杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Part of a pilgrimage of more than 70,000 young Italians included an evening prayer vigil in Rome on Saturday. The week-long pilgrimage was organized by the National Service for Youth Ministry of the Italian Bishops鈥� Conference in view of the Synod for Young People in October and World Youth Day in January.

During the prayer vigil at the Circus Maximus, 杏MAP导航 Francis responded to 4 questions presented by a few of the young people present.

Dreams are shining stars

Letizia and Lucamatteo both asked the 杏MAP导航 a question involving the realization of the dreams they carry within them.

杏MAP导航 Francis responded saying that their dreams are the most important because 鈥渢hey are the most brilliant鈥�. He encouraged them to make their dreams their future as well and he invited them to ask themselves where their dreams come from. The scope of their dreams needs to be like the 鈥済reat dreams鈥� narrated in the Bible, he said. What made them great is that they included everyone.

鈥淕reat dreams include, involve, are extroverted, share, and generate new life鈥�. In the face of adults who are afraid of young people鈥檚 dreams, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged them now to allow themselves to be 鈥渞obbed of your dreams鈥� but to seek mentors to 鈥渉elp you understand them and gradually concretize them鈥�.

Take the risk and love

Martina posed a question regarding the difficulty of planning her personal future involving permanent commitments and the pressures she feels to plan her professional future first. Being able to make decisions for oneself is 鈥渢he highest expression of freedom鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 responded. 鈥淸Martina] pointed out the wound鈥�, he continued. Every excuse to postpone a definitive decision 鈥渟tops us, does not let us move forward, does not allow us to dream, takes away our freedom鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 then reflected at length on the biblical portrayal of man and woman who together image God. A couple realizes this noble 鈥渋deal鈥� when the man 鈥渕akes his wife more of a woman鈥� and vice versa, he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to think about love: but a love that takes risks, faithful love, love that fosters growth in another and in oneself鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 concluded.

Witness, don't talk

Dario presented the third question regarding faith and the search for meaning in a Church that he says no longer responds adequately and is no longer credible because of frequent scandals. Dario too 鈥減ointed out the wound鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said. His question, the 杏MAP导航 continued, asks 鈥渁ll of us, pastors and faithful, to accompany, listen, and give witness鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 illustrated this with a personal experience he had with a young person during World Youth Day in Krakow who asked him what he could say to a fellow university student who was agnostic 鈥渢o make him understand that ours is the true religion. I said鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渢he last thing you need to do is say something. Begin to live as a Christian and he will ask you why you live like that鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 ended asking each one there to ask how they themselves are witnessing their faith. 鈥淎nd this is the last thing,鈥� he concluded, 鈥淛esus鈥� message, the Church without witness, is only smoke鈥�.