4:40 AM
Jo-Anne Rowney
"These will be days that you will never forget, days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future."
These were the welcoming words of Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko following the Opening WYD Mass on 16 August where over half a million young people from countries all over the world crammed into Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles to mark the beginning of World Youth Day.
The Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco presided the inaugural Mass, which was concelebrated by bishops and priests joining in the WYD celebrations.
In his homily, Cardinal Rouco said that the pilgrims "have come to say aloud to the whole world...your unwavering “yes”! Yes, faith is possible. It is in fact a wonderful adventure that allows us to discover the magnitude and beauty of our lives."
Cardinal Rouco reminded us that Blessed Pope John Paul II will always be linked with WYD, especially as he's a patron and "protector" for this WYD.
He argued that Pope John Paul II's relationship with young people is "unprecedented" as well as "direct, immediate...imbued with the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, enthusiastic, hopeful, joyful, contagious."
The youth of today are searching for Jesus, he said. Adding that Jesus "is the only one who can understand you and lead you to the truth giving life that never ends, to give you happiness, true love."
"Letting him in is the key to WYD," he said. "It will be your success. Youths of this century need...to find the Lord through the only path that has proven effective spirtually: the humbles and simple pilgrim seeking his face."
Reflection
Following the Mass Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity welcomed the pilgrims by telling the crowd World Youth Day had finally arrived.
"These will be days you will never forget, days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future." he said.
The Cardinal reflected on the theme for WYD, the words of Saint Paul: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf Col 2:7)" saying that this was a challenge for us all.
"This is very demanding because it contains a definite plan for each of us," he added.
"Faith is like a root that is nourished by the lifeblood of the word of God and the sacraments. It is the foundation, the rock on which life is built, the dependable compass that guides our choices and gives clear direction to our lives."
For miles all that could be seen was a sea of colour - a mix of national flags, coloured pilgrims t-shirts and hats. Natasha Purcell, Westminster Diocese said: "I haven't met any of the pilgrims before, but it doesn't feel like we're strangers at all. We may speak different languages, and come from different countries, but we are all brothers and sisters in Christ."
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