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Youth Revival (Part III)

Pope Francis delivered the following words about our Lord and the special relationship He has with us: “He is our hope, and in a wonderful way, he brings youth[fulness] to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life... He is in you, he is with you, and he never abandons you. However far you may wander, he is always there, the Risen One. He calls you and he waits for you to return to him and start over again... He will always be there to restore your strength and your hope” (CV 1-2).

Seek out opportunities to get involved, create the community you deeply desire. Pray boldly for the desires of your heart. The Lord can and will answer those desires. Embrace the mystery. Choose to pursue sainthood. And finally, trust and know that you are cared for and loved by a Father who sent His only Son to become poor so that we may one day be rich in Heaven. In a world that has consistently turned away from holiness, let us young people follow in the footsteps of JPII and remember his words: “Do not be afraid to be holy.”

Posted by Madeline Herbert
Tags: hope, future of the church, youth revival, youth in the catholic church
in Encouragement

Youth Revival (Part I)

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As Thanksgiving passes and the Solemnity of Christ the King, let both occasions be a reminder to us of the banquet feast of Christ. St. Pope John Paul II said “On this feast day... the Church proclaims the Kingdom of Christ, already present, but still growing in all its mystery towards its full manifestation ... Young people are indispensable bearers of the dynamics of the Kingdom of God, the hope of the Church and the world.” We live in a world that isn’t perfect. We consume negative media and witness tragedies. However, let us be reminded of the good that is happening. The good that occurs in this world strongly outweighs the evil; truth and goodness are the silent majority. The world is waking from its slumber, slowly reviving itself and placing itself in the hands of God the Father. Let us be the hope and future for the church.

Just a few weeks ago, thousands of people including some recognizable figures: Fr. Mike Schmitz, the Sisters of Life, thousands of lay people, and Jesus in the Eucharist participated in an Eucharistic procession through the streets of New York City! The biggest, busiest city in the United States experienced Jesus walking physically on the streets of NYC. How crazy! Again over the summer, over a million young people gathered in Lisbon, Spain, for World Youth Day! More and more young people courageously have established intense prayer lives and among all the distractions of the world, people know the only lasting peace is found when you turn to the Good Shepherd.

Posted by Madeline Herbert
Tags: christ the king, john paul ii, good vs evil, youth revival, young adults in the catholic church, eucharistic revival