World Youth Day (WYD) this 2015 will be on Palm Sunday, March 29th, at the diocesan level, world-wide.
This is in preparation for the WYD in Krakow, Poland in 2016.
Theme: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt. 5:8)
1. The desire for happiness
Blessed or happy occurs nine times in Jesus’ sermon on the mount (cf. Mt. 5: 1-12)
“This search for happiness is shared by people of all times and all ages.
Desire for happiness is fulfilled in Christ.
2. Blessed are the pure in heart…
Heart in Hebrew is “the centre of emotions, thoughts and intentions of the human person.”
Pure in Greek is “Katharos”. Basically it means clean, pure, undefiled.
Happiness “born of a pure heart” consists in right relationships. “We need to show a healthy concern for creation, for the purity of our air, water and food”, above all…to protect the purity of what is most precious of all: our heart and our relationships. “This human ecology will help us to breathe the pure air that comes from beauty, from true love and from holiness.”
True love is characterized by “beauty, communion, fidelity and responsibility.”
3. …for they shall see God.
We see God by the way of prayer – an “intimate friendship with the one who makes us feel loved.”
We see God “in the sacrament of reconciliation. A privileged opportunity to encounter that divine mercy which purifies us and renews our hearts.”
We encounter the Lord by frequently reading sacred Scripture – God’s Word.
“Fraternal life will help you better to know the Lord and yourselves.”
4. On the Way to Krakow
“This year’s World Youth Day begins the final stage of preparations for the great gathering of young people from around the world in Krakow in 2016.”
Back to: COMMUNICATIONS from the Bishop (No. 808 February 20, 2015)
