July 10 2011
Issue 2
A WYD Prayer Newsletter
The Road to Madrid A faith journey for those who go and those who stay at home
A service from Church Resources
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Issue 2 A WYD Prayer Newsletter
On the Road to Madrid
Second of a series of six newsletters
In this issue SECTION 1: FOOD FOR PILGRIMS
Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, Barcelona (built during 13th to 15th Century)
Prayers & reflections to sustain pilgrims as they travel the inner journey – on the road to Madrid or at home
A Prayer for Pilgrims Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will.
SECTION 2: WORLD YOUTH DAY Experiences from earlier WYD & getting the most out of WYD at home or abroad
All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. Amen. St Ignatius of Loyola
Next issue: The many forms of prayer
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SECTION 1: FOOD FOR PILGRIMS WYD – and the Journey of Life Whether we are going to Madrid or not, we are all on a journey. On the right path, it’s a journey of growth – discovering one’s self and discovering our relationship with God. On the Road to Madrid helps us check our spiritual backpack to make sure we have what we need for the journey. The Road to Madrid can also help us unpack and understand better some of the provisions that are already in our backpack - the exceptional spiritual food that the Church provides for us.
A Prayer for Those Not Going to Madrid Lord, we pray for those going to WYD in Madrid that they will be enriched and energised in their faith! We pray for those of us who stay at home that we too will use this time to journey forward in our love for you, in our openness to your Word, and in becoming the people you want us to be. Amen.
Getting to know Jesus better Getting to know Jesus is the work of a lifetime. An excellent place to start is with the four Gospels – to hear the words of Jesus, what he said about himself, and to see what he did. In John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus saying to the disciples: ‘I am the light of the world.’ (John 8:12) What did he mean by that? Remember that in first century Israel there were no street lights and small lamps in homes gave only a fitful glow. If you went outside on a moonless night, you were likely to stumble. People went to bed soon after sunset. Then when dawn came, the world woke up. Landscape took on form and colour. Trees and people could be seen as distinct. When Jesus spoke of himself as the light of the world, he knew he would be the light to guide people on their journeys, light by which they could come to know their loving Father in heaven, and grow into the fullness of life. Prayer: ‘Lord Jesus, I thank you for your light and guidance – stay with me and guide me as I face life’s decisions.’
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Going online to God Australian Benedictine Sr Hilda Scott describes prayer as ‘going online to God’ – something we can do at any time. A little boy once said to God: ‘Sometimes I think of you, even when I am not praying.’ He was on to something, even if he did not realise it. Prayer happens whenever we turn our minds to God. The Cistercian monk, Thomas Keating, has described prayer as ‘consenting to the presence of God’, welcoming God into one’s life, open to God’s presence and guidance in whatever we are doing. St Therese of Lisieux saw prayer this way: ‘For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.’ For St Teresa of Avila, prayer is a conversation between friends. The Catechism of the Catholic Church: ‘Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of the Son of God made man.’ Reflection: Which of the above descriptions resonates most with your experience of prayer?
You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts shall not rest until they rest in you. St Augustine
Champions of the Faith – Saint Ignatius of Loyola
1491–1556
one of the patron Saints of WYD Madrid 2011 In his early career, Ignatius served as a page in the Spanish court of Ferdinand and Isabella before becoming a soldier. Wounded in the leg during the siege of Pamplona in 1521, his reading of the Lives of the Saints led him to a profound conversion. While studying theology in Paris, Ignatius attracted his first followers. Later, in Rome, he forged this group into the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. Ignatius and his followers have had an enormous influence on the preservation and growth of Catholic Faith during his lifetime and succeeding centuries. Ignatius is also well-known for his Spiritual Exercises and his understanding of the ‘discernment of spirits’.
Here’s a prayer of St Ignatius: ‘Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.’ 5
SECTION 2: WYD – EXPERIENCES & TIPS
Cold, tired and bewildered in Rome
Insights from WYD Rome 2000 The Theme for WYD Rome: ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ (John 1:14) The amazing belief of Christians is that the Son of God became a human being and lived in first century Palestine when Pontius Pilate was governor.
I woke up in a field outside Rome, cold, tired and bewildered. I hadn’t slept very well or for very long. As I crawled out from my sleeping bag and stood up, I saw a sight which changed my outlook on the Church and the world forever. People everywhere, from horizon to horizon in a complete circle!
What Pope John Paul II said at WYD Rome..... ‘Why, then, do so many young people meet on Palm Sunday here in Rome and in every Diocese? ‘It seems that the most profound motive, underlying all the others, can be identified in what today's liturgy reveals to us: the heavenly Father's mysterious plan of salvation, which is brought about through the abasement and exaltation of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. This is the answer to the fundamental questions and anxieties of every man and woman, especially the young. ‘"For our sake, Christ ... became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him.” How significant are these words for our own lives! ‘You are beginning to experience the drama of life, dear young people. You ask yourselves about the meaning of life, your relationship with yourselves, with others and with God. ‘To your heart, thirsting for truth and peace, to your many questions and problems, sometimes even filled with anguish, Christ, the suffering and humiliated Servant, who humbled himself even unto death on a cross and is exalted in glory at the right hand of the Father, offers himself as the only valid answer. In fact, no other response is as simple, complete and convincing.’
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Two million people, in their tents and sleeping bags, covered the land as far as the eye could see, in every direction. It was a truly biblical vision. It changed me much as the Apollo astronauts were changed by seeing the entire planet Earth hanging in space before them as they gazed back from their own Moon-bound perspective. There are indeed millions of young people who love God and live the gospel and there they were before me, an image still seared onto my retina! Chris Docherty, a pilgrim from Scotland
WYD Rome 2000 - Lisa Bright reflects Rome... There is no other word to describe the Rome WYD experience as Chaos! Pure and ultimate chaos! Our pilgrimage group ended up being a little group of seven because we were separated from our Diocesan group after accommodation mix-ups and possibly having no where to stay. We weren’t prepared for the ‘sleeping on the floor’ arrangements nor for the heat wave that gripped Italy for the entire week we were there. The city was jam packed with people, an estimated two million on the night of the vigil so heaven knows how many crammed into those trains daily to travel into the major events. We managed to find some English-speaking catechesis sessions which were great. They were in a small local parish church which was beautiful. We ate some of the World Youth Day food packs, but often the lines were way too long and we were way too impatient. So we visited a number of little Italian restaurants and ate the best pizza ever. An odd encounter that I had was the popularity of ‘frizzante’ … sparkling mineral water. I found it very odd that they were giving away mineral water for free and I had to pay for plain drinking water. The language wasn’t an issue as between our little group we could manage some Italian. And the local people were very helpful and receptive – most of the time. What it meant for me.... At the time, it really didn’t add anything to my faith development. It is only when one has the chance to reflect on such an experience that one witnesses growth. Whilst in Rome, I remember being in the depths of despair – huge lines for food, awful shower facilitates, friends sent to hospital for various reasons, other friends suffering tremendously with the heat wave, no diocesan leadership because of separation, constant troubles contacting home, constant disorganization and frustration with national organizing bodies. It all got too much one night, and I remember journalling, quite melodramatically, “My God, My God, Why have you abandonned us!” That’s how it felt.
What it means for me now.... I am so glad I did have the opportunity to experience Rome as it enabled me to appreciate the following World Youth Day I attended, although after Rome, I did promise myself I would never attend another World Youth Day. While our little group did experience challenges during the week, and described the experience as ‘awful’ while we were there, we formed great friendship, saw God in each other, and spent great moments of prayer with each other. Looking back, I can see moments of Providence as things were taking an unexpected twist. 7
Tips for Pilgrims – Keep a Journal! Journaling is an excellent aid on one’s spiritual journey – and especially so at WYD. It helps in processing what’s happening - and allows you to revisit the experiences you have had, drawing deeper insights from them when they are re-read at a later date. Some suggestions: • write something in your journal every day • begin by writing down what you did and where you went • then write about your thoughts and how you felt – physically, emotionally, spiritually • were there memorable encounters, special moments, special insights? • were there moments when you felt close to God? What was it like? • have a conversation with yourself as you write! Google ‘WYD Journal’ and you will find many people who have kept journals at WYD!
Australian Defence Force pilgrims ready for Madrid (left)
Getting to know Spain The population of Spain is 46 million, more than double that of Australia. The area of Spain is 504,782 sq kms, about two thirds the size of NSW. The capital, Madrid, has a population of 3.3 million. Spain’s economy, the 12th largest in the world, suffered a recession in 2008 (20% unemployment) – its aftermath is still felt. The climate in the northern strip – the regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Basque – is temperate with a good rainfall. The Mediterranean coast is also temperate. The centre, where Madrid is situated, and the south are hot and dry. The average maximum temperature in Madrid in August is 31C. Spain won the Football World Cup (soccer) in 2010. Spanish, one of the six official languages of the UN, is regarded as the second language in the world with 500 million native speakers.
Hasta luego! (See you later!) This Newsletter is available for photocopying. It can also be found under the caption ‘WYD Madrid Prayer Newsletter’ on the CathNews website at www.cathnews.com Our thanks go to all who’ve contributed to the series, especially Lisa Bright, Sarah Coppola, Robyn Gallagher, Chris Nolan, Bernadette Toohey – Anthony Neylan, Editor editor@churchresources.com
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