NEW YORK - 21 April 2008 - 520 words
Pope
encourages young Americans to lives of prayer and service
The Holy Father met with young people and seminarians at New York's
St Joseph's Seminary on Saturday afternoon.
Following a welcome speech by Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop
of New York, three representatives of the 20,000 young people
presented the Pope with bread, rice and maize as a symbol of the
richness of their various traditions. A group of young people
then sang him "Happy Birthday" in German.
The Pope began his address by referring to six images on display
at the meeting. "Images", he said, "of six ordinary
men and women who grew up to lead extraordinary lives. The Church
honours them as Venerable, Blessed, or Saint: ... St Elizabeth
Ann Seton, St Frances Xavier Cabrini, St John Neumann, Blessed
Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Fr Felix Varela.
... Each responded to the Lord's call to a life of charity and
each served Him here, in the alleys, streets and suburbs of New
York".
"And what of today?" the Pope asked. "Who bears
witness to the Good News of Jesus on the streets of New York,
in the troubled neighbourhoods of large cities, in the places
where the young gather, seeking someone in whom they can trust?
God is our origin and our destination, and Jesus the way",
he said.
After highlighting the fact that young Americans today "are
brought up with a sense of generosity, service and fairness",
the Holy Father recalled how his own adolescence was "marred
by a sinister regime that thought it had all the answers; its
influence grew - infiltrating schools and civic bodies, as well
as politics and even religion - before it was fully recognised
for the monster it was. It banished God and thus became impervious
to anything true and good".
"Let us thank God that today many people of your generation
are able to enjoy the liberties which have arisen through the
extension of democracy and respect for human rights".
"The power to destroy does, however, remain", he warned.
"To pretend otherwise would be to fool ourselves. Yet, it
never triumphs; it is defeated. ... During the beautiful Easter
vigil liturgy, it was not from despair or fear that we cried out
to God for our world, but with hope-filled confidence: dispel
the darkness of our heart! dispel the darkness of our minds!"
And "what might that darkness be?" the Pope asked. "What
happens when people, especially the most vulnerable, encounter
a clenched fist of repression or manipulation rather than a hand
of hope?" In this context, he recalled young people "affected
by drug and substance abuse, homelessness and poverty, racism,
violence, and degradation - especially of girls and women".
Another "area of darkness - that which affects the mind -
often goes unnoticed, and for this reason is particularly sinister.
The manipulation of truth distorts our perception of reality,
and tarnishes our imagination and aspirations", said the
Pope. Hence "the fundamental importance of freedom must be
rigorously safeguarded" because "it can be misunderstood
or misused so as to lead not to the happiness which we all expect
it to yield, but to a dark arena of manipulation in which our
understanding of self and the world becomes confused, or even
distorted by those who have an ulterior agenda".
The Holy Father noted that "often the call for freedom is
made without ever referring to the truth of the human person,
... and in truth's place - or better said its absence - an idea
has spread which, in giving value to everything indiscriminately,
claims to assure freedom and to liberate conscience. This we call
relativism".
"Dear friends", he told the young people "truth
is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a
discovery of the One who never fails us; the One Whom we can always
trust. ... Ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is
why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in".
"How then can we as believers help others to walk the path
of freedom which brings fulfilment and lasting happiness? ...
Christ's light beckons you to be guiding stars for others, walking
Christ's way of forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, joy and
peace".
Benedict XVI then turned his attention to "four essential
aspects of the treasure of our faith: personal prayer and silence,
liturgical prayer, charity in action, and vocations.
"What matters most, is that you develop your personal relationship
with God. That relationship is expressed in prayer. ... Friends,
do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore
Him in the Eucharist. Let His word shape your journey as an unfolding
of holiness".
"Through the liturgy, the 'work of Jesus' is continually
brought into contact with history; with our lives in order to
shape them. ... Whenever you gather for Mass, when you go to Confession,
whenever you celebrate any of the Sacraments, Jesus is at work".
The Pope then referred to "new injustices" stemming
"from the exploitation of the heart and manipulation of the
mind; even our common habitat, the earth itself, groans under
the weight of consumerist greed and irresponsible exploitation",
he said. "We must respond with a renewed social action that
stems from the universal love that knows no bounds".
He invited the young men and women to express their gratitude
to "parents, grandparents and godparents, ... they made it
possible for you to receive the greatest gift of your life",
Baptism. "On that day you entered into the holiness of God
Himself. You became adoptive sons and daughters of the Father.
You were incorporated into Christ".
Turning then to address the 300 seminarians from east coast dioceses
present at the gathering, the Pope told them: "The People
of God look to you to be holy priests. ... I urge you to deepen
your friendship with Jesus the Good Shepherd. ... Reject any temptation
to ostentation, careerism, or conceit".
The Holy Father also underlined the generous contribution made
by religious and by regular priests "to the mission of the
Church. ... The wondrous array of charisms proper to each religious
institute is an extraordinary spiritual treasury. ... Through
the discovery of charisms, which yield such a breadth of spiritual
wisdom, I am sure that some of you young people will be drawn
to a life of apostolic or contemplative service".
"The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ",
said Pope Benedict in conclusion, telling the young people present
that within the Church "you too will find the courage and
support to walk the way of the Lord. ... You are Christ's disciples
today. Shine His light upon this great city and beyond".
Finally, the Pope bid farewell to his audience "until we
meet again in Sydney this July for World Youth Day!"
Source: VIS
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