This is a Presentation of the Message of Benedict XVI for the 23rd World Youth Day.
The Notes below the slides contain the text of Pope’s Message pertaining to it.
The background song is the WYD theme song.
Words are in the note section of this slide.
23rd WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008
“I always remember with great joy
the various occasions we spent together
in Cologne in August 2005.
At the end of that … I made an appointment
with you for the next gathering
that will be held in Sydney in 2008.”
The underlying theme of the spiritual preparation for our meeting in Sydney is:
Underlying theme
The Holy Spirit
and mission
In 2006 we focused on the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Ps 119, 105)
In 2007 we are seeking a deeper understanding of the Spirit of Love.
"Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (Jn 13, 34).
Underlying theme
To Know
the Holy Spirit
(principally by
listening to the
Word of God)
Four Goals
2. To rediscover
Holy Spirit
as the "soul“
of Christian Life
(through the sacraments of Christian initiation -- Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist)
Four Goals
3. to grow
in an
understanding of
JESUS
Four Goals
4. to put
the Gospel
into practice
Four Goals
Before his Ascension,
Jesus said to his disciples:
"And behold,
I send the promise of my Father
upon you."
(Luke 24, 49)
At creation, the spirit of God "was moving over the face of the waters." (Gen 1, 2)
At the creation of Man, God breathed into him the Spirit, the breath of life (Gen 2, 7)
Spirit gives New Life as seen in Ezekiel when God restores "dry bones." (37, 1-14)
God promised: in the last days,
I “will pour out my spirit
on all flesh.” (Joel 3, 1-2).
At annunciation the Holy Spirit overshadows MARY and she bears the Son of God. (Lk 1, 35)
JESUS filled with the Spirit begins his public ministry with these words:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor."
(Lk 4, 18-19)
Before his death,
Jesus tells his disciples
several times
about the coming
of the Holy Spirit,
the "Counsellor"
“And I will pray the Father
and he will give you another Counselor,
to be with you for ever,
even the Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees him nor knows him;
you know him,
for he dwells with you,
and will be in you.”
(Jn 14, 16-17)
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
he will teach you all things,
and bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you.”
(Jn 14, 26)
“But when the Counselor comes
whom I shall send to you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth,
who proceeds from the Father,
he will bear witness to me.”
(Jn 15, 26)
“When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you into all the truth;
for he will not speak on his own authority,
but whatever he hears he will speak,
and he will declare to you
the things that are to come.”
(Jn 16, 13)
On Easter Sunday, Jesus “breathed on” the apostles the Holy Spirit. (Jn 20, 22)
And finally, on Pentecost Day:
"suddenly from heaven there came a sound
like the rush of a violent wind,
and it filled the entire house
where they were sitting.
Divided tongues, as of fire,
appeared among them,
and a tongue rested on each of them."
(Acts 2, 2-3)
The Holy Spirit renewed the Apostles from within, filling them with power and courage.
Pentecost - point of departure for Church's mission
Those frightened fishermen had become courageous heralds of the Gospel.
Nothing could now stop them!
Pentecost - point of departure for Church's mission
Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness of the Church
is not principally due to
clever programmes
and efficient pastoral methods,
but is the result of the community's constant prayer.
(EN 75)
For the mission to be effective,
communities be
"of one heart and soul."
(Acts 4, 32)
The Holy Spirit continues
to act with power in the Church.
To receive this power , the fruits of the Spirit
we must become open to Him!
So, let us
“know the Spirit,
establish a relationship with Him
and allow ourselves
to be guided by Him!”
“Let us welcome
the Holy Spirit
as the guide of our souls,
and as the
"Teacher of the interior life"
You might ask:
How can we allow
the Holy Spirit to renew us?
How can we grow
in our spiritual lives?
The answer is:
through
the sacraments
of Baptism,
Confirmation
and, in an ongoing way, the Eucharist.
… Those who have
received the sacraments
should remember
that they have become
"temples of the Spirit":
God lives within them…
Confirmation gives us
special strength
to witness to
and glorify God
with our whole lives
(cf. Romans 12, 1)
The Eucharist is a
"perpetual Pentecost"
since every time
we celebrate Mass
we receive the Holy Spirit…
And so,
1. take part frequently
in the Eucharistic celebration,
2. dedicate some time to adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
Only Christ
can humanize humanity
and lead it
to its "divinization!"
“Today too there is a need for disciples of Christ who give unstintingly of their time and energy to serve the Gospel.
Each one of you must have the courage to promise the Holy Spirit that you will bring one young person to Jesus Christ in the way you consider best.”
YOUNG PEOPLE,
BE HOLY!
BE MISSIONARIES!
LIKE
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
ST. THÉRÈSE OF CHILD JESUS
Dear Mother Mary,
united in prayer with the Apostles
in the Upper Room,
accompany us too
and obtain for all of us
a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit
to set our hearts on fire.
Invocation to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit,
come by means of
the powerful intercession
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Your well-beloved spouse.
Prayer of St. Augustine
Breath into me Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I always may be holy.
Things to do!
Pray Daily to the Holy Spirit
Learn By Heart the Scriptural Passages mentioned in the message
Read the life of St. Francis Xavier or Teresa of Child Jesus
