Philothea on Phire and WYD

[simple_soul]

I beleive Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s reflection of WYD taking place on the beach was one of the reasons why it was provedential that it was at the beach. As he says " it was a powerful message!" m.youtube.com/watch?v=HcndUVv6XkA

A few of the most powerful moments that I caught was the moment of silence, that was most defenitly more than a moment, durring the prayer vigil, the silence moments during Adoration and the silence after Communion. It amaised me that that many people could be so silent and that silence was so loud.

I can not imagin this as being born from anything but from true love and reverence for the one Whom they are adoring and praying to…Jesus, our God and Savior. It was so powerful and beautiful to see and hear…I was personally moved to tears…

 

[Mrs_Sally]

And yet, we think making the Holy mass more like a Pentacostal worship service will atract and convert Pentacostals and fallen away Catholics? I don’t think so.
I don’t like some aspects of WYD but, others I like. If it were close to me say, 5 hours I would go.
The youth are attracted to orthodoxy, to beauty, to reverence. Get these and you will have full churches of young Catholics.

There is much more to WYD than the large Masses we see on TV. Listen to thse who have actually been to one and not just to those who watch a bit on TV and form their opinion.

I was at WYD in Madrid as a chaparone. We went to daily chatechesis in churches packed to SRO. We participated in daily Mass and rosary with others from all over the world. We attended adoration in many different churches and other venues, always well attended, and no one looked like they were bored or just using the time to rest.

Lines for confession were long - and confession was offered almost 24X7. The priest who traveled with us was very generous with his time and heard the confessions in the airports even as we trabvelled to and from.

The youth who attended from our group now include 2 potentially 3 with vocations to religious life, young men who started reading the CCC every day.

It would be wonderful if confession, Mass, and adoration were always offered and attended the way we saw in Madrid (and others have reported from other WYDs), but that’s not the case in most places. If an event like WYD can offer that and help inspire true and fruitful vocations, I don’t see what there is to be embarrassed about.

 

[TimothyH]

I saw this in the blog too. He said that he was not interested in hearing from others who he labeled liberals, neo conservatives and something else. In other words, he’s not open to hearing any other opinion but his own. This reminded me of the Jehovah Witness who knocks on your door on Saturday morning.

The most valuable thing I learned from the Cistercian monks is not to be afraid of things that challenge my world view, politics, view of society, etc., to not be afraid of those who challenge my way of thinking.

If my views are correct then they should stand up to the scrutiny and to the challenge. If my views are not 100% correct then I should be humble enough to be open to correction. Jesus is truth and to seek truth is to seek Jesus.

Most of what we think we know is really just opinion anyway and almost everything in life is not as black and white as people make it out to be.

One monk in particular, actually the novice director, really disturbed me with something he said. At the end of the day he was a fascinating man to speak with and the experience taught me that when something or someone really rattles my cage, really upsets me, that is a sign that I really ought to pay attention to it, that God might be calling me to learn more, that I ought to ask why this upsets my peace and that I should not be afraid.

-Tim-

 

[simple_soul]

The most valuable thing I learned from the Cistercian monks is not to be afraid of things that challenge my world view, politics, view of society, etc., to not be afraid of those who challenge my way of thinking.

If my views are correct then they should stand up to the scrutiny and to the challenge. If my views are not 100% correct then I should be humble enough to be open to correction. Jesus is truth and to seek truth is to seek Jesus.

Most of what we think we know is really just opinion anyway and almost everything in life is not as black and white as people make it out to be.

One monk in particular, actually the novice director, really disturbed me with something he said. At the end of the day he was a fascinating man to speak with and the experience taught me that when something or someone really rattles my cage, really upsets me, that is a sign that I really ought to pay attention to it, that God might be calling me to learn more, that I ought to ask why this upsets my peace and that I should not be afraid.

-Tim-

That’s really interesting. When I saw the picture the other day of the structure that was not used what people said about it disturbed my peace and like you said instead of being in fear of that I took a closer look at it and then I found so much beauty. I guess it really does pay to not be afraid and face those fears.
Thanks for posting this Tim. I believe it helps me see and understand better what I am going through and It really does encourage me to keep moving forward.

God bless