Thirsty...

Today was the opening day of World Youth Days Madrid!!!!! Alleluia!!

The pilgrims were excited to make it over to the Love and Life Center at the Palacio in downtown Madrid bright and early for the Canadian welcome, and as we got closer and closer, we found more and more english speaking pilgrims! The day was full of welcoming introductions and I ran into an array of my Toronto friends speaking at the podium and working behind the scenes. I was very proud to tell my pilgrims about the Salt and Light connection in Toronto.

The day was focused towards the Opening Mass in Cibelas Square at 8pm. The subway trains were rammed like sardines in a can, but it is nothing that us WYD troopers aren't used to, so we walked 45 minutes to our destination. Encountering different countries with their flags, we joyfully and energetically join in on their cheers. That is the language that breaks all barriers during world youth days --- enthusiasm! Even on our most tiring walk, our energy flows out of us like a river. When we arrived at Plaza Cibeles, our spot on the street was more than 1km away from the altar. We had to watch on a large screen. It was beautiful to sit on a crowded street surrounded with different countries chanting their favourite chants. Whats more, is that they were all there to listen to God`s word.

The unfortunate thing about this mass is that the speakers for our section were not working. We couldn`t hear a thing -- we could only see what was happening on the large screens. It was very disheartening to see my pilgrims follow along in their books  but not knowing when the responses came in or hear the music of the mass parts. Also, masses at WYD are always multi-lingual so they are always at a slower pace than one would read through their own missal.

By the time of the Homily, pilgrims were reading the 1st and 2nd readings and the Psalms aloud to one another. At the Gospel, the pilgrims decided to discuss and reflect amongst one another so as to practice homiletics. Some pilgrims figured out that you could hear the Mass via FM radio -- and they scrambled to hook up their ipod to it. One pilgrim offered to listen to the FM radio, (it was in spanish only) and translate it to a priest sitting with us, so that he could proclaim the homily to those who were sitting around them!!!

It worked.

It was such a beautiful thing to witness. I have never felt so active and thirsty for the word of God (literally and metaphorically)... and today I witnessed the Holy Spirit in action once again. All the pilgrims around us were leaning forward, on top of one another, so they could hear what was being translated through these tiny headphones!

Needless to say that we were all thankful and praying in thanksgving for Catalina, the girl who was translating, and at the sign of peace, a lot of joy was resonating -- thanks be to God!

That pretty much made my entire day so special. More than any other event that happened that day. The Eucharistic Mass is the source and summit of our faith.

We are one body! One Body in Christ!