What a contrast!

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Some may have read about the invitation to Youth of the World to participate in the pre-Synodal meeting in Rome. I read about it in Zenit, today. I was surprised by the contrast that occured to me between the words of Pope Benedict XVI’s Foreward to YOUCAT, the Catechism written specifically for young people and some words in Zenit’s article. The “Spirituality” Forum seemed appropriate to allow others to contrast two perspectives on seeking wisdom. I’ll quote from both Pope Benedict XVI and Zenit. Do you also see a contrast?:

After a brief history of how and why YOUCAT came to be, Pope Benedict XVI wrote to the youth of the world:

…So I invite you: Study this Catechism! That is my heartfelt desire. This Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you, because it demands of you a new life. It places before you the Gospel message as the “pearl of great value” (Mt 13:46) for which you must give everything. So I beg you: Study this Catechism with passion and perseverance. Make a sacrifice of your time for it! study it in the quiet of your room; read it with a friend; form study groups and net works; share with each other on the internet. By all means talk to one another about your faith.

You need to know what you believe. You need to know your faith with the same precision with which an IT specialist knows the inner workings of a computer. You need to understand it like a good musician knows the piece he is playing…

Much more is written by Pope Emeritus in his Forward, but please compare the above words with these from Zenit’s article:

…How can young people take part in the meeting? Young Italian Filippo Passantino pointed out the available instruments on the social networks.

Filippo, who is part of a group of young people, invited to the heart of the Synod’s Secretariat, to promote participation on the social networks, hoped that “the Church can speak the language of young people.” So the group created a Facebook page, multilingual Twitter and Instagram accounts with “a young look to speak to other young people.”

He explained that it’s about “transforming the social networks into a forum open to all,” so that numerous young people can take part in the Pre-Synodal meeting, in addition to the 300 young people who will be there…

The young Italian said that he expected from the Synod words of encouragement on the way young people “can be happy today, in a demanding and competitive world, which seems not to leave a place to the human dimensions and to authentic relations.” Young people want to “sow seeds of hope in today’s world” and ”the Synod might be a precious occasion to invite all those responsible not to close any door to young people,” he added.

I’ve put into bold print in each quote, words I found significant. The full Foreward of Pope Benedict XVI can be read HERE The full article can be read in Zenit can be read HERE

 

[fide]

This Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you, because it demands of you a new life. It places before you the Gospel message as the “pearl of great value” (Mt 13:46) for which you must give everything.

Indeed, what a contrast:
Benedict XVI calls to the youth, to the depths of their hearts: “This Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you, because it demands of you a new life. It places before you the Gospel message as the “pearl of great value” (Mt 13:46) for which you must give everything.”
Young men and women, it is not all about you - it is about God Who IS.

A young person - a child of this age - calls back to the Church: We expect from the Synod words of encouragement on the way young people “can be happy today, in a demanding and competitive world, which seems not to leave a place to the human dimensions and to authentic relations."
Church, it is all about us. How can you make us happy in our “human dimensions” and our “authentic relations”?

What lies this culture of ours, has passed on to the youth!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Fide,

Thanks so much for your reply. Yes, the contrast stunned me. Pope Benedict XVI spoke the Truth to the youth of the world in his Foreward to YOUCAT. The comment of the young person which you quoted in your reply made me immediately think of the Beatitudes, and the contrast between what the world teaches and what Jesus teaches in Mt 5: 3-10. To be Happy is to be Blessed:

3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
6
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,*
for they will be satisfied.
7
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.