Suffering and the Stations

Once again borrowing amazing pictures from - http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/08/photos-world-youth-day-2011-in-madrid-spain/  I was drawn away for much of the stations, but was able to see the final few... and then was blessed with the final comments made by the Holy Father about suffering.  We were told that the youth carrying the cross were those that had suffered in this world from Aides to those that had been affected by the Sunami in Japan and the earthquake in Haiti..."We need to embrace suffering - the way the Blessed Mother did at the foot of the Cross.." Pope Benedict XVI

St John - "By this we know LOVE... That He laid down his life for us"  God is not distant or removed for our suffering - He became Man.  He carries that suffering with us!"  Pope Benedict

More of the confessionals - which are so important in the process of reconnecting and coming to Christ on our knees..."You are open to the idea of sharing... God expects you to give your very best- Compassion and Love to the least in the world."  Pope to the Youth and all the world listening to him!

"We have a mission... give our very best.  Imitating Jesus, who gave his all in sacrifice.  The Good News we are a people willing to give of ourselves to others." The commentators on EWTN

Lord, I ask to give of myself as you desire.  Use me to your honor and glory. Jesus, I trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

An explanation of the World Youth Day Cross - see http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/Colonia2005/rc_pc_laity_doc_20030805_cross-history-gmg_en.html

It is known as the "Holy Year Cross", the "Jubilee Cross", the "WYD Cross", the "Pilgrim Cross". Many call it the "Youth Cross" as it was given to young people to take around the world to any place at any time. Here is the story of that Cross.

It was the Holy year of the Redemption (1983-1984). Pope John Paul II felt that there should be a cross - the symbol of our faith - near the main altar in Saint Peter's Basilica where it could be seen by everyone. A large wooden Cross, 3.8 metres high, was placed there according to the Holy Father's desire.



At the end of the Holy Year, after the Pope had closed the Holy Door, he entrusted that Cross to the youth of the world, represented by the young people from the San Lorenzo Youth Centre in Rome. His words on that occasion were:



"My dear young people, at the conclusion of the Holy Year, I entrust to you the sign of this Jubilee Year: the Cross of Christ! Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ's love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption"(Rome, 22nd April 1984).