But I find that in hindsight, when I look at all the 'obstacles' in my life that I have overcome with great dignity and confidence -- had I known that is what God had in store for me, I'd never want to even walk the path that got NEAR those 'bridges'. It makes me think that rather than crossing a bridge when we get to it, God builds me a bridge to overcome any obstacle that I face. The imagery of this bridge, rather than being made of wood -- is made of stone. Nothing can shake my confidence in the Lord when I trust in him, and lest he brings me to a challenging situation I know He can bring me through it -- he will build the bridge, set the path, pave the road.
Monday 29 August 2011
Attraversiamo... "Let's Cross Over"
It'll happen often, a time comes that we think "We will cross that bridge when we get to it" -- as a way of putting things off, or ignoring the tough circumstances that might await us. The imagery of the bridge being something narrow -- rickety -- made of wood and high above a rocky stone river -- the current taunting us below. Who would dare approach that?
Saturday 20 August 2011
A still small voice...
Today at 3.30pm my group began our 2.5 hour walk to Cuatro Vientos. We had a plan, a carefully laid out strategy that would get all 100 pilgrims there as one group. I was to lead at the front, at a medium pace, so as to not exhaust our pilgrims or exhert themselves too soon -- and so I lead.
I had a good reflection to myself while walking. I was proud to be leading the group at the front and I was proud of myself for being able to walk such a great distance as leader (that almost never happens because #1 I'm directionally challenged, and #2 I'm not a runner/sprinter, I have asthma instead. The sun was blistering hot but the city of Madrid made an appropriate path for us to walk that had beautiful lush parks occasionally and sprinklers that we could run through every 3-4 km or so. We needed it.
Halfway through the walk, our pilgrims at the back were struggling and I was feeling lightheaded because of the heat -- part of the route was uphill and I am sure that is what did a lot of pilgrims in. Our momentum was lost so we took a break in the shaded to figure stuff out. I along with Monica, our Spanish coordinator and 6 other pilgrims, decided to get to Cuatro Vientos first, and take the metro so that we could get in and save a large spot for us. The gates were scheduled to open at 5 so we would only arrive shortly after that.
We took the subway to the furthest stop and still had to walk 2km, but the outpouring of support along the way was incredible. Citizens of Madrid were hanging outside their windows, collecting pilgrims' empty water bottles and filling them in their homes; other citizens were standing outside their homes spraying us with their hoses. It was genuine love and support and concern for all involved in this chaotic day.
Cuatro Vientos, upon arrival, looked like a desloate grey wasteland, and then further in, began to look like we were walking on Mars. The meal tents had run out of food and when we did manage to grab our meals, it was still quite a hike to where we were designated. Monica left us at the gate to bring meals to her brother in the wheelchair accessible section, and we waited.
Once we got in, we redeemed our food and headed towards our assigned section. Unfortunately, the gates opened wayyy earlier than scheduled (some pilgrims, when asked, told us that they arrived at 9am!!!!), and our section was absolutely full of people. All the sections were full except the ones in the back of the park with absolutely no view of the Papal Altar, stage, or giant-screens. We sat down outside our assigned gate and waited and waited for the rest of our group to arrive.
I played cards with the girls and we somehow sat comfortably, for lack of a bettter word until Monica came back. I was sending and recieving BBM's from the rest of the group and learned that the officials had CLOSED the gates to Cuatros Vientos! They were not letting any more people in! Apparently this was because the Vigil was going to start soon and the Holy Father needed to get in, and pilgrims were still arriving. But needless to say, panic began to set in, because #1, we still didnt have a secure spot anywhere, and #2, 80 of my pilgrims, including three coordinators, were outside the gates! The sky began to cloud over and we saw lightning in the distance. One of the girls with me freaked out and told me she had to go and seek shelter immediately. She didn't take no for an answer and the four girls left.
For me, WYD is not the same without any rain. Often, I think back to WYD 2002 in Toronto and remember how the rain was such a symbol of baptism. We endured, we waited, we kept vigilant. It caused a little anxiety, but did not let us falter or give up. I feel like the girls leaving our small group of 10 did not resemble the spirit of pilgrimage that I have grown up with. I have lived WYD for the past ten years of my life and I wouldn't give up this experience for anything else in the world.
After the girls left I was less than disappointed. I had to communicate this message to the others and I desperately wanted to be with the 80 pilgrims that got denied entry. I was scared, I was shocked, I was in awe, there were simply no words. The Pope arrrived! The vigil began! We still didn't have a secure spot. Listening to the Holy Father's words and contemplating what to do, the 5 of us remaining decided to leave Cuatro Vientos and meet our group wherever they were. If it meant that we slept in the streets outside the gates with them, so be it. We believed that the spirit of pilgrimage is to go through it together, and World Youth Day is about Unity and not being divided.
Our group was on their way back into downtown Madrid and they thought they could watch the Vigil at the Love and Life center, but they were at capacity and were advised by Fr. Rosica not to go there. So they went back to the hotel. My group got word of this and so we went back to our hotel too. It started to rain. The winds picked up and as soon as we were walking towards our gate (at least 3km).... it started to rain really violently. Plastic and paper and residue was flying all over the place, everyone was soaked, people were still cheering, Pope Benedict was still addressing us. I felt like we were in the storm from The Wizard of Oz. I didn't exactly have any bearings as to where we were, but it didn't feel like Kansas anymore.
We took our time getting back to the hotel and the two girls walking with me and Monica decided to sing to ease their minds. Many pilgrims were denied entry -- over 200 000! I saw some sleeping in the streets, in the parks, and many were waiting underground for the subway. Most of the restaurant owners that we passed had sympathy for us.
I had no words, no song in me; just an emptiness, a gratefulness (that everyone was safe) and a broken heart. When we arrived back at the hotel after 2 hours, everyone was grateful that we were safe, and we all just kind of hung out in the lobby unwinding from the incredibly exciting/challenging day.
I had no words and Neiman and Christian asked me how I was; and I just started to cry. I'm still awake -- I don't think I can sleep tonight; I wasn't planning to. So much of my heart is aching and so much of my heart is embracing God's will and lessons that He is giving me on a constant basis.
Just now, my friend Cheridan reminded me of a scriptural passage about Elijah that is reminiscent of all this... after the intense heat, the thunder & lightning, the gusting winds and then the rain. God was in the silence! The peace of Christ prevailed! Those who remained at the Vigil, and those who returned to the lobby of our hotel, all managed to keep vigil in the silence and all hope and peace was restored in the silence of each other's company.
I had a good reflection to myself while walking. I was proud to be leading the group at the front and I was proud of myself for being able to walk such a great distance as leader (that almost never happens because #1 I'm directionally challenged, and #2 I'm not a runner/sprinter, I have asthma instead. The sun was blistering hot but the city of Madrid made an appropriate path for us to walk that had beautiful lush parks occasionally and sprinklers that we could run through every 3-4 km or so. We needed it.
Halfway through the walk, our pilgrims at the back were struggling and I was feeling lightheaded because of the heat -- part of the route was uphill and I am sure that is what did a lot of pilgrims in. Our momentum was lost so we took a break in the shaded to figure stuff out. I along with Monica, our Spanish coordinator and 6 other pilgrims, decided to get to Cuatro Vientos first, and take the metro so that we could get in and save a large spot for us. The gates were scheduled to open at 5 so we would only arrive shortly after that.
We took the subway to the furthest stop and still had to walk 2km, but the outpouring of support along the way was incredible. Citizens of Madrid were hanging outside their windows, collecting pilgrims' empty water bottles and filling them in their homes; other citizens were standing outside their homes spraying us with their hoses. It was genuine love and support and concern for all involved in this chaotic day.
Cuatro Vientos, upon arrival, looked like a desloate grey wasteland, and then further in, began to look like we were walking on Mars. The meal tents had run out of food and when we did manage to grab our meals, it was still quite a hike to where we were designated. Monica left us at the gate to bring meals to her brother in the wheelchair accessible section, and we waited.
Once we got in, we redeemed our food and headed towards our assigned section. Unfortunately, the gates opened wayyy earlier than scheduled (some pilgrims, when asked, told us that they arrived at 9am!!!!), and our section was absolutely full of people. All the sections were full except the ones in the back of the park with absolutely no view of the Papal Altar, stage, or giant-screens. We sat down outside our assigned gate and waited and waited for the rest of our group to arrive.
I played cards with the girls and we somehow sat comfortably, for lack of a bettter word until Monica came back. I was sending and recieving BBM's from the rest of the group and learned that the officials had CLOSED the gates to Cuatros Vientos! They were not letting any more people in! Apparently this was because the Vigil was going to start soon and the Holy Father needed to get in, and pilgrims were still arriving. But needless to say, panic began to set in, because #1, we still didnt have a secure spot anywhere, and #2, 80 of my pilgrims, including three coordinators, were outside the gates! The sky began to cloud over and we saw lightning in the distance. One of the girls with me freaked out and told me she had to go and seek shelter immediately. She didn't take no for an answer and the four girls left.
For me, WYD is not the same without any rain. Often, I think back to WYD 2002 in Toronto and remember how the rain was such a symbol of baptism. We endured, we waited, we kept vigilant. It caused a little anxiety, but did not let us falter or give up. I feel like the girls leaving our small group of 10 did not resemble the spirit of pilgrimage that I have grown up with. I have lived WYD for the past ten years of my life and I wouldn't give up this experience for anything else in the world.
After the girls left I was less than disappointed. I had to communicate this message to the others and I desperately wanted to be with the 80 pilgrims that got denied entry. I was scared, I was shocked, I was in awe, there were simply no words. The Pope arrrived! The vigil began! We still didn't have a secure spot. Listening to the Holy Father's words and contemplating what to do, the 5 of us remaining decided to leave Cuatro Vientos and meet our group wherever they were. If it meant that we slept in the streets outside the gates with them, so be it. We believed that the spirit of pilgrimage is to go through it together, and World Youth Day is about Unity and not being divided.
Our group was on their way back into downtown Madrid and they thought they could watch the Vigil at the Love and Life center, but they were at capacity and were advised by Fr. Rosica not to go there. So they went back to the hotel. My group got word of this and so we went back to our hotel too. It started to rain. The winds picked up and as soon as we were walking towards our gate (at least 3km).... it started to rain really violently. Plastic and paper and residue was flying all over the place, everyone was soaked, people were still cheering, Pope Benedict was still addressing us. I felt like we were in the storm from The Wizard of Oz. I didn't exactly have any bearings as to where we were, but it didn't feel like Kansas anymore.
We took our time getting back to the hotel and the two girls walking with me and Monica decided to sing to ease their minds. Many pilgrims were denied entry -- over 200 000! I saw some sleeping in the streets, in the parks, and many were waiting underground for the subway. Most of the restaurant owners that we passed had sympathy for us.
I had no words, no song in me; just an emptiness, a gratefulness (that everyone was safe) and a broken heart. When we arrived back at the hotel after 2 hours, everyone was grateful that we were safe, and we all just kind of hung out in the lobby unwinding from the incredibly exciting/challenging day.
I had no words and Neiman and Christian asked me how I was; and I just started to cry. I'm still awake -- I don't think I can sleep tonight; I wasn't planning to. So much of my heart is aching and so much of my heart is embracing God's will and lessons that He is giving me on a constant basis.
Cuatro Vientos!!
In 2 hours we are going to start walking to Cuatro Vientos! It is the airbase in Madrid that has been transformed for the Papal Vigil.
So much is happening in Madrid right now. The overflow of people between yesterday and today is visibly noticeable and I am pretty sure there will be obstacles in getting to the Vigil site today.
We walked down the street this morning to have a team mass at the Cathedral and the youth from St. Paschal Bylon joined us. Our unity this morning was evident in our voices, our reverence, our silent witness to the Eucharist and our joy in proclaiming our love for our one and only Savior.
Last night one of our pilgrims fell ill. We suspect it is a bad case of sunstroke but she is doing alright. This morning she had to seek medical aid and one of our spanish speaking coordinators took her to the doctor. She won't be able to walk with us to Cuatro Vientos because of the extreme heat and exhausting task, but we prayed that she will be able to reunite with us at some point. We must carry on, not without her , but for her. We are carrying her in our hearts. God will make it happen.
On our walk to Mass this morning, the intersection was closed off with police escorts.... we asked what was happening and they said that THE POPE was on his way to the Seminarian mass (where Neiman was)... and that he would be driving by us any minute!!!!
WE were the only group standing on that street corner, and when the Holy Father drove by (slowly), we waved at him, cried out for him, and I blew him a kiss, and he reciprocated!! I am certain he was looking at me this time!! What an incredible gift! To see the Holy Father so up close three times in three days. We arrived at mass with so much joy in our hearts and a little less anxiety -- if we can beat the odds in greeting Il Papa, then we can certainly overcome our obstacles in getting to Cuatro Vientos.
Another small coincidence of today -- is that when I was at the restaurant awaiting my pilgrim meal, the tv was airing the Papal Mass with the Seminarians and I saw Neiman on TV recieving the Eucharist!!! That's not a huge deal, but it is for me... I think it flows perfectly with what we need today. God is sending me really clear messages and I am offering up everything to him.
Last night at the Palacio (one of the centers to witness the Via Crucis), Fr Edwin ran into Fr Robert -- my dear friend and former associate pastor. I call Fr. Robert my "Pilgrimage Pal", not only because he travelled with me to Sydney Australia in 2008, but because when I attended WYD 2002 at the age of sixteen, I did not know him yet, but in one of the random photos I took of the big-screen of the Blessed JPII, Fr. Robert was also on the screen, recieving communion from him. That photo was framed, on his wall of his office, while he was associate pastor at my parish. The connection was uncanny and the occurance was very very rare. I don't believe in coincidences. There is no such thing. Everything in our lives has been willed by God, blessed, and given a purpose!
I had the opportunity to email him briefly before my pilgrimage and we made an agreement to meet up in the adoration tent at Cuatro Vientos at a specific time during the night. Please pray that I am reunited with my friend and that everyone arrives at the site in good heath and stronger spirits. The Madrid sun is burning brightly, not because of the natural climate, but because of the spirit of all the World Youth Day pilgrims and the burning tongues of fire within us.
Everything I am
Everything I long to be
I lay it down at your feet.
So much is happening in Madrid right now. The overflow of people between yesterday and today is visibly noticeable and I am pretty sure there will be obstacles in getting to the Vigil site today.
We walked down the street this morning to have a team mass at the Cathedral and the youth from St. Paschal Bylon joined us. Our unity this morning was evident in our voices, our reverence, our silent witness to the Eucharist and our joy in proclaiming our love for our one and only Savior.
Last night one of our pilgrims fell ill. We suspect it is a bad case of sunstroke but she is doing alright. This morning she had to seek medical aid and one of our spanish speaking coordinators took her to the doctor. She won't be able to walk with us to Cuatro Vientos because of the extreme heat and exhausting task, but we prayed that she will be able to reunite with us at some point. We must carry on, not without her , but for her. We are carrying her in our hearts. God will make it happen.
On our walk to Mass this morning, the intersection was closed off with police escorts.... we asked what was happening and they said that THE POPE was on his way to the Seminarian mass (where Neiman was)... and that he would be driving by us any minute!!!!
WE were the only group standing on that street corner, and when the Holy Father drove by (slowly), we waved at him, cried out for him, and I blew him a kiss, and he reciprocated!! I am certain he was looking at me this time!! What an incredible gift! To see the Holy Father so up close three times in three days. We arrived at mass with so much joy in our hearts and a little less anxiety -- if we can beat the odds in greeting Il Papa, then we can certainly overcome our obstacles in getting to Cuatro Vientos.
Another small coincidence of today -- is that when I was at the restaurant awaiting my pilgrim meal, the tv was airing the Papal Mass with the Seminarians and I saw Neiman on TV recieving the Eucharist!!! That's not a huge deal, but it is for me... I think it flows perfectly with what we need today. God is sending me really clear messages and I am offering up everything to him.
Last night at the Palacio (one of the centers to witness the Via Crucis), Fr Edwin ran into Fr Robert -- my dear friend and former associate pastor. I call Fr. Robert my "Pilgrimage Pal", not only because he travelled with me to Sydney Australia in 2008, but because when I attended WYD 2002 at the age of sixteen, I did not know him yet, but in one of the random photos I took of the big-screen of the Blessed JPII, Fr. Robert was also on the screen, recieving communion from him. That photo was framed, on his wall of his office, while he was associate pastor at my parish. The connection was uncanny and the occurance was very very rare. I don't believe in coincidences. There is no such thing. Everything in our lives has been willed by God, blessed, and given a purpose!
I had the opportunity to email him briefly before my pilgrimage and we made an agreement to meet up in the adoration tent at Cuatro Vientos at a specific time during the night. Please pray that I am reunited with my friend and that everyone arrives at the site in good heath and stronger spirits. The Madrid sun is burning brightly, not because of the natural climate, but because of the spirit of all the World Youth Day pilgrims and the burning tongues of fire within us.
Everything I am
Everything I long to be
I lay it down at your feet.
Via Crucis
Tonight was the Via Crucis in the streets of Madrid. Among each station were the oldest and most beautiful and venerated statues in Spain. They came from churches all over, including Cintruenigo where our pilgrims stayed last week.
I cannot get over the raw beauty of the Via Crucis everytime I attend a World Youth Day. The live event unfolds before our eyes, and we weep for the Savior of the world as he is crucified before our eyes. This morning at Catechesis, Archbishop of New York, His Grace Timothy Dolan told us a story about a small church in a rural area that was very old and lacking in attendance. The diocese had no choice but to shut it down. The parish members, not wanting to give away this beautiful wooden church to some organization or developer to destroy or refurbish, asked if they could burn it to the ground in a ceremonial way. The church was made of the finest wood and would burn evenly to the ground. So it was done; the volunteer fire department arrived at the site and after a short ceremony, the community watched the church burn to ash. What was left was the nails that held the foundations together, stacked on the ground. The nailis that held the church together are the same nails that bound Christ to the Cross. The nails of the cross are what hold us together, in His weakness we find strength. We are a broken people, we have been taken from our native countries, blessed in our youth, broken in our weaknesses and shared among eachother for the sake of pilgrimage.
I cannot get over the raw beauty of the Via Crucis everytime I attend a World Youth Day. The live event unfolds before our eyes, and we weep for the Savior of the world as he is crucified before our eyes. This morning at Catechesis, Archbishop of New York, His Grace Timothy Dolan told us a story about a small church in a rural area that was very old and lacking in attendance. The diocese had no choice but to shut it down. The parish members, not wanting to give away this beautiful wooden church to some organization or developer to destroy or refurbish, asked if they could burn it to the ground in a ceremonial way. The church was made of the finest wood and would burn evenly to the ground. So it was done; the volunteer fire department arrived at the site and after a short ceremony, the community watched the church burn to ash. What was left was the nails that held the foundations together, stacked on the ground. The nailis that held the church together are the same nails that bound Christ to the Cross. The nails of the cross are what hold us together, in His weakness we find strength. We are a broken people, we have been taken from our native countries, blessed in our youth, broken in our weaknesses and shared among eachother for the sake of pilgrimage.
I hope you are all feeling this huge wave of Mercy and Grace that we are sending you from Madrid.
Thursday 18 August 2011
One Cannot Live on Bread Alone...
That's my Pope. Il Papa, as they call him here in Spain. Slightly older than when I saw him last in Sydney, but still as genuinely happy to see me. I feel like I have met him today.
Snapped with my sweaty blackberry that was on its last bar of battery power, I was able to get this snapshot. What are the odds of that!
The previous posting described the first part of my day just getting to the Plaza Cibelis and the struggles/disappointment about not being able to get lunch to sustain us through the blazing heat. This day was a day of fasting.
I had to fast my meal because we weren't allowed to leave the barricaded section.
I had to fast on my comforts -- i didn't bring anything to sit on because we had to walk extremely quickly to get there in time.
I fasted on my spirit -- I had to conserve as much energy as I could with no food and limited water in order for me to walk back to the hotel afterwards.
And I fasted on my pride from being so close to Il Papa.
Really, it could have happened to anyone, and I could have been the pilgrims stuck behind the barricade, unable to continue with our group. It was meant to be, but definitely not something I made happen myself.
The volunteers at Plaza Cibelis were sooo incredibly helpful. They were spraying us with water, and offering to fill up our water bottles while we cooled off, or stayed still in order to decrease our body temperature. Some of us read, some of us blogged (from a blackberry), some of us needed to go for a walk. It was joyful chaos... and it was building. The heat lay on the city like a lid. I don't know how they did it, but there were a few nuns with a group of youth from italy and the nuns were wearing black stockings under their black long sleeve robes and habits. They didn't look like they were bothered by the heat -- nor did they have red faces. Seeing them gave me strength to persevere.
I prayed the rosary with some pilgrims and then it was time for Il Papa to come!! All of a sudden my energy came back to me... I wanted to sing and dance, and jump around. I did. I rejoiced. The man of the church was here... and he was going to drive by any second. I love seeing the helicopter security fly over us... it means hes really close. The sun was setting and there was a lot of shade everywhere, the cool breeze ran through my hair and I just relaxed. He drove by us on his Pope Mobile and I snapped that photo above with my blackberry. Usually I don't bother with pictures, but it just happened.
On the walk back to the hotel, we actually saw the Pope again! He was driving out of Plaza Cibelis with his entourage and the Pope Mobile was going sooo fast. We got a drive-by blessing. I bet he was having so much fun!! Its all we could talk about on the walk home!
Incredible, right? You're telling me.
I am convinced that right after that snapshot, he winked at me.
Benvenidos il Papa!
Location: Il Palacio for Catechesis and Mass. Today the Pope arrives in Madrid and we have a welcoming ceremony for him at 7pm.
Its 2pm and mass just ended. Our plan is to start going to Plaza Cibelis right now and make sure we get a close spot to the stage! Well! We ran the 4-5km, with full faith we could get lunch somewhere around there. Christine had her wheelchair so the WYD Volunteers were letting us through the special gates!
We are currently 10m from where the Ceremony will be and right at the barrier where the Pope will drive by! I am live blogging because we are waiting several hours! It is keeping me from passing out at the moment. We are watching the place build and build with joyful chaos!
The section we are in is not somewhere we are supposed to be. It was an accident and the Volunteers said they will overlook it.. But if we leave, we are not allowed back in.
We are swealtering hot, dehydrated and very hungry. We won't get to eat until 11pm easily. But look where we are!!!!
We searched through all our knapsacks for anything and everything edible and are rationing it. We have six people and a pack of gum, 2 pears, 2 packs of melba toast, 3 bottles of water and a pack of candy.
We prayed the rosary and asked some volunteers for assistance, one man brought us 8 bananas, a sandwich and 2 peaches! What a beggars feast!!! Praise be to God!
I then fell asleep for a half hour and now, just as I woke up, I feel stronger! The square is FULL of people and there are volunteers going around spraying people with water hoses and spray bottles! Some volunteers are collecting empty water bottles and taking them to be filled! It is a beautiful gesture! There are still 2 hours upon his arrival. I am slightly more suntanned than I was this morning and its still very very hot but this day has been epic so far!!!
Plus we still have our food rations....
Viva Il Papa! I hope you all can catch it on Tv 2pm Toronto time!
God Bless!
Its 2pm and mass just ended. Our plan is to start going to Plaza Cibelis right now and make sure we get a close spot to the stage! Well! We ran the 4-5km, with full faith we could get lunch somewhere around there. Christine had her wheelchair so the WYD Volunteers were letting us through the special gates!
We are currently 10m from where the Ceremony will be and right at the barrier where the Pope will drive by! I am live blogging because we are waiting several hours! It is keeping me from passing out at the moment. We are watching the place build and build with joyful chaos!
The section we are in is not somewhere we are supposed to be. It was an accident and the Volunteers said they will overlook it.. But if we leave, we are not allowed back in.
We are swealtering hot, dehydrated and very hungry. We won't get to eat until 11pm easily. But look where we are!!!!
We searched through all our knapsacks for anything and everything edible and are rationing it. We have six people and a pack of gum, 2 pears, 2 packs of melba toast, 3 bottles of water and a pack of candy.
We prayed the rosary and asked some volunteers for assistance, one man brought us 8 bananas, a sandwich and 2 peaches! What a beggars feast!!! Praise be to God!
I then fell asleep for a half hour and now, just as I woke up, I feel stronger! The square is FULL of people and there are volunteers going around spraying people with water hoses and spray bottles! Some volunteers are collecting empty water bottles and taking them to be filled! It is a beautiful gesture! There are still 2 hours upon his arrival. I am slightly more suntanned than I was this morning and its still very very hot but this day has been epic so far!!!
Plus we still have our food rations....
Viva Il Papa! I hope you all can catch it on Tv 2pm Toronto time!
God Bless!
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Firm in the Faith
I am just returning to my hotel room for a siesta and am in awe of what I just witnessed.
I know I know..... I'm always in awe , right? Well.... there is a lot of joy in me. Ask anyone. The spirit of World Youth Day (JMJ in Europe) is something that is distinct and cannot be compromised or faked. Pilgrims (myself included) are running around the streets of Madrid imitating chants, making up cheers, waving flags, trading accessories, and exploring the city for what would seem like the first time. It is my first time in Madrid, but it is not my first World Youth Day. Yesterday I was given an Australian flag by a girl who was volunteering at the Salt and Light booth. I told her I had nothing to offer her in return, but she insisted I carry it with me because of the beautiful story I shared with her about my time in Sydney three years ago.
I was as high as a kite! My pilgrims didn't understand why I would run around with the Australian flag, rile up the Austraian pilgrims by yelling AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! Oi Oi Oi!, but only an experienced pilgrim would understand. Its not about the country you come from; its about the Catholic unity among cultures.
This morning was our first Catechesis session at the Love and Life center. We had keynote speakers Sister Mary Gabriel of the Sisters of Life and Cardinal Robert Pell from Melbourne. I had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Pell while in Catechesis in Australia and he is a profound leader in the Australian church. What amazed me about today is that the Love and Life center is probably about the same size as the Rogers Center, and it was full of english speaking pilgrims! When it was time to celebrate Mass, the collective reverence was astounding. It is usually difficult to experience deep spirituality in such a large setting, but today proved otherwise. I was moved to tears by the selection of mass settings (all in latin), the reverence of everyone around me (you could hear a pin drop), and the deep beauty of the sacramaent. The stillness at certain moments of the mass, while kneeling, is probably the element that can be most dismissed in such a large group, but I felt it. I felt something deep within me that was saying: Rejoice. He is Risen. Christ be with you. Christ live in you.
I know I know..... I'm always in awe , right? Well.... there is a lot of joy in me. Ask anyone. The spirit of World Youth Day (JMJ in Europe) is something that is distinct and cannot be compromised or faked. Pilgrims (myself included) are running around the streets of Madrid imitating chants, making up cheers, waving flags, trading accessories, and exploring the city for what would seem like the first time. It is my first time in Madrid, but it is not my first World Youth Day. Yesterday I was given an Australian flag by a girl who was volunteering at the Salt and Light booth. I told her I had nothing to offer her in return, but she insisted I carry it with me because of the beautiful story I shared with her about my time in Sydney three years ago.
I was as high as a kite! My pilgrims didn't understand why I would run around with the Australian flag, rile up the Austraian pilgrims by yelling AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! Oi Oi Oi!, but only an experienced pilgrim would understand. Its not about the country you come from; its about the Catholic unity among cultures.
This morning was our first Catechesis session at the Love and Life center. We had keynote speakers Sister Mary Gabriel of the Sisters of Life and Cardinal Robert Pell from Melbourne. I had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Pell while in Catechesis in Australia and he is a profound leader in the Australian church. What amazed me about today is that the Love and Life center is probably about the same size as the Rogers Center, and it was full of english speaking pilgrims! When it was time to celebrate Mass, the collective reverence was astounding. It is usually difficult to experience deep spirituality in such a large setting, but today proved otherwise. I was moved to tears by the selection of mass settings (all in latin), the reverence of everyone around me (you could hear a pin drop), and the deep beauty of the sacramaent. The stillness at certain moments of the mass, while kneeling, is probably the element that can be most dismissed in such a large group, but I felt it. I felt something deep within me that was saying: Rejoice. He is Risen. Christ be with you. Christ live in you.
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