杏MAP导航

Christ is alive

鈥�Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world.  The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!鈥�.

Thus begins the , by 杏MAP导航 Francis, signed on Monday 25 March in the Holy House of Loreto and addressed to young people , and to 鈥�the entire People of God鈥�. In the document, composed of nine chapters divided into 299 paragraphs, the 杏MAP导航 explains that he allowed himself to be 鈥�inspired by the wealth of reflections and conversations of the Synod鈥� on Young People, celebrated in the Vatican in October 2018.

Chapter one: 鈥淲hat does the Word of God have to say about young people?鈥�

Francis recalls that 鈥�in an age when young people were not highly regarded, some texts show that God sees them differently鈥� (6). He briefly presents figures of young people from the Old Testament: Joseph, Gideon (7), Samuel (8), King David (9), Solomon and Jeremiah (10), the very young Jewish servant of Naaman, and the young Ruth (11). Then he moves on to the New Testament. The 杏MAP导航 recalls that 鈥�Jesus, who is eternally young, wants to give us hearts that are ever young鈥� (13) and adds: 鈥淟et us also keep in mind that Jesus had no use for adults who looked down on the young or lorded it over them.  On the contrary, he insisted that 鈥渢he greatest among you must become like the youngest鈥� (Lk 22:26).  For him age did not establish privileges, and being young did not imply lesser worth or dignity鈥�. Francis affirms: 鈥淲e should never repent of spending our youth being good, opening our heart to the Lord, and living differently鈥� (17).

Chapter two: 鈥淛esus, ever young鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 addresses the theme of Jesus鈥� youthful years and remembers the Gospel story that describes Jesus 鈥渁s an adolescent, when he had returned with his parents to Nazareth, after being lost and found in the Temple鈥� (26). We should not think, Francis writes, that 鈥�Jesus was a withdrawn adolescent or a self-absorbed youth. His relationships were those of a young person who shared fully in the life of his family and his people鈥�, 鈥渘o one regarded him as unusual or set apart from others鈥� (28). The 杏MAP导航 points out that, 鈥渢hanks to the trust of his parents鈥�, the adolescent Jesus, 鈥渃an move freely and learn to journey with others鈥� (29). These aspects of Jesus鈥� life should not be ignored in youth ministry, 鈥渓est we create projects that isolate young people from their family and the larger community, or turn them into a select few, protected from all contamination鈥�. Rather, we need 鈥減rojects that can strengthen them, accompany them and impel them to encounter others, to engage in generous service, in mission 鈥� (30).

Jesus 鈥渄oes not teach you, young people, from afar or from without, but from within your very youth, a youth he shares with you鈥� and in him many aspects typical of young hearts can be recognized (31). With 鈥渉im at our side, we can drink from the true wellspring that keeps alive all our dreams, our projects, our great ideals, while impelling us to proclaim what makes life truly worthwhile鈥� (32); 鈥淭he Lord is calling us to enkindle stars in the night of other young people鈥� (33).

Francis then speaks of the youth of the Church and writes: 鈥淟et us ask the Lord to free the Church from those who would make her grow old, encase her in the past, hold her back or keep her at a standstill.  But let us also ask him to free her from another temptation: that of thinking she is young because she accepts everything the world offers her, thinking that she is renewed because she sets her message aside and acts like everybody else.  No!  The Church is young when she is herself, when she receives ever anew the strength born of God鈥檚 word, the Eucharist, and the daily presence of Christ and the power of his Spirit in our lives鈥� (35).  

It is true that 鈥渁s members of the Church, we should not stand apart from others鈥�, yet at the same time, 鈥渨e must dare to be different, to point to ideals other than those of this world, testifying to the beauty of generosity, service, purity, perseverance, forgiveness, fidelity to our personal vocation, prayer, the pursuit of justice and the common good, love for the poor, and social friendship鈥� (36). The Church can be tempted to lose her enthusiasm and revert 鈥渢o seeking a false, worldly form of security. Young people can help keep her young鈥� (37).

The 杏MAP导航 then goes back to one of the teachings most dear to him and, explaining that the figure of Jesus must be presented 鈥渋n an attractive and effective way鈥�, says: 鈥渢he Church should not be excessively caught up in herself but instead, and above all, reflect Jesus Christ.  This means humbly acknowledging that some things concretely need to change鈥� (39).

The Exhortation recognizes that there are young people who feel the presence of the Church 鈥渁 nuisance, even an irritant鈥�. This attitude that has its roots 鈥渋n serious and understandable reasons: sexual and financial scandals; a clergy ill-prepared to engage effectively with the sensitivities of the young;鈥� the passive role assigned to the young within the Christian community; the Church鈥檚 difficulty in explaining her doctrine and ethical positions to contemporary society鈥� (40).

There are young people who 鈥渨ant a Church that listens more, that does more than simply condemn the world.  They do not want to see a Church that is silent and afraid to speak, but neither one that is always battling obsessively over two or three issues.  To be credible to young people, there are times when she needs to regain her humility and simply listen, recognizing that what others have to say can provide some light to help her better understand the Gospel鈥� (41). For example, a Church that is too fearful can be constantly critical of 鈥渆fforts to defend the rights of women, and constantly point out the risks and the potential errors of those demands鈥�, while a Church that is 鈥渁 living Church, can react by being attentive to the legitimate claims of women鈥�, while 鈥渘ot agreeing with everything some feminist groups propose鈥� (42).

Francis then presents 鈥�Mary, the young woman from Nazareth鈥�, and her Yes as that of 鈥渟omeone willing to take a risk, ready to stake everything she had, with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was the bearer of a promise.  So I ask each one of you: do you see yourselves as the bearers of a promise?鈥� (44) For Mary, 鈥渃hallenges were no reason to say 鈥渘o 鈥浓赌� , and thus putting herself at stake, she became 鈥渢he influencer of God鈥�. The heart of the Church is also full of young saints. The 杏MAP导航 remembers Saint Sebastian, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Joan of Arc, Blessed Martyr Andrew Phû Yên, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Saint Dominic Savio, Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus, Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, Blessed Isidoro Bakanja, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Blessed Marcel Callo, the young Blessed Chiara Badano.

Chapter three: 鈥淵ou are the 鈥榥ow鈥� of God鈥�

We cannot just say that 鈥測oung people are the future of our world鈥�, says 杏MAP导航 Francis.  鈥淭hey are its present; even now, they are helping to enrich it鈥� (64). For this reason it is necessary to listen to them even if 鈥渢here is a tendency to provide prepackaged answers and ready-made solutions, without allowing their real questions to emerge and facing the challenges they pose鈥� (65).

鈥淭oday, we adults can often be tempted to list all the problems and failings of today鈥檚 young people鈥� But what would be the result of such an attitude?  Greater distance, less closeness, less mutual assistance鈥� (66). Whoever is called to be a father, pastor and youth guide should have the ability 鈥渢o discern pathways where others only see walls, to recognize potential where others see only peril.  That is how God the Father sees things; He knows how to cherish and nurture the seeds of goodness sown in the hearts of the young.  Each young person鈥檚 heart should thus be considered 鈥渉oly ground 鈥浓赌� (67). Francis also invites us not to generalize, because 鈥渢he worlds of today鈥檚 鈥榶outh鈥� are so many鈥� (68).

Speaking of what happens to young people, the 杏MAP导航 recalls those who live in contexts of war, those who are exploited, the victims of kidnappings, organized crime, human trafficking, slavery and sexual exploitation, rape. And also those who live by committing crimes and acts of violence (72). 鈥淢any young people are taken in by ideologies, used and exploited as cannon fodder or a strike force to destroy, terrify or ridicule others.  Worse yet, many of them end up as individualists, hostile and distrustful of others; in this way, they become an easy target for the brutal and destructive strategies of political groups or economic powers鈥� (73). Even more numerous are those who suffer forms of marginalization and social exclusion for religious, ethnic or economic reasons. 杏MAP导航 Francis cites adolescents and young people who 鈥渂ecome pregnant, the scourge of abortion, the spread of HIV, various forms of addiction (drugs, gambling, pornography and so forth), and the plight of street children without homes, families or economic resources鈥� (74), situations that are made doubly painful and difficult for women. 鈥淎s a Church, may we never fail to weep before these tragedies of our young.  May we never become inured to them鈥� The worst thing we can do is adopt that worldly spirit whose solution is simply to anesthetize young people with other messages, with other distractions, with trivial pursuits鈥� (75). The 杏MAP导航 invites young people to learn to weep for their peers who are worse off than they are (76).

It is true, 杏MAP导航 Francis explains, 鈥渢hat people in power offer some assistance, but often it comes at a high price.  In many poor countries, economic aid provided by some richer countries or international agencies is usually tied to the acceptance of Western views of sexuality, marriage, life or social justice.  This ideological colonization is especially harmful to the young鈥� (78). The 杏MAP导航 also warns against today鈥檚 culture that presents the youthful model of beauty and uses young bodies in advertising: 鈥渋t has very little to do with young people.  It only means that adults want to snatch youth for themselves鈥� (79).

Referring to 鈥�desires, hurts, and longings鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis speaks about sexuality and its 鈥渆ssential importance鈥� for young peoples鈥� lives and for their 鈥減rocess of growth in identity鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 writes that: 鈥渋n a world that constantly exalts sexuality, maintaining a healthy relationship with one鈥檚 body and a serene affective life is not easy鈥�.  For this and other reasons, sexual morality often tends to be a source of 鈥渋ncomprehension and alienation from the Church, inasmuch as she is viewed as a place of judgment and condemnation鈥�, despite the fact there are young people who want to discuss these issues (81). Faced with developments in science, biomedical technologies and neuroscience, the 杏MAP导航 recalls how these can 鈥渕ake us forget that life is a gift, and that we are creatures with innate limits, open to exploitation by those who wield technological power鈥� (82).

The Exhortation then turns to the theme of the 鈥渄igital world鈥� which has created 鈥渁 new way to communicate鈥�, and which can 鈥渇acilitate the circulation of independent information鈥�. In many countries, the web and social networks 鈥渁lready represent a firmly established forum for reaching and involving young people鈥� (87). But they can also be a place of 鈥渓oneliness, manipulation, exploitation and violence, up to the extreme case of the 鈥榙ark web鈥�.  Digital media can expose people to the risk of addiction, isolation and gradual loss of contact with concrete reality鈥� New forms of violence are spreading through social media, for example cyber-bullying. The internet is also a channel for spreading pornography and the exploitation of persons for sexual purposes or through gambling鈥� (88). It should not be forgotten that in the digital world 鈥渢here are huge economic interests鈥�, capable of creating 鈥渕echanisms for the manipulation of consciences and of the democratic process鈥�. There are closed circuits that 鈥渇acilitate the spread of fake news and false information, fomenting prejudice and hate鈥� The reputation of individuals is put in jeopardy through summary trials conducted online. The Church and her pastors are not exempt from this phenomenon鈥� (89). In a document prepared by 300 young people from all over the world before the Synod it is stated that 鈥�online relationships can become inhuman鈥�, and immersion in the virtual world has favored 鈥渁 kind of 鈥渄igital migration鈥�, involving withdrawal from their families and their cultural and religious values, and entrance into a world of loneliness鈥� (90).

The 杏MAP导航 goes on to present 鈥�migrants as an epitome of our time鈥�, and recalls the many young people involved in migration. 鈥淭he Church鈥檚 concern is focused especially on those fleeing from war, violence, political or religious persecution, from natural disasters including those caused by climate change, and from extreme poverty鈥� (91): they search for an opportunity, a dream of a better future. Other migrants are 鈥渁ttracted by Western culture, sometimes with unrealistic expectations that expose them to grave disappointments. Unscrupulous traffickers, frequently linked to drug cartels or arms cartels, exploit the weakness of migrants... The particular vulnerability of migrants who are unaccompanied minors is worth noting鈥� In some host countries, migration causes fear and alarm, often fomented and exploited for political ends. This can lead to a xenophobic mentality, as people close in on themselves, and this needs to be addressed decisively鈥� (92).  Young migrants often also experience a cultural and religious uprooting (93). Francis asks young people 鈥渘ot to play into the hands of those who would set them against other young people, newly arrived in their countries, and who would encourage them to view the latter as a threat鈥� (94).

The 杏MAP导航 also speaks of child abuse, makes the Synod鈥檚 commitment to the adoption of rigorous measures of prevention his own, and expresses gratitude 鈥渢o those who had the courage to report the evil they experienced鈥� (99). He recalls that, 鈥渢hank God鈥�, those who committed these horrible crimes are not the majority of priests, who carry out their ministry with fidelity and generosity鈥�. He asks young people, if they see a priest at risk because he has taken the wrong path, to have the courage to remind him of his commitment to God and to his people (100).

Abuse, however, is not the only sin in the Church. 鈥淥ur sins are before the eyes of everyone; they appear all too clearly in the lines on the age-old face of the Church, our Mother and Teacher鈥�, but the Church does not resort to any cosmetic surgery, 鈥渟he is not afraid to reveal the sins of her members鈥�. 鈥淟et us never forget that we must not abandon our Mother when she is wounded鈥� (101). but stand beside her, so that she can summon up all her strength and all her ability to begin ever anew. This dark moment, with the help of the young people, 鈥渃an truly be an opportunity for a reform of epoch-making significance鈥�, opening us to a new Pentecost (102).

杏MAP导航 Francis reminds young people that 鈥渢here is a way out鈥� in all dark and painful situations. He recalls the Good News given on the morning of the Resurrection. He explains that even though the digital world can expose us to many risks, there are young people who know how to be creative and brilliant in these areas. Like the Venerable Carlo Acutis, who 鈥�knew how to use the new communication technologies to transmit the Gospel鈥� (105), he did not fall into the trap and said: 鈥淓veryone is born as an original, but many people end up die as photocopies鈥�. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let that happen to you鈥� (106), warns the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let them rob you of hope and joy, or drug you into becoming a slave to their interests鈥� (107), seek the great goal of holiness. 鈥淏eing young is not only about pursuing fleeting pleasures and superficial achievements. If the years of your youth are to serve their purpose in life, they must be a time of generous commitment, whole-hearted 诲别诲颈肠补迟颈辞苍鈥� (108). 鈥淚f you are young in years, but feel weak, weary or disillusioned, ask Jesus to renew you鈥� (109).  But always remember that 鈥渋t is very difficult to fight against鈥�the snares and temptations of the devil, and the selfishness of the world鈥�if we grow too isolated鈥� (110). That鈥檚 when we need a life of community .

Chapter four: 鈥�A great message for all young people鈥�

To all young people the 杏MAP导航 announces three great truths. A 鈥淕od who is love鈥�. 鈥�God loves you, never doubt this鈥� (112). You can 鈥�find security in the embrace of your heavenly Father鈥� (113). 杏MAP导航 Francis affirms that the memory of the Father 鈥�is not a 鈥榟ard disk鈥� that 鈥榮aves鈥� and 鈥榓rchives鈥� all our data.  His memory is a heart filled with tender compassion, one that finds joy in 鈥榙eleting鈥� from us every trace of evil鈥� Because he loves you. Try to keep still for a moment and let yourself feel his love鈥� (115). His love is one that 鈥�has to do more with raising up than knocking down, with reconciling than forbidding, with offering new changes than condemning, with the future than the past鈥� (116).

The second truth is that 鈥�Christ saves you鈥�. Never forget that 鈥淗e forgives us seventy times seven. Time and time again, He bears us on his shoulders鈥� (119). Jesus loves us and saves us because 鈥�only what is loved can be saved.  Only what is embraced can be transformed. The Lord鈥檚 love is greater than all our problems, frailties and flaws鈥� (120). And 鈥�His forgiveness and salvation are not something we can buy, or that we have to acquire by our own works or efforts. He forgives us and sets us free without cost鈥� (121).

The third truth is that 鈥�He is alive!鈥�. 鈥�We need to keep reminding ourselves of this鈥�because we can risk seeing Jesus Christ simply as a fine model from the distant past, as a memory, as someone who saved us two thousand years ago. But that would be of no use to us: it would leave us unchanged, it would not set us free鈥� (124). If He lives, 鈥渢here can be no doubt that goodness will have the upper hand in your life鈥� then we can stop complaining and look to the future, for with him this is always possible鈥� (127).

In these truths, the Father appears and Jesus appears. And where they are, there is also the Holy Spirit. 鈥�Invoke the Holy Spirit each day鈥� You have nothing to lose, and He can change your life, fill it with light and lead it along a better path.  He takes nothing away from you, but instead helps you to find all that you need, and in the best possible way鈥� (131).

Chapter 5: Paths of Youth

鈥�The love of God and our relationship with the living Christ do not hold us back from dreaming; they do not require us to narrow our horizons.  On the contrary, that love elevates us, encourages us and inspires us to a better and more beautiful life.  Much of the longing present in the hearts of young people can be summed up in the word 鈥榬estlessness鈥欌�� (138). Thinking of a young person, the 杏MAP导航 sees him or her as someone 鈥渨ho wants to fly on their two feet, always with one foot forward, ready to set out, to spring ahead.  Always racing onward鈥� (139). Youth cannot remain 鈥�on hold鈥�, because it is the 鈥�age of choice鈥� in the professional, social, political spheres, and also in the choice of the partner or in having one鈥檚 first children. 鈥�Anxiety can work against us by making us give up whenever we do not see instant results.  Our best dreams are only attained through hope, patience and commitment, and not in haste.  At the same time, we should not be hesitant, afraid to take chances or make mistakes鈥� (142). 杏MAP导航 Francis invites young people not to observe life from the balcony, not to spend their lives in front of a screen, not to be reduced to abandoned vehicles and not to look at the world as tourists: 鈥�Make a ruckus! Cast out the fears that paralyze you鈥�live!鈥� (143) He invites them to 鈥�live the present鈥� enjoying with gratitude every little gift of life without 鈥�being insatiable鈥� and 鈥�obsessively seeking new pleasures鈥� (146). In fact, living the present 鈥�is not the same as embarking irresponsibly on a life of dissipation that can only leave us empty and perpetually dissatisfied鈥� (147).

鈥�No matter how much you live the experience of these years of your youth, you will never know their deepest and fullest meaning unless you encounter each day your best friend, the friend who is Jesus鈥� (150) Friendship with Him is indissoluble because He does not abandon us (154). 鈥�With a friend, we can speak and share our deepest secrets. With Jesus too, we can always have a conversation鈥�. When we pray, 鈥�we open everything we do鈥� to him, and we give him room 鈥渟o that He can act, enter and claim victory鈥� (155). 鈥�Do not deprive your youth of this friendship. You will be able to feel him at your side鈥�. That is what the disciples of Emmaus experienced (156). Saint Oscar Romero said: 鈥�Christianity is not a collection of truths to be believed, rules to be followed, or prohibitions.  Seen that way, it puts us off.  Christianity is a person who loved me immensely, who demands and asks for my love. Christianity is Christ鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航, speaking of growth and maturity, indicates the importance of seeking 鈥�a spiritual development鈥�, of 鈥�seeking the Lord and keeping his Word鈥�, of maintaining the 鈥�connection鈥� with Jesus... since you will not grow happy and holy by your own efforts and intelligence alone鈥� (158).

Adults too must mature without losing the values of youth: 鈥�In every moment of life we can renew and increase our youth. When I began my ministry as 杏MAP导航, the Lord broadened my horizons and granted me renewed youth. The same can happen to a couple married for many years, or to a monk in his monastery鈥� (160). Growing older means 鈥減reserving and cherishing the most precious things about our youth, but it also involves having to purify those things that are not good鈥� (161). 鈥�But I would also remind you that you won鈥檛 become holy and find fulfilment by copying others鈥� You have to discover who you are and develop your own way of being holy鈥� (162). 杏MAP导航 Francis proposes 鈥�paths of fraternity鈥� to live the faith, remembering that 鈥�the Holy Spirit wants to make us come out of ourselves, to embrace others鈥� That is why it is always better to live the faith together and to show our love by living in community鈥� (164), overcoming the temptation 鈥渢o dwell on ourselves and our problems, our hurt feelings and our grievances鈥� (166). 鈥淕od loves the joy of young people.  He wants them especially to share in the joy of fraternal communion鈥� (167).

The 杏MAP导航 then speaks of being 鈥�young and committed鈥�, stating that young people can sometimes be 鈥�tempted to withdraw into small groups鈥� They may feel that they are experiencing fraternity and love, but their small group may in fact become nothing other than an extension of their own ego. This is even more serious if they think of the lay vocation simply as a form of service inside the Church鈥� They forget that the lay vocation is directed above all to charity within the family and to social and political charity鈥� (168).

杏MAP导航 Francis proposes that young people 鈥�go beyond their small groups and to build social friendship, where everyone works for the common good. Social enmity, on the other hand, is destructive. Families are destroyed by enmity. Countries are destroyed by enmity. The world is destroyed by enmity.  And the greatest enmity of all is war. Today we see that the world is destroying itself by war鈥� because we are unable to sit down and speak鈥� (169).

鈥�Social engagement and direct contact with the poor remain fundamental ways of finding or deepening one鈥檚 faith and the discernment of one鈥檚 vocation鈥� (170). The 杏MAP导航 cites the positive example of young people from parishes, schools and movements who 鈥�often go out to spend time with the elderly and the infirm, or to visit poor neighbourhoods鈥� (171).

鈥�Other young people take part in social programs that build houses for the homeless, or reclaim contaminated areas or offer various kinds of assistance to the needy.  It would be helpful if this shared energy could be channeled and organized in a more stable way鈥�. University students 鈥�can apply their knowledge in an interdisciplinary way, together with young people of other churches or religions鈥� (172). 杏MAP导航 Francis encourages young people to make this commitment: 鈥�I have been following news reports of the many young people throughout the world who have taken to the streets to express the desire for a more just and fraternal society... The young want to be protagonists of change. Please, do not leave it to others to be protagonists of change!鈥� (174).

Young people are called to be 鈥�courageous missionaries鈥�, witnessing everywhere to the Gospel with their own lives, which does not mean 鈥�speaking about the truth, but living it鈥� (175). The word, however, must not be silenced: 鈥�Learn to swim against the tide, learn how to share Jesus and the faith he has given you鈥� (176). Where does Jesus send us? 鈥�There are no borders, no limits: he sends us everywhere.  The Gospel is for everyone, not just for some. It is not only for those who seem closer to us, more receptive, more welcoming. It is for everyone鈥� (177). And one cannot expect 鈥�the mission to be soft and easy鈥� (178).

Chapter six: 鈥淵oung people with roots鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis says that it hurts him to see 鈥�young people sometimes being encouraged to build a future without roots, as if the world were just starting now鈥� (179). 鈥�If someone tells young people to ignore their history, to reject the experiences of their elders, to look down on the past and to look forward to a future that he holds out, doesn鈥檛 it then become easy to draw them along so that they only do what he tells them?  He needs the young to be shallow, uprooted and distrustful, so that they can trust only in his promises and act according to his plans.  That is how various ideologies operate: they destroy (or deconstruct) all differences so that they can reign unopposed鈥� (181).

The manipulators also use the cult of youth: 鈥�The youthful body becomes the symbol of this new cult; everything associated with that body is idolized and lusted after, while whatever is not young is despised. But this cult of youth is simply an expedient that ultimately proves degrading to the young鈥� (182). 鈥�Dear young friends, do not let them exploit your youth to promote a shallow life that confuses beauty with appearances鈥� (183). Because there is beauty in the labourer who returns home grimy and unkempt, in the elderly wife who takes care of her sick husband, in the fidelity of couples who love each other in the autumn of life.

Today instead we promote 鈥�a spirituality without God, an affectivity without community or concern for those who suffer, a fear of the poor, viewed as dangerous and a variety of claims to offer a future paradise that nonetheless seems increasingly distant鈥� (184). The 杏MAP导航 invites young people not to allow themselves to be dominated by this ideology which leads to 鈥�cultural colonization鈥� (185) which eradicates young people from the cultural and religious affiliations from which they come and tends to homogenize them by transforming them into 鈥渁 new line of malleable goods鈥� (186).

Fundamental is 鈥�your relationship with the elderly鈥�, says the 杏MAP导航, which helps young people to discover the living richness of the past. 鈥�The Word of God encourages us to remain close to the elderly, so that we can benefit from their experience鈥� (188). 鈥�This does not mean having to agree with everything adults say or approving all their actions鈥�.  鈥淚t is really a matter of being open to receiving a wisdom passed down from generation to generation鈥� (190). 鈥�The world has never benefitted, nor will it ever benefit, from a rupture between generations鈥� It is the lie that would have you believe that only what is new is good and beautiful鈥� (191).

Speaking of 鈥�dreams and visions鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis observes: 鈥�When young and old alike are open to the Holy Spirit, they make a wonderful combination. The old dream dreams, and the young see visions鈥� (192). 鈥�If young people sink roots in those dreams, they can peer into the future鈥� (193). That is why we need 鈥�to take risks together鈥�, walking together, young and old. 鈥�Roots are not anchors chaining us鈥� but 鈥渁 fixed point from which we can grow and meet new challenges鈥� (200).

Chapter seven: 鈥淵outh ministry鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 explains that youth ministry has been affected by social and cultural changes and 鈥�young people frequently fail to find in our usual programmes a response to their concerns, their needs, their problems and issues鈥� (202). The young people themselves 鈥�are agents of youth ministry. Certainly they need to he helped and guided, but at the same time left free to develop new approaches, with creativity and a certain audacity鈥�. We need to help young people to 鈥�use their insight, ingenuity and knowledge to address the issues and concerns of other young people in their own language鈥� (203).

Youth ministry needs to be flexible, and it is necessary to invite 鈥�young people to events or occasions that provide an opportunity not only for learning, but also for conversing, celebrating, singing, listening to real stories and experiencing a shared encounter with the living God鈥� (204).

Youth ministry has to be synodal, that is, capable of shaping a 鈥渏ourney together鈥� and this involves two broad lines of action: the first is outreach, the second is growth. For the first, 杏MAP导航 Francis trusts in the ability of young people themselves to 鈥�find appealing ways to come together鈥�. 鈥�They only have to be encouraged and given the freedom to be enthused鈥�. What is most important, though, 鈥�is that each young person can be daring enough to sow the seed of the message on that fertile terrain that is the heart of another young person鈥� (210). Priority should be given to 鈥�the language of closeness, the language of generous, relational and existential love that touches the heart鈥�. Young people need to be approached 鈥�with the grammar of love, not by being preached at鈥� (211).

As far as growth is concerned, 杏MAP导航 Francis warns against proposing to young people touched by an intense experience of God 鈥�meetings of 鈥榝ormation鈥� in which only doctrinal and moral questions are dealt with... The result is that many young people get bored, they lose the fire of their encounter with Christ and the joy of following Him鈥� (212).

Any educational project or path of growth for young people 鈥渕ust certainly include formation in Christian doctrine and morality鈥�, that must be centred on the kerygma, 鈥�the foundational experience of encounter with God through Jesus鈥� death and resurrection鈥�, and on 鈥�growth in fraternal love, community life and service鈥� (213).

Therefore, 鈥�youth ministry should always include occasions for renewing and deepening our personal experience of the love of God and the living Christ鈥� (214). It should help young people 鈥�to live as brothers and sisters, to help one another, to build community, to be of service to others, to be close to the poor鈥� (215).

Church institutions should therefore provide 鈥�suitable environments鈥�, 鈥�places young people can make their own, where they can come and go freely, feel welcome and readily meet other young people, whether at times of difficulty and frustration, or of joy and celebration鈥� (218).

杏MAP导航 Francis then describes 鈥�Youth Ministry in educational institutions鈥�, affirming that schools are in 鈥�urgent need of self-criticism鈥�. He recalls that 鈥�some Catholic schools seem to be structured only for the sake of self-preservation鈥� A school that becomes a 鈥榖unker鈥�, protecting its students from errors 鈥榝rom without鈥� is a caricature of this tendency鈥�. When young people leave, they feel 鈥�an insurmountable disconnect between what they were taught and the world in which they live鈥�, while 鈥�one of the greatest joys that any educator can have is to see a student turn into a strong, well-integrated person鈥� (221).

We cannot separate spiritual from cultural formation鈥� 鈥�This, then, is your great challenge: to respond to the crippling refrains of cultural consumerism with thoughtful and firm decisions, with research, knowledge and sharing鈥� (223). Among the areas of 鈥�pastoral development鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 indicates the 鈥�importance of the arts鈥� (226), the 鈥�potential of sports鈥� (227), and 鈥�care for the environment鈥� (228).

There is a need for 鈥�popular youth ministry鈥�, 鈥�broader and more flexible, which stimulates those natural guides and charisms which the Holy Spirit has already sown among young people, in the different places in which young people concretely move. It tries to avoid imposing obstacles, rules, controls and obligatory structures on these young believers who are natural leaders in their neighbourhoods and in other settings. We need only to accompany and encourage them鈥� (230).

By focusing on a 鈥�pure and perfect youth ministry, marked by abstract ideas, protected from the world and free of every flaw, we can turn the Gospel into a dull, meaningless and unattractive proposition.  Such a youth ministry ends up completely removed from the world of young people and suited only to an elite Christian youth that sees itself as different, while living in an empty and unproductive isolation鈥� (232).

杏MAP导航 Francis invites us to be a 鈥�Church with open doors. Nor does one have to accept fully all the teachings of the Church to take part in certain of our activities for young people (234). Room should also be made for 鈥渁ll those who have other visions of life, who belong to other religions or who distance themselves from religion altogether鈥� (235). The icon for this approach is offered to us by the Gospel episode of the disciples at Emmaus: Jesus questions them, listens to them patiently, helps them to recognize what they are living, to interpret in the light of Scripture what they have lived, accepts to stay with them, enters their night. It is they themselves who choose to resume without delay the journey in the opposite direction (237).

鈥�Always missionaries鈥�. For young people to become missionaries there is no need to make 鈥渁 long journey鈥�. 鈥�A young person who makes a pilgrimage to ask Our Lady for help, and invites a friend or companion along, by that single gesture is being a good missionary鈥� (239). 鈥淵outh ministry is always missionary鈥� (240). Young people need to have their freedom respected, 鈥測et they also need to be accompanied鈥�. The family should be the first place of accompaniment (242), and then the community. 鈥�All should regard young people with understanding, appreciation and affection, and avoid constantly judging them or demanding of them a perfection beyond their years鈥� (243). There is a lack of experienced people dedicated to accompaniment (244) and 鈥�some young women feel that there is a lack of leading female role models within the Church鈥� (245). The same young people 鈥�described to us鈥� the qualities they hope to find in a mentor: 鈥�being a faithful Christian who engages with the Church and the world; someone who constantly seeks holiness; someone who is a confidant without judgement.  Similarly, someone who actively listens to the needs of young people and responds in kind; someone deeply loving and self-aware; someone who recognizes his or her limits and knows the joys and sorrows of the spiritual journey.  An especially important quality in mentors is the acknowledgement of their own humanity 鈥� the fact that they are human beings who make mistakes: not perfect people but forgiven sinners鈥� (246). They should know how to 鈥�walk alongside them鈥�, respecting their freedom.

Chapter eight: 鈥淰ocation鈥�

鈥�The first thing we need to discern and discover is this: Jesus wants to be a friend to every young person鈥� (250). Vocation is a call to missionary service to others, 鈥渇or our life on earth reaches full stature when it becomes an offering鈥� (254). 鈥�To respond to our vocation, we need to foster and develop all that we are. This has nothing to do with inventing ourselves or creating ourselves out of nothing. It has to do with finding our true selves in the light of God and letting our lives flourish and bear fruit鈥� (257). 鈥�This 鈥榖eing there for others鈥� normally has to do with two basic issues: forming a new family and working鈥� (258).

As for 鈥�love and family鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 writes that: 鈥�Young people intensely feel the call to love; they dream of meeting the right person with whom they can form a family鈥� (259). The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony 鈥�envelops this love in the grace of God; it roots it in God Himself鈥� (260). God created us as sexual beings. He himself created sexuality, which is a marvellous gift. 鈥�It is not taboo鈥�. It is a gift the Lord gives us. It has 鈥�two purposes: to love and to generate life. It is passion鈥� True love is passionate鈥� (261).

杏MAP导航 Francis observes that the 鈥�increase of separations, divorces鈥� can cause great suffering and a crisis of identity in young people. Sometimes they must take on responsibilities that are not proportioned to their age鈥� (262). Despite all the difficulties, 鈥�it is worth your every effort to invest in the family; there you will find the best incentives to mature and the greatest joys to experience and share. Don鈥檛 let yourselves be robbed of a great love鈥� (263).

鈥�To think that nothing can be definitive is a deceptive lie鈥� I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, I ask you to swim against the tide鈥� (264).

As for work, the 杏MAP导航 writes: 鈥�I ask young people not to expect to live without working, depending on others for help.  This is not good, because work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfilment.  In this sense, helping the poor financially must always be a provisional solution in the face of pressing needs鈥� (269).

After noting how young people in the world of work experience forms of exclusion and marginalization (270), the 杏MAP导航 affirms with regard to youth unemployment: 鈥�This is a highly complex and sensitive issue that politics must make a priority, especially at present, when the speed of technological advances and the concern to reduce labour costs can lead quickly to the replacement of many jobs by machines鈥� (271). To young people he says: 鈥�It is true that you cannot live without working, and that sometimes you have to accept whatever is available, but I ask you never to give up on your dreams, never completely bury a calling, and never accept defeat鈥� (272).

杏MAP导航 Francis concludes this chapter by talking about 鈥�the vocation to special consecration鈥�. 鈥�In discerning your vocation, do not dismiss the possibility of devoting yourself to God鈥� Why not? You can be sure that, if you do recognize and follow a call from God, there you will find complete fulfilment鈥� (276).

Chapter nine: 鈥凄颈蝉肠别谤苍尘别苍迟鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 recalls that: 鈥�Without the wisdom of discernment, we can easily become prey to every passing trend鈥� (279). 鈥淎 particular form of discernment involves the effort to discover our own vocation. Since this is a very personal decision that others cannot make for us, it requires a certain degree of solitude and silence鈥� (283).

鈥�A vocation, while a gift, will undoubtedly also be demanding.  God鈥檚 gifts are interactive; to enjoy them we have to be ready to take risks鈥� (289).

Three sensitivities are required of those who help young people in their discernment. 鈥�The first kind of sensitivity is directed to the individual. It is a matter of listening to someone who is sharing his very self in what he says鈥� (292). 鈥�The second kind of sensitivity is marked by discernment. It tries to grasp exactly where grace or temptation is present鈥� (293). 鈥�The third kind of sensitivity is the ability to perceive what is driving the other person鈥�, discerning 鈥渢he direction in which that person truly wants to move鈥� (294). 鈥�When we listen to others in this way, at a certain moment we ourselves have to disappear in order to let the other person follow the path he or she has discovered. We have to vanish as the Lord did from the sight of his disciples in Emmaus鈥� (296). We need 鈥�to encourage and accompany processes, without imposing our own roadmaps.  For those processes have to do with persons who remain always unique and free. There are no easy recipes鈥� (297).

The exhortation concludes with 鈥�a wish鈥� from 杏MAP导航 Francis: 鈥�Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful.   Keep running, 鈥渁ttracted by the face of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith鈥� And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us鈥�.