IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Junno Arocho EstevesKRAKOW,Poland (CNS) -- The youthful face of God's mercy can change the hearts of peoplewho have lost hope, Pope Francis said. Ayoung person who is touched by Christ is "capable of truly great things,"the pope told thousands of young men and women July 28 at the welcomingceremony of World Youth Day in Krakow. "Todaythe church -- and I would add, the world -- looks to you and wants to learnfrom you, to be reassured that the father's mercy has an ever-youthful face andconstantly invites us to be part of his kingdom," the pope said. Arrivingat Blonia Park in his popemobile, Pope Francis was enveloped in a sea of red,yellow and blue as pilgrims donned brightly colored parkas to shield them fromthe rain. Takinghis seat on the main stage, the pope was welcomed by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwiszof Krakow and six young men and women representing Europe, Asia, North America,South America, Africa and Australia.Afterpresenting the pope with a custom pilg...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring
By Junno Arocho Esteves
KRAKOW,
Poland (CNS) -- The youthful face of God's mercy can change the hearts of people
who have lost hope, Pope Francis said.
A
young person who is touched by Christ is "capable of truly great things,"
the pope told thousands of young men and women July 28 at the welcoming
ceremony of World Youth Day in Krakow.
"Today
the church -- and I would add, the world -- looks to you and wants to learn
from you, to be reassured that the father's mercy has an ever-youthful face and
constantly invites us to be part of his kingdom," the pope said.
Arriving
at Blonia Park in his popemobile, Pope Francis was enveloped in a sea of red,
yellow and blue as pilgrims donned brightly colored parkas to shield them from
the rain.
Taking
his seat on the main stage, the pope was welcomed by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz
of Krakow and six young men and women representing Europe, Asia, North America,
South America, Africa and Australia.
After
presenting the pope with a custom pilgrim's book bag, a group of young
performers from around the world entertained the pope and the crowd by dancing
traditional dances. The dances ranged from a young Indian woman swaying to the
tune of sitar to a couple masterfully dancing to tango music.
Following
the Gospel reading, the pope thanked the youth for their presence, greeting
them warmly saying, "At last, we are together."
Encouraging
them to cheer for St. John Paul II, the pope thanked his predecessor for
initiating World Youth Day.
"From
heaven, he is with us, and he sees all of you: So many young people from such a
variety of nations, cultures and languages, but with one goal: that of
rejoicing that Jesus is in our midst," he said.
The
pope noted the festive atmosphere of World Youth Day and praised the "enthusiasm,
dedication, zeal and energy" of the young men and women who make God's
love palpable to the world.
However,
while extolling the virtues of a young, merciful heart, the pope also lamented
young people "who seem to have opted for 'early retirement.'"
"It
worries me to see young people who have 'thrown in the towel' before the game
has even begun, who are defeated even before they begin to play, who walk
around glumly as if life has no meaning," he said.
Deep
down, he added, "young people like this are bored and are boring."
The
celebration in Poland, the pope continued, offers an opportunity for young men
and women to help each other and "not be robbed of the best of ourselves."
Pope
Francis encouraged the youths to look to Jesus to receive a "true passion
for life" and to "give the very best of ourselves."
"Are
you looking for empty thrills in life, or do you want to feel a power that can
give you a lasting sense of life and fulfillment? Which one do you want: empty
thrills or the power of grace? To find fulfillment, to gain new strength, there
is a way. It cannot be sold, it cannot be bought, it is not a thing, nor an
object. It is a person: His name is Jesus Christ," the pope said.
He
also invited them to dedicate their time in Poland to listening to Jesus and to
each other in order to live a full life and to embark "on the adventure of
mercy."
"Here
we are, Lord! Send us to share your merciful love," Pope Francis prayed. "We
want to affirm that our lives are fulfilled when they are shaped by mercy, for
that is the better part and it will never be taken from us."
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday morning celebrated Mass at the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland, to mark the 1050th anniversary of the ‘Baptism of Poland.’Vatican Radio's Lydia O'Kane is in Poland with Pope Francis and sent this report.Listen: A sea of people stretching 7 kilometres lined the route from Czestochowa all the way to the hilltop monastery of Jasna Góra, Poland’s national shrine. Young and old had been waiting since early morning under an overcast sky to be here at this place of pilgrimage. In the grounds of the monastery itself, which houses the revered icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, pilgrims carried banners with an image of Pope Francis which read in Spanish “benvenido”. In a change to his programme, Pope Francis made the journey to Czestochowa by car instead of by helicopter to be here, and as soon as the crowds got word that he had arrived, a great applause rang out and the choir ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday morning celebrated Mass at the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland, to mark the 1050th anniversary of the ‘Baptism of Poland.’
Vatican Radio's Lydia O'Kane is in Poland with Pope Francis and sent this report.
Listen:
A sea of people stretching 7 kilometres lined the route from Czestochowa all the way to the hilltop monastery of Jasna Góra, Poland’s national shrine.
Young and old had been waiting since early morning under an overcast sky to be here at this place of pilgrimage. In the grounds of the monastery itself, which houses the revered icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, pilgrims carried banners with an image of Pope Francis which read in Spanish “benvenido”.
In a change to his programme, Pope Francis made the journey to Czestochowa by car instead of by helicopter to be here, and as soon as the crowds got word that he had arrived, a great applause rang out and the choir began to sing.
As the Holy Father made his way to this shrine, in the fondly named Pope mobile, he was greeted every step of the way by thousands of enthusiastic people waving Polish, Vatican and even Argentinian flags along this walk of pilgrimage.
On his arrival he met with a group of disabled people including a little girl, lingering to take her hand.
Then it was onward to witness one of the highlights of this visit to Poland, the Black Madonna of Czestochowa.
Trumpets played as this miraculous icon was unveiled from behind its golden screen as an emotional Pope Francis looked on.
Following a greeting from the Superior General of the Pauline Order, the Pope presented the Madonna with a gift of golden roses and then kissed copy of the black icon which had been given to him.
The Pope had come here to celebrate the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland and as he made his way to the specially constructed alter situated above the faithful below, the choir performed Poland’s most famous Marian hymm.
In his Homily, Pope Francis spoke about a God who is contented by little things, unlike ourselves who, he said, “always want to possess something greater.” To be attracted by power, by grandeur, by appearances”, he added, “is tragically human”.
Highlighting those Polish sons and daughters who made the power of the Gospel shine forth, Pope Francis made special mention of “those meek and powerful heralds of mercy who were Saint John Paul II and Saint Faustina.”
God is near, God is real,” the Holy Father said, and Mary offers us her nearness and helps us to discover what we need to live life to the full. “She is a Mother who takes people’s problems to heart and acts. She recognizes moments of difficulty and handles them discreetly, efficiently and decisively.”
Please see the full text of his homily is below
From the readings of this Liturgy a divine thread emerges, one that passes through human history and weaves the history of salvation.
The apostle Paul tells us of God’s great plan: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his son, born of a woman” (Gal 4:4). But history tells us that when this “fullness of time” came, when God became man, humanity was not especially well-disposed, nor was there even a period of stability and peace: there was no “Golden Age”. The scenario of this world did not merit the coming of God; indeed, “his own received him not” (Jn 1:11). The fullness of time was thus a gift of grace: God filled our time out of the abundance of his mercy. Out of sheer love he inaugurated the fullness of time.
It is particularly striking how the coming of God into history came about: he was “born of a woman”. There was no triumphal entrance or striking epiphany of the Almighty. He did not reveal himself as a brilliantly rising sun, but entered the world in the simplest of ways, as a child from his mother, with that “style” that Scripture tells us is like a rainfall upon the land (cf. Is 55:10), like the smallest of seeds which sprouts and grows (cf. Mk 4:31-32). Thus, contrary to our expectations and perhaps even our desires, the kingdom of God, now as then, “does not come in a way that attracts attention” (Lk 17:20), but rather in littleness, in humility.
Today’s Gospel takes up this divine thread delicately passing through history: from the fullness of time we come to the “third day” of Jesus’ ministry (cf. Jn 2:1) and the proclamation of the “hour” of salvation (cf. v. 4). Time shortens, God always shows himself in littleness. And so we come to “the first of the signs that Jesus did” (v. 11), in Cana of Galilee.
There is no amazing deed done before the crowd, or even a word to settle a heated political question like that of the subjection of the people to the power of Rome. Instead, in a small village, a simple miracle takes place and brings joy to the wedding of a young and completely anonymous family. At the same time, the water that became wine at the wedding banquet is a great sign, for it reveals to us the spousal face of God, a God who sits at table with us, who dreams and holds communion with us. It tells us that the Lord does not keep his distance, but is near and real. He is in our midst and he takes care of us, without making decisions in our place and without troubling himself with issues of power. He prefers to let himself be contained in little things, unlike ourselves, who always want to possess something greater. To be attracted by power, by grandeur, by appearances, is tragically human. It is a great temptation that tries to insinuate itself everywhere. But to give oneself to others, eliminating distances, dwelling in littleness and living the reality of one’s everyday life: this is exquisitely divine.
God saves us, then by making himself little, near and real. First God makes himself little. The Lord, who is “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29), especially loves the little ones, to whom the kingdom of God is revealed (Mt 11:25); they are great in his eyes and he looks to them (cf. Is 66:2). He especially loves them because they are opposed to the “pride of life” that belongs to the world (cf. 1 Jn 2:16). The little ones speak his own language, that of the humble love that brings freedom. So he calls the simple and receptive to be his spokespersons; he entrusts to them the revelation of his name and the secrets of his heart. Our minds turn to so many sons and daughters of your own people, like the martyrs made the defenseless power of the Gospel shine forth, like those ordinary yet remarkable people who bore witness to the Lord’s love amid great trials, and those meek and powerful heralds of mercy who were Saint John Paul II and Saint Faustina. Through these “channels” of his love, the Lord has granted priceless gifts to the whole Church and to all mankind. It is significant that this anniversary of the baptism of your people exactly coincides with the Jubilee of mercy.
Then too, God is near, his kingdom is at hand (cf. Mk 1:15). The Lord does not want to be feared like a powerful and aloof sovereign. He does not want to remain on his throne in heaven or in history books, but loves to come down to our everyday affairs, to walk with us. As we think of the gift of a millennium so filled with faith, we do well before all else to thank God for having walked with your people, having taken you by the hand and accompanied you in so many situations. That is what we too, in the Church, are constantly called to do: to listen, to get involved and be neighbours, sharing in people’s joys and struggles, so that the Gospel can spread every more consistently and fruitfully: radiating goodness through the transparency of our lives.
Finally, God is real. Today’s readings make it clear that everything about God’s way of acting is real and concrete. Divine wisdom “is like a master worker” and “plays” (cf. Prov 8:30). The Word becomes flesh, is born of a mother, is born under the law (cf. Gal 4:4), has friends and goes to a party. The eternal is communicated by spending time with people and in concrete situations. Your own history, shaped by the Gospel, the Cross and fidelity to the Church, has seen the contagious power of a genuine faith, passed down from family to family, from fathers to sons and above all from mothers and grandmothers, whom we need so much to thank. In particular, you have been able to touch with your hand the real and provident tenderness of the Mother of all, whom I have come here as a pilgrim to venerate and whom we have acclaimed in the Psalm as the “great pride of our nation” (Jud 15:9).
It is to Mary, then that we, who have gathered here, now look. In her, we find complete conformity to the Lord. Throughout history, interwoven with the divine thread, is also a “Marian thread”. If there is any human glory, any merit of our own in the fullness of time, it is she. Mary is that space, preserved free from sin, where God chose to mirror himself. She is the stairway God took to descend and draw near to us. She is the clearest sign of the fullness of time.
In the life of Mary we admire that littleness that God loves, for he “looked upon the humility of his servant”, and “lifted up the lowly” (Lk 1:48, 52). He was so pleased with her that he let his flesh be woven from hers, so that the Virgin became the Mother of God, as an ancient hymn, sung for centuries, proclaims. To you who uninterruptedly come to her, converging upon this, the spiritual capital of the country, may she continue to point the way. May she help you to weave in your own lives the humble and simple thread of the Gospel.
At Cana, as here in Jasna Góra, Mary offers us her nearness and helps us to discover what we need to live life to the full. Now as then, she does this with a mother’s love, by her presence and counsel, teaching us to avoid hasty decisions and grumbling in our communities. As the Mother of a family, she wants to keep us together. Through unity, the journey of your people has surmounted any number of harsh experiences. May the Mother, who stood steadfast at the foot of the Cross and persevered in prayer with the disciples in awaiting the Holy Spirit, obtain for you the desire to leave behind all past wrongs and wounds, and to build fellowship with all, without ever yielding to the temptation to withdraw or to domineer.
At Cana, Our Lady showed great realism. She is a Mother who takes people’s problems to heart and acts. She recognizes moments of difficulty and handles them discreetly, efficiently and decisively. She is neither imperious nor intrusive, but a Mother and a handmaid. Let us ask for the grace to imitate her sensitivity and her creativity in serving those in need, and to know how beautiful it is to spend our lives in the service of others, without favourites or distinctions. May Mary, Cause of our Joy, who brings peace amid the profusion of sin and the turmoil of history, obtain for us the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and enable us to be good and faithful servants
Through her intercession, may the fullness of time come about also for us. The transition from before to after Christ means little if it remains a date in the annals of history. May each one of us be able to make an interior passage, a Passover of the heart, towards the divine “style” incarnated by Mary. May we do everything in littleness, and accompany others at close hand, with a simple and open heart.
(Vatican Radio) World Youth Day celebrations are underway in Krakow, with pilgrims continuing to gather in the ancient Polish city. They are participating in some of the hundreds of catechetical, spiritual, and formative programmes being offered in different languages all throughout the city in the days ahead of the culminating prayer vigil and World Youth Day Mass on Sunday.One of the lead catechists for the English-speaking pilgrims is Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Ct.Vatican Radio’s special envoy in Krakow, Lydia O’Kane, asked Bishop Caggiano about his hopes for the experience over the long term. “In many ways, World Youth Day plants a seed in the hearts of all, who attend,” he said. “That is a precious gift,” continued Bishop Caggiano. “That seed is meant to grow: that seed is meant to strengthen their faith, their hope, and their desire to love.”Click below to hear our extended conversation with Bishop F...
(Vatican Radio) World Youth Day celebrations are underway in Krakow, with pilgrims continuing to gather in the ancient Polish city. They are participating in some of the hundreds of catechetical, spiritual, and formative programmes being offered in different languages all throughout the city in the days ahead of the culminating prayer vigil and World Youth Day Mass on Sunday.
Vatican Radio’s special envoy in Krakow, Lydia O’Kane, asked Bishop Caggiano about his hopes for the experience over the long term. “In many ways, World Youth Day plants a seed in the hearts of all, who attend,” he said. “That is a precious gift,” continued Bishop Caggiano. “That seed is meant to grow: that seed is meant to strengthen their faith, their hope, and their desire to love.”
Click below to hear our extended conversation with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Ct.
Young people, however, are not the only ones receiving the seeds sown at World Youth Day.
Bishop Caggiano went on to say that his own experience of World Youth Day has borne this out. “I feel enormously blessed to have participated in the last three [World Youth Days], and now this one in Krakow: because, quite frankly – I think I could speak for all priests, religious, and bishops – we all have the same experience – we leave far more blessed, and far more encouraged, and far more hopeful for the Church at the end of [WYD], than – perhaps – when we arrived.”
By Junno Arocho EstevesCZESTOCHOWA,Poland (CNS) -- Godchose to manifest his power not by amazing feats of greatness but ratherthrough small acts of humility, choosing to enter the world as a child born of a woman,Pope Francis said.The Lord's "humble love" is reflectedthroughoutPoland's history, particularly through "meek and powerful heralds ofmercy," such as St. John Paul II and St. Faustina Kowalska, the pope said July 28 at a Mass outside the Marianshrine of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa."Throughthese 'channels' of his love, the Lord has granted priceless gifts to the wholechurch and to allmankind," the pope said.TheMass marked the 1,050thanniversary of the baptismof Poland, which celebrates the Christianization of the country following thebaptism of Mieszko I,the first ruler of the Polish state. Prior to leaving Krakow for Czestochowa,the pope visited the convent of the Sisters of the Presentation and stopped ata nearby hospital to visit CardinalFranciszek Macharski, retired archbi...
By Junno Arocho Esteves
CZESTOCHOWA,
Poland (CNS) -- God
chose to manifest his power not by amazing feats of greatness but rather
through small acts of humility, choosing to enter the world as a child born of a woman,
Pope Francis said.
The Lord's "humble love" is reflected
throughout
Poland's history, particularly through "meek and powerful heralds of
mercy," such as St. John Paul II and St. Faustina Kowalska, the pope said July 28 at a Mass outside the Marian
shrine of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa.
"Through
these 'channels' of his love, the Lord has granted priceless gifts to the whole
church and to all
mankind," the pope said.
The
Mass marked the 1,050th
anniversary of the baptism
of Poland, which celebrates the Christianization of the country following the
baptism of Mieszko I,
the first ruler of the Polish state.
Prior to leaving Krakow for Czestochowa,
the pope visited the convent of the Sisters of the Presentation and stopped at
a nearby hospital to visit Cardinal
Franciszek Macharski, retired archbishop of Krakow.
The
89-year-old cardinal, who is in "serious condition," succeeded St.
John Paul II as archbishop of Krakow following his election as pope in 1978.
With thick clouds gathered over the
Jasna Gora Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Pope Francis arrived by car
rather than helicopter, as planned. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican
spokesman, said officials had told the Vatican it might not be safe for the
helicopter to land.
In Czestochowa, hundreds of thousands
of Poles lined the street leading up to the shrine, which houses the famed icon
of the "Black Madonna," traditionally held to have been painted by
St. Luke the Evangelist.
St.
John Paul had a special devotion to the famed image. After his election, the
Polish pope visited the shrine on June 4, 1979, and entrusted his pontificate
to Mary.
Pilgrims
waving banners and flags anxiously awaited the arrival of Pope Francis who,
like his predecessor and many Poles, shares a deep connection and reverence to
Mary.
Viola
and Evelina, two local pilgrims, journeyed with their families to the shrine
hoping to catch a glimpse of "Papa Franciszek."
"This
is the first time I will see the pope; I have never been to a World Youth Day
before," Viola told Catholic News Service.
"It
is very important for us to see and hear the pope, even if it was a long
journey here to Jasna Gora," Evelina said.
Viola
also stressed that young people in Poland like herself are hoping for a "special word" and
that the pope "tells us what we can do for our church."
"Young
people of Poland need the pope to show us what we can do with our lives and
which roads can lead us to (a better) future," Evelina told CNS, adding
that young people are also hoping to learn "how we can live here in Poland
with people from other countries."
Arriving
in the popemobile to the shrine, the pope made his way to the monastery that
houses the image of the Black Madonna.
After
the pope was welcomed by Father
Arnold Chrapkowski, superior general of the monks of St. Paul the First Hermit, the
image of Mary was slowly revealed with the fanfare of drums and trumpets.
The
pope stood still, gazing at the Black Madonna in silence for several minutes before carrying a gold rose to
the altar below the image. He was then presented with a gold chalice and
a replica of the image, which he reverently touched and kissed.
Beginning the outdoor Mass, Pope
Francis missed a step as he was blessing the altar and an image of Mary with
incense. He stumbled and fell, but quickly was helped to his feet and continued
the liturgy without problem.
In his homily, the
pope reflected on the coming of God into human history not by a "triumphal
entrance or striking epiphany" but rather in "the simplest of
ways."
"Thus,
contrary to our expectations and perhaps even our desires, the kingdom of God,
now as then, 'does not come in a way that attracts attention,' but rather in
littleness, in humility," the pope said.
Recalling
the day's Gospel reading, in which Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding
feast in Cana, the pope said that Christ's humility is again exemplified in
"a simple miracle" that "brings joy to the wedding of a young
and completely anonymous couple."
Unlike
the "tragically human" attraction to power and grandeur, God
manifests himself and saves humankind "by making himself little, near and
real," the pope said.
Christians
are called to reflect God's closeness by "radiating goodness through the
transparency of our lives," he said.
Poland's
history, he stressed, is marked by occasions in which God has taken them by the
hand and "accompanied you in so many situations."
"That
is what we, too, in the church are constantly called to do: to listen, to get
involved and be neighbors, sharing in people's joys and struggles, so that the
Gospel can spread ever more consistently and fruitfully," the pope said.
Pope
Francis also noted that Poland's history is a testament to God's real presence,
the "contagious power of faith" and devotion to Mary.
"If
there is any human glory, any merit of our own in the fullness of time, it is
she. Mary is that space, preserved free from sin, where God chose to mirror
himself. She is the stairway God took to descend and draw near to us. She is
the clearest sign of the fullness of time," he said.
As
she did in Cana, the pope continued, Mary offers her presence and counsel in
order to "avoid hasty decisions and grumbling in our communities."
"May
each one of us be able to make an interior passage, a Passover of the heart,
toward the divine 'style' incarnated by Mary. May we do everything in
littleness and accompany others at close hand, with a simple and open
heart," Pope Francis said.
