Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Catholic Teens 9-4-07

Hey All—

The Pope has been speaking to young people A LOT lately. Benedict XVI to Youth: Open the Doors to Christ
This past weekend he met with youths in Loreto—more on that in future weeks---today, however, I want to focus on what he said to youth in Assisi, Italy this past June 18th. It was a more casual gathering…as “casual” as a gathering with 10,000 people can be! During the Pope’s meeting with the youth, he invited them to ask him questions (how cool would that be?!) including the search for truth and how difficult it is to follow the example of St. Francis’ life.
The Pope concluded with a beautiful statement of his affection for the youth: “He affectionately concluded, ‘You are, dear young people, my joy, as you were for John Paul II."’
Enjoy, and strive to live out these beautiful things in your own lives!
ASSISI, Italy, JUNE 18, 2007 (\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.zenit.org\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>zenit.org\u003c/a\>).- Benedict XVI told young people in Assisi that they are his joy, just as they were for Pope John Paul II.\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>Benedict XVI traveled to Assisi on Sunday, for a busy one-day pilgrimage marking the 800th anniversary of Francis' conversion.\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>The final event of the day was a meeting with young people. Some 10,000 youth, who had been gathered since dawn in the square outside the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, were on hand for the address. The Holy Father extended the meeting for a half-hour longer than planned. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>Tough questions\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>The youth were invited to address questions to the Holy Father. One young man, Marco Giuliani, said: "We have thousands of questions, but it is hard to find convincing answers. We\nare tempted to think that the truth doesn't exist, that each person has his own truth. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>"Naturally we like to be happy, but we, too, feel, like the Pope, that merely having fun will not make us happy. Help us, Holy Father, to understand, and to make St. Francis' experience our own." \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>A young woman, Ilaria Perticoni, said: "Holy Father, Francis fascinates us but it is not easy to follow him, imitate him." \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>Papal responses\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>Benedict XVI responded: "St. Francis speaks to everyone, but I know he has a special attraction for you young people. Your great presence here confirms that, as do the questions you asked me. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>"His conversion happened during the most vital time of his life, of his experiences, of his dreams. He lived 25 years without coming to terms with the meaning of life. A few months before he died he would recall that time in his life as the time that he was 'in sin.'" \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>The\nPope offered Francis and Clare as models for facing the numerous problems that often afflict the life of young people. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>"Many youths fall victim to drug use in search of an artificial happiness, or become prey of a culture that exalts egoism," the Holy Father said. "This was also the drama of Francis' life before his conversion." ",1]
);
//-->
ASSISI, Italy, JUNE 18, 2007 (zenit.org).- Benedict XVI told young people in Assisi that they are his joy, just as they were for Pope John Paul II.The final event of the day was a meeting with young people. Some 10,000 youth, who had been gathered since dawn in the square outside the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, were on hand for the address. The Holy Father extended the meeting for a half-hour longer than planned. Tough questionsThe youth were invited to address questions to the Holy Father. One young man, Marco Giuliani, said: "We have thousands of questions, but it is hard to find convincing answers. We are tempted to think that the truth doesn't exist, that each person has his own truth. "Naturally we like to be happy, but we, too, feel, like the Pope, that merely having fun will not make us happy. Help us, Holy Father, to understand, and to make St. Francis' experience our own." A young woman, Ilaria Perticoni, said: "Holy Father, Francis fascinates us but it is not easy to follow him, imitate him." Papal responsesBenedict XVI responded: "St. Francis speaks to everyone, but I know he has a special attraction for you young people. Your great presence here confirms that, as do the questions you asked me. "His conversion happened during the most vital time of his life, of his experiences, of his dreams. He lived 25 years without coming to terms with the meaning of life. A few months before he died he would recall that time in his life as the time that he was 'in sin.'" The Pope offered Francis and Clare as models for facing the numerous problems that often afflict the life of young people. "Many youths fall victim to drug use in search of an artificial happiness, or become prey of a culture that exalts egoism," the Holy Father said. "This was also the drama of Francis' life before his conversion."
\u003cbr\>"Your life's compass," said the Pope, taking a break from his prepared remarks, "must be the truth, because without truth the foundation for peace is lost." \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>An architect of peace\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>He continued: "Francis' commitment to peace is also to be seen as a form of prayer. This aspect of his life is of great contemporary importance in a world that has so much need of peace yet does not manage to achieve it. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>"Francis was a man of peace and an architect of peace. He showed as much in the mildness with which he approached men of other faiths, yet without silencing\nhis own faith in the presence of men of other faiths, as we see in his meeting with the sultan." \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>Benedict XVI then invited the young people to join him in Loreto in early September for his meeting with Italian youth. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>"Open the doors to Christ. Open them as Francis did, without fear, without calculations, without measure," the Pope exhorted the young people. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>He affectionately concluded, "You are, dear young people, my joy, as you were for John Paul II."\u003cbr\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cbr\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.zenit.org/article-19913?l\u003denglish\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>email this article\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cp\>\u003ca href\u003d\"#113417c3e18f7af1_top\"\>top\u003c/a\>\u003c/p\>\u003chr\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cb\>\u003ca name\u003d\"113417c3e18f7af1_07061807\"\>\u003c/a\>Pope Urges Franciscans to Proclaim Christ\u003c/b\>\u003c/p\>Offers Francis' Faith in the Gospel as Guide\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>ASSISI, Italy, JUNE 18, 2007 (\u003ca\>Zenit.org\u003c/a\>).- Benedict XVI encouraged all Franciscans to walk in their founder's footsteps by responding to all of life's challenges with the Gospel.\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>The Pope delivered this message Sunday to the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals in the Basilica of St. Francis. He underlined the modern-day relevance of the experiences of the great saint. \u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>St. Francis "understood himself entirely in light of the Gospel" and from this "comes the perpetual authenticity of his example," the Holy Father said. ",1]
);
//-->
"Your life's compass," said the Pope, taking a break from his prepared remarks, "must be the truth, because without truth the foundation for peace is lost." An architect of peaceHe continued: "Francis' commitment to peace is also to be seen as a form of prayer. This aspect of his life is of great contemporary importance in a world that has so much need of peace yet does not manage to achieve it. "Francis was a man of peace and an architect of peace. He showed as much in the mildness with which he approached men of other faiths, yet without silencing his own faith in the presence of men of other faiths, as we see in his meeting with the sultan." Benedict XVI then invited the young people to join him in Loreto in early September for his meeting with Italian youth. "Open the doors to Christ. Open them as Francis did, without fear, without calculations, without measure," the Pope exhorted the young people. He affectionately concluded, "You are, dear young people, my joy, as you were for John Paul II."



==================================================Intentions:

-For students as they return to school.
-For young people to be open to God’s Call in their lives.
-For all the victims of the flooding and other natural disasters, especially the victims of Hurricane Felix in Central America.
-For peace in the world and an end to terrorism.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.




Announcements:

World Youth Day 2008- destination: Sydney! The WYD cross has reached Australia and is ONE year away from being joined by thousands of youth 16-36 years old. There is still time to sign up for this amazing opportunity. If interested, contact Megan Moss, youth minister for St. Bartholomew, St. Joseph & St. Stephen parishes now! 341-1617x113 or meganmoss@togetherinfaith.org.


*************************************************************************************

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com

Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home