "parents." They were well fed and well loved!

From there we boarded the metro and went to visit the First Monastery of the Visitation Order. What a powerful gift for our hearts! We arrived and were welcomed by the Sisters that tend the door and led into their very beautiful and majestic chapel, where we had the gift of listening to Sr. Michelle speak on the virtue of generosity, where we were moved to give ourselves more fully and more lovingly over to the plan of God for our life. It was a very fitting reflection for this place, for this monastery was the home of the Seven Visitation Martyrs that were killed in 1936 and beatified by JPII in 1998. The relics of their bodies were there and we were able to kneel in front of their relics and pray for their intercession, so that we could too live with a generosity willing to die for Christ. Next we were given the immense priviledge of of visiting with the Sisters of the monastery and listening to them tell the story of their seven sisters who were martyred only years ago. Since the Sisters are cloistered, we visited with them behind the grill. However, this only was a physical separation, as our hearts enjoyed a beautiful communion of hearts with the joyful and generous nuns. Each one of  us left enflamed with the desire to respond with the generous giving our lives. What a perfect beginning to WYD, which, according to JPII, was started so that he could "greet the martyrs of the third millenium." May it be so.

After lunch, we went into the heart of Madrid to visit the Cathedral. Here we encountered for the first time the  WYD crowds. What a moving moment for all to see the young Church, joyful and alive with life, gathered from all corners of the world. From that point on we were immersed in the crowds of singing, chanting, and excited youth from all languages and nations. It is very difficult to desribe with words how beautiful it is to see so many joyful youth united for one reason - Jesus Christ. 

 

In the evening, all came together in beautiful Cibeles Square to celebrate the opening outdoor Mass. The crowds reached as far as the eye could see, an estimated 600,000, all joined in the celebration of the Holy Mass. Long before and after Mass, groups interacted, cheering and singing and speaking with one another.

In general, it was a long day filled with heat, fatigue, thirst, and crowds. However, all this became secondary to the experience of the joy of being part of our young Catholic Church. To be able to come together and unite ourselves, despite being separated by language and culture, is an irreplaceable experience of the power of being Church. We see a miracle - we really are one Body in Christ.

Great Graces from Our Lady

 Blessed solemnity of the Assumption! How many beautiful blessings we have received today from the hands of Our Lady on this powerful dedicated to her honor. What a gift it was to end our time in Lourdes on this blessed Solemnity. 

Our day began early with Mass in the Grotto. Despite the crowds early in the morning, we were miraculously able to seat ourselves in the very front row. The Mass was celebrated by an Italian bishop, and con-celebrated by a multitude of other priests from all around the world. What a beautiful sign of the universal Church, represented by many nations. It was truly a representation of all that is Lourdes and all that we will enounter more powerfully in World Youth Day. 

Even more miraculously, after the Mass ended, we all were able to go forward and kneel at the feet of Our Lady in the Grotto, and recite the prayer of Consecration to Mary together. What a powerful moment of great grace, as we gave ourselves fully to Mary, so she could form us and lead us to union with the Heart of her Son. It was the most fitting way to end our time with her in Lourdes, and a perfect preparation for our entrance into Madrid and our encounter with the Holy Father. We left Lourdes both sad to go, but truly joyful and grateful for the time we were able spend her "home."

 

We then boarded the bus and were on our way to Madrid!

 

Our ride to Madrid was a very beautiful one, both in our enjoyment of the Lord's beautiful creation as we passed through the Pyrenees Mountains, and our time of sharing together on the bus. We began our ride with a Rosary of thanksgiving to Our Lady for all the graced we received. Following the rosary, Fr. Adam gave an explanation on the scapular and enrolled all those who were not already enrolled. We also had a time in which we shared our stories and experiences of the pilgrimage thus far. Jack and Katie also shared the story of their relationship, which.was a great joy and edification for our hearts.

Upon our arrival to Madrid we went to our home parish of Santa Maria del Pinar, where we were given a warm welcome by the beautiful priest and all the parishoners. We then were assigned to different families in the parish to begin our home stay experience. We are very grateful for the generous and open hearts that have received us into their hearts and homes. 

Estamos en Madrid!

Loving Mary

Our day began with a beautiful hike out of the city, away from the crowds, and into the mountains to visit the place where Bernadette lived for a period of her life. It was a wonderful moment of family in the midst of God's creation. When we got to the house and barn where she lived, we said a prayer to Bernadette, asking her to us accept, at all moments, the Lord's will for our lives, like her and the Blessed Mother.

Upon our return, in the afternoon, we celebrated Holy Mass for the last time in our dear St. Gabriel Chapel. In the Mass gave another beautiful homily about the necessity  of humility before God, about how we must, in love, bow before Him in order to receive all the graces that He desires to pour upon us. This is precisely the faith of the Canaanite woman that brought healing to her daughter.

The afternoon was a time of free time, in which we took the opportunity to pray, visit the grotto, go in the baths again, complete our shopping, and walk around the shrine and city. It was a time to recollect and allow the graces of the past five days to sink deeper into our hearts.

After dinner, we had another wonderful talk, given by Fr. Adam, about consecration to the Blessed Mother, in which he shared with us how his own beautiful devotion and consecration came about, and how his own priestly vocation came at the moment of his consecration to the Blessed Mother.  As well, he gave a wonderful summary of the life of St.Louis de Montfort and his treatise on True Devotion to Mary. Thanks be to his clear and powerful reflection on the beauty and importance of love and devotion to Mary, our hearts were left more disposed and prepared to make our lifelong consecration to her tomorrow a more authentic and truthful and loving act.

Humility and Poverty allow Him to Reign

A powerful day in which we experienced the fecundity of humilty and poverty of heart began first thing in the morning with the celebration of Holy Mass. At Mass, Fr. Adam delivered a powerful homily centered around the three-fold cry of Joshua to the Isealites about to enter the Promised Land: are we really ready to enter? Are we truly willing to embrace the responsibilty that the gift of Love calls forth from us? Are we willing to embrace the sweet yoke of Love?

 

Next we continued along our path of the day by following the "path" of Bernadette, embarking on her "Footsteps." This began with our visit to her museum, which featured photos and different articles from her life and the town. We continued on to the Boly Mill where Bernadette spent the first ten happy years of her life. Finally, we ended at the "cachot" or old prison cell rented out to her family - a single room unfit even for real prisoners, in which the six-member family lived after the family came upon hard times. This is where Bernadette was living when the apparitions began. We see from this that the Lord chooses the humble and poor of heart to carry out his work. Even when people began to offer gifts and money because of the apparitions, the poor family refused to take them, knowing they did not belong to them. This humble and poor family gives us a beautiful witness of the power of humility and poverty. 

In the evening, we gathered in the convent chapel in which we are staying to hear a beautiful talk of Sr. Silvia on the virtue of humilty. She led us to deepen our understanding of authentic humilty, of how the Lord is only able to work and bear fruit in a humble heart. She led us through an examination of humilty,  and how to attain it through a better "seeing" of ourselves, of our relationship to God and our relationship to others.

Finally, we ended the night with a very powerful time of adoration, in which the Lord called us to praise Him, as in heaven. To humbly bow before our God. Only in this way would we truly be able to open our hearts to receive Him. He called us individually to fully surrender ourselves, without reserve, to his plan for our lives, to his love and his will. It was a powerful night of true praise and adoration of our Lord and God. Praise and glory to Him forever.