Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Prague (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of the Mass celebrated on the esplanade on the way to Melnik in Stara Boleslav, on September 28, the Holy Father Benedict XVI addressed the youth that had come the evening before in pilgrimage to the site of the martyrdom of Saint Wenceslaus and spent the night before the Pope's Mass on the esplanade.
“Dear friends, it is not hard to see that in every young person there is an aspiration towards happiness, sometimes tinged with anxiety: an aspiration that is often exploited, however, by present-day consumerist society in false and alienating ways. Instead, that longing for happiness must be taken seriously, it demands a true and comprehensive response. At your age, the first major choices are made, choices that can set your lives on a particular course, for better or worse. Unfortunately, many of your contemporaries allow themselves to be led astray by illusory visions of spurious happiness, and then they find themselves sad and alone.”
The Pope invited all to “consider the experience of Saint Augustine, who said that the heart of every person is restless until it finds what it truly seeks. And he discovered that Jesus Christ alone is the answer that can satisfy his and every person’s desire for a life of happiness, filled with meaning and value. As he did with Augustine, so the Lord comes to meet each one of you. He knocks at the door of your freedom and asks to be welcomed as a friend. He wants to make you happy, to fill you with humanity and dignity. The Christian faith is this: encounter with Christ, the living Person who gives life a new horizon and thereby a definitive direction.”
The Holy Father continued: “The Lord calls each of us by name, and entrusts to us a specific mission in the Church and in society.” He then exhorted the youth to become aware of the fact that by Baptism they have become children of God and members of his Body, the Church.
“Jesus constantly renews his invitation to you to be his disciples and his witnesses,” said Benedict XVI, mentioning the call to marriage and to forming a Christian family: “Society needs Christian families, saintly families!” He then launched a special appeal, in this Year for Priests, that youth called to follow Jesus in the priestly ministry or consecrated life, may not hesitate to respond to his call: “The Church in every country, including this one, needs many holy priests and also persons fully consecrated to the service of Christ, Hope of the world.”
Benedict XVI then mentioned the experience of World Youth Day: “You, my dear young people, are the hope of the Church! She expects you to become messengers of hope, as happened last year in Australia, during World Youth Day, that great manifestation of youthful faith that I was able to experience personally, and in which some of you took part. Many more of you will be able to come to Madrid in August 2011. I invite you here and now to participate in this great gathering of young people with Christ in the Church.” Lastly, he told the youth: “The Pope asks you to live your faith with joy and enthusiasm; to grow in unity among yourselves and with Christ; to pray and to be diligent in frequenting the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession; to take seriously your Christian formation, remaining ever obedient to the teachings of your Pastors.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2009)
