One of the events we were able to attend during WYD08 was Theology of the Body presented by Christopher West. A talk based on John Paul ll series of talks given between September of 1979 and November of 1984 - A papal study of human sexuality.
“By helping us understand this profound interconnection between sex and the Christian mystery, John Paul’s theology of the body not only paves the way for lasting renewal of marriage and the family; it enables everyone to rediscover “the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life” (TOB 46:6).
Of the three talks given by Christopher West I only attended one and my son attended two of them. It was an event not to be missed. The youth of today are hungry for the truth & here they were given a portion of that truth that will most certainly set them free …. freer than the world would lead them to believe. Our youth do want to live the right way, and as seen in the WYD08 event, thousands of youth turned up to these events - they are enthusiastic to know this truth and to come to realise the value of their body.
The truth has always been in existence but it has not been known as such or understood. In fact it’s been misunderstood …. or misinterpreted, or both. This is unfortunate as it could have been so different for all of us, especially women. I wish this knowledge was available during my youth as it certainly would have made a difference in my own life. But God’s timing is perfect and it’s never to late to learn of it. It is refreshing to see the enthusiasm from the youth (from anyone who attended) for this knowlegde.
Christopher West is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute. To learn more take some time to visit these sites and you will be in for an amazing surprise.
Christopher West
Theology of the Body Institute
This site lists all 129 talks given by John Paul ll on Theology of the Body.
John Paul ll’s Theology of the Body
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Tuesday 19th August was truly a sad day in Victoria as the Bill to legalise abortion was presented the Victorian parliament. The details of the Bill are horrendous. It is a time for us all to work hard for the defeat of this bill.
I had the privilege to attend a public lecture given by Eoghan De Faoite on “Defending the unborn in the Republic of Ireland”. Eoghan has organised and led nationwide pro-life information tours, directed highly effective political lobbying campaigns, and motivated the youth of Ireland to speak out against abortion. Youth Defence is the most active pro-life group in Ireland, defending the rights of the unborn child. Youth Defence believe that life is a right not a privilege, and in doing so, they actively seek contitutional protection for the unborn child. Eoghan’s talk was highly inspirational and motivating and certainly spurred us on to fight this evil here in Victoria.
To learn more about Youth Defence go to TRUTH TV an informative, educational & inspirational site on the issues of abortion.
Closer to home we have the RIGHT TO LIFE organisation -
Right to Life Australia is an organisation dedicated to the preservation of human life, in any form. From an unborn child to the elderly, a human life has the right to live, despite what the world around us deems as ‘socially acceptable’.
There are a number of ways in which we can help defend the sanctity of human life. If you are able and willing to fight this Bill then the RIGHT TO LIFE site is good place to begin your campaign.
There are a number of outstanding web sites to visit. Here are only a few but more links are found at each site -
ABORTION TV – for the facts about abortion.
MAKE A STAND – in response to important political issues.
WOMEN’S FORUM AUSTRALIA – A group committed to promote the well-being, advancement and freedom of women.
With any huge battle about to rage it is important to increase our prayers, and storm heaven for help.
Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians …. Pray for us.
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There are quite a few videos going up on You Tube which are great for some World Youth Day reflections. This one includes the WYD08 theme song Receive The Power by Guy Sebastian & Paulini.
Take some time out and enjoy……
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As I sit here writing this post the sun has decided to make a sneak appearance. But that won’t disguise the fact that it’s been raining all night and all morning. You might say “well that’s no big deal”, and I guess it’s easily said. Except that when your country has been in drought for a number of years and you’ve watched reservoir & dam levels continually drop over those years, and you’ve been living with water restrictions, and you know how hard this has hit all our farmers … indeed everyone, then rain does become a big deal.
Cardinal George Pell asked our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, if he would pray for rain for Australia. This was at the final mass at Randwick and indeed Pope Benedict prayed for rain. It held off for most of the day as pilgrims made their way out of Randwick to journey home …. then it began to rain.
Back home in Melbourne the rain has come on & off, little drizzles here and there but when you hear it fall heavily on your roof you can’t help but be thankful for the prayers and the rain that’s come. It’s been raining all night and all morning. OK, one night of rain won’t fill the dams but it will water the parched grounds and gardens. I pray though that this rain is also falling in our country areas, farmlands and catchment areas, and I pray that it will continue to fall.
For me, and I’m sure for others, this is a sign of blessings. So we keep on praying for the blessings to continue to fall …. and to overflow over all the earth.
“My word is like the snow and the rain that comes down from the sky to water the earth. They make the crops grow and provide seed for planting and food to eat. So also will be the word that I speak – it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do”
Isaiah 55:10-11
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Australia has long been described as being at the ‘ends of the earth’. Cardinal George Pell also mentions this to the thousands of pilgrims gathered to celebrate the opening mass at Barangaroo (Tues 15th July). To many pilgrims attending WYD08 this would have seemed true, as the distance to travel here was far & time was long ….. and it certainly marked the beginning of a memorable journey for many, especially for those from Oceania who perhaps would never have dreamed it possible to come yet for the generousity of many people, not just in Australia but worldwide.
Many Australians may also see Australia as a ’Noah’s Ark’, because of the diversity of cultures and sheer number of nations represented here. Those who have left their homelands to call Australia “home”, and hoping for a new life and future for themselves and family.
For WYD week I had planned to make note in my diary the names of people (if possible) I’d meet and their country of origin. At the start I only managed to note a few names, then only the names of their homeland. But by the end of the day – Wednesday 16th, what came on my heart was to have pilgrims sign my Australian flag.
I walked around Sydney with a long Aussie flag, and a smaller Italian flag attached on the side, draped over my back. This represented my country of birth (as I am a first generation Australian) and my Italian heritage. And it was this Aussie flag that I offered to pilgrims to sign with their name and country.
The purpose for this was to then present the flag for prayer. Although I journied to WYD Sydney with my parish of St Anthony’s GlenHuntly, I am also part of the Holy Mountain of Praise – established by the will of God as a house of prayer, to praise & worship the Lord and to pray for all the nations of the world. So it seemed the right thing to do, to present the nations of the world to the Lord at the celebration of the Eucharist at the Holy Mountain, on return from WYD.
The mass was a special time because we were also privileged to have with us pilgrims from Holland, France, US, Brazil, Slovakia …… Including members of the Emmanuel community. Father Eric from Holland celebrated mass for us & the children presented my Aussie flag of ‘signatures of nations’ in the mass. There was much sharing about WYD experiences, which I think will go on for some time, and lots of talk about Madrid 2011. ….. And indeed the flag was present again at mass at St Anthony’s GlenHuntly.
Just a note regarding naming all the nations. Of course, I wasn’t able to find pilgrim representatives for All the nations, so to ensure not a single nation was missed I added to the flag – “WYD08 …. Every nation, every tribe come together to worship you”.
So from ‘the ends of the earth’ Every nation will be prayed for, including every pilgrim who will now go out to complete the scripture from Acts 1:8 ……. “and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth”.
Love you all in Jesus’ name.
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Pope Benedict XVI message to the young people of the workd for World Youth Day 2008 -
“There is a need for young people who will allow God’s love to burn within them and who will respond generously to his urgent call, just as many young blesseds and saints did in the past and also in more recent times. I assure you that the Spirit of Jesus today is inviting you young people to be bearers of the Good News of Jesus to your comtemporaries.”
Being together with so many of one faith would inspire many to be the bearers of the Good News of Jesus. And now, especially strengthened by the Holy Spirit, many who participated would be able ot say to each other those words we read in Luke 24: 32 on the walk to Emmaus -
“Wasn’t it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
We pilgrims could easily say today – “Did not our hearts burn within us while we were in Sydney?”
World Youth day is not only a week of activities and events; it is not only for an experience which comes but once every 2-3 years, but it is ongoing. It is WYD and beyond.
In the scripture, the two who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus urged Jesus to stay with them as it was getting late. This ‘lateness’ however did not stop them from immediately returning to Jerusalem where they told the disciples about Jesus.
It is their example we should now follow.
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