Religion - a respectful discussion, for those interested

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2015







The Catholic Church .... the proof is in the pudding!

 

HISTORY


Perspective:
An outside glance of an international World Youth Day would spark a bystander’s curiosity as massive crowds of young people flood the city streets. Some might cringe at the thought of those words, wondering what delinquency is in store, but to witness this gathering would end those fears. The happenstance observer would witness not angst and malice, but smiles and joy, singing and dancing young people, culture upon culture and nation upon nation, proudly holding their flags high (or wearing them), greeting one another in peace, trading their tokens, humbly realizing how small they are in a world of people, and strengthened to witness so many who share their convictions. How did it all begin?

Beginnings:
In 1984 at the close of the Holy Year of Redemption, over 300,000 young people from around the world responded to the invitation of His Holiness John Paul II for an International Jubilee of youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s square. Looking out to the crowds who answered his invitation he said, “What a fantastic spectacle is presented on this stage by your gathering here today! Who claimed that today’s youth has lost their sense of values? Is it really true that they cannot be counted on?” It was at this gathering that the Holy Father entrusted to the youth what is now known as the World Youth Day Cross, to be carried throughout the world as a symbol of the love of Christ for humanity.

First WYD:
The following Palm Sunday, coinciding with the United Nation’s International Year of the Youth, Our Holy Father took the opportunity to welcome the youth of the world to Rome again. Later, announcing the institution of World Youth Day on December 20, 1985, and the first official WYD was held in 1986.

International WYDs:
The following year brought about a new tradition when the second event and first international WYD took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Every Palm Sunday has since been designated as a World Youth Day, alternately celebrated at the diocesan and international levels. There have been 12 International World Youth Day celebrations, where the youth continue to answer the invitation of the Holy Father in staggering numbers and carry home the message received there to be Christ’s light to the world. While these events are organized by the clergy and laity of the Catholic Church, youth of all faiths are invited to attend and encounter Christ, making this gathering truly universal.

Reflection:
In Toronto, the last International WYD in which JPII was present he told the 800,000 gathered with him at the vigil, “When, back in 1985, I wanted to start the World Youth Days… I imagined a powerful moment in which the young people of the world could meet Christ, who is eternally young, and could learn from him how to be bearers of the Gospel to other young people. This evening, together with you, I praise God and give thanks to him for the gift bestowed on the Church through the World Youth Days. Millions of young people have taken part, and as a result have become better and more committed Christian witnesses.”

John Paul II left a legacy for the youth in his institution of World Youth Day, which Pope Benedict XVI has faithfully continued, carrying on the hope of His predecessor for the youth of the world, inviting them and commissioning them as Christ’s disciples to be faithful living witnesses.

Chronology:
Year and Location Theme
1986– Rome, Italy Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you.
– 1Pt 3:15
1987– Buenos Aires, Argentina We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves.
– 1Jn 4:16
1989– Santiago de Compostela, Spain I am the way, the truth, and the life
– Jn 14:6
1991– Czestochowa, Poland You have received a spirit of sonship.
– Romans 8:15
1993– Denver. USA I came that they might have life, and have it to the full.
– Jn 10:10
1995– Manila, Philippines As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.
– Jn 20:21
1997– Paris, France Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see.
– Jn 1:38-39
2000– Rome, Italy Jubilee – The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
– Jn 1:14
2002-Toronto, Canada You are the salt of the earth; You are the light of the world.
– Mt 5:13-14
2005– Cologne, Germany We have come to worship him.
– Mt 2:2
2008– Sydney, Australia You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses
-Acts 1, 8
2011– Madrid, Spain Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith
-Col 2:7
2013– Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Go and Make Disciples of All Nations
-Mt 28:19

http://worldyouthday.com/

 

The Catholic Church - the proof is in the pudding!

 

The Catholic Church - the proof is in the pudding!

 

"It happened that a group of friends were brought together by a common experience, and from that experience came a common dream.

The experience was the same, though in different forms, textures, and places around the world. It was savoring a glass of red wine under the New York City skyline or trekking through the paths of the Pocono mountains; it was sitting in an old church or walking along the oceanside; it was reciting poetry or crafting a piece of music or falling in love; it was the personal experience of pressing against reality and finding deep questions and longings roused. Among the raw questions and desires, one thing remained certain – they had fallen in love with something greater than themselves.

With great teachers like John Paul II, these friends began to make sense of their experiences: love is humanizing; love, and the experience of virtue in its entirety, actually makes you more human. And falling in love makes everything beautiful. These friends began to dream of a society that was in love, a culture that is more human because of the way it loved. These friends began to dream of a beautiful culture.

Thus, The Culture Project was born. The Culture Project envisions a world where the dignity of the human person is at the forefront of every relationship, law, and societal structure. We dream of a society where passion for fidelity and commitment glues husbands to wives, fathers to mothers, and parents to children. We dream of a place where the beauty of sexuality is upheld and love is not cheapened by ugly counterfeits. We dream of a culture where people are honest with their struggles and share their stories to strengthen solidarity in a community, journeying as friends and lovers, rejecting isolation and abandonment on our paths to greatness. We believe in the utter greatness of humanity and its infinite potential.

And so we have set out to follow our dreams of restoring culture. Through conversation, friendship, and community, we will share these messages with our peers around the world with the hope of rebuilding a beautiful culture. It all begins with falling in love."

http://www.restoreculture.com/our-story/


Young people know the truth, as the millions flocking to World Youth Day every year prove. We love our Popes, we love our Priests, We love our Church. You can believe a smear campaign in the media, or you can look at the facts: millions of devout Catholics worldwide that know the truth because they LIVE the truth.

 

Pictures don't lie. Millions of Joy-filled people who find peace, happiness, and fulfillment from their Faith, and don't fall for a cheap smear campaign in the media. They know the truth because they live the truth in the experiences of their lives, their parishes, families, Priests, etc.

 

...says Troll #1, lol. The trolls on here don't want to discuss religion, they just want to drag me into a pissing match. So I decided I'm going to ignore the nonsense and instead just post the truth about the beauty of the Catholic Church. The real Church that is central to the lives of billions of people worldwide; good, loving families who know what's best for themselves and their children.