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January 14, 1995
SATURDAY
MANILA
MANILA
RIZAL PARK
6 PM
VIGIL OF THE YOUTH
6 PM
VIGIL OF THE YOUTH
WITH THE HOLY FATHER
"AS THE FATHER SENT ME
SO I AM SENDING YOU"
*****
I. BY THE CROSS
1. A DECADE OF WORLD YOUTH DAYS
Speaker:
Holy Father, we are very happy to have you among us: We greet you!
John Paul II, we love you!
On the Tenth Anniversary of the establishment of World Youth Day, together with you, who created these days for us with the care of a friend and a father, we want to recall the pilgrimage we have made, guided by the Cross of the Holy Year, along the roads of the world.
While the speaker and the witnesses speak, images of the Cross in the various parts of the world they mention appear on the screen.
The Cross is carried slowly through the crowd and placed on the papal podium.
Testimonies:
- In 1984, you called us to Rome, to your home. At the time, adults, convinced that they had done the best for us, had left us to ourselves. You helped us to meet Jesus with his demanding challenge: "Go and sell everything you own, give the money to the poor, then come and follow me". In so doing you have for ever marked with his presence our desire of living and meeting the others.
- In 1987, in a world full of conflicts, you took us to Buenos Aires. There you made us meet so many young people from Latin America. We welcomed you in the hope of attaining liberation from social injustice and even more from the deeply rooted evil of a sick and saddened heart. "We ourselves have known and put our faith in God's love towards us".
- In 1989, in Santiago de Compostela, you taught us to become pilgrims. With the Spanish youth we trod again the paths of faith of the preceding generations, learning how to walk towards Jesus, "The Way, the Truth and the Life", meditating with the apostle St. James on the ancient Christian roots of Europe. From then on, the pilgrimage has become an important experience in our journey of faith too.
- In 1991 you invited us to Częstochowa to tread the roads of your youth, to participate in the sufferings and joy of your motherland. The Berlin Wall had lately been demolished, thus enabling us to embrace so many young people from East Europe who for the first time were able to meet with us and with you. "We have received a spirit of sonship". We will never forget the face of Our Lady of Jasna Gora and the song of "Abba, Ojcze".
- In Denver you wanted to share our American dreams, the fascination of the new world, the attractive atmosphere of a postmodern city. You challenged and overcame all prejudices towards the young generation; you invited us to become pilgrims along the roads of our history; to find in the modern man the sacred place of God's presence. Your voice still resounds in our ears, talking about the life that Jesus gives us so abundantly and encouraging us to be not afraid but to be proud of being and living as Christ's disciples.
- Now it is up to us, the young people of the Philippines, to welcome in your name the youth of the world. We are grateful to you, Holy Father, for giving us the opportunity to host this reception, which is for us an honor and an opportunity to be sent on the roads of the whole world to announce the Good News of the Gospel.
While a traditional dance is performed, the banner of WYD 95 is placed on the podium, near the Cross.
2. PRAYER
The Holy Father:
Lord Jesus, we thank you
for having become a pilgrim with us
and with all the youth of the world
in these ten years.
You have come to meet us on the paths of life.
You have not left us to ourselves
and in our own solitude.
You have challenged us with your inspiring
and demanding Gospel.
But above all, you have entered our hearts.
You have revealed to us the secret of God,
which is concealed in the Scriptures.
You have walked beside us as a patient friend.
You have sealed our friendship
by breaking bread with us.
You have made our hearts burn
because we have recognized you as the Messiah,
the Savior of all.
By doing this, you have entered into us
asking us to share in your work.
And now we ask you to remain with us.
You are always with us,
even though we do not always remain near you,
we do not always abide in you.
This is why we fail to be witnesses
of your presence among our brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus,
We ask you: help us to remain always with you,
to be united to you with all the fervor of our heart,
to carry out gladly the mission you have entrusted us,
to extend your presence,
and to be heralds of your resurrection.
Stay with us, Lord.
Teach us and help us to stay with you.
3. QUESTIONS TO THE POPE
A young person:
Holy Father, ten years have elapsed from that first time when you summoned the youth of the world. The first ones who responded to your invitation have been our educators and now have already formed their own family.
You have marked their lives and ours.
In these last months, while you were suffering in hospital, your messages showed that you had constantly in mind the youth of the world and our World Youth Day.
Now, we would like to ask you some questions:
What were your dreams and your expectations from us when you thought of World Youth Day?
Why are you making us go all around the world?
Have we fulfilled your dreams? What do we still have to do?
4. ADDRESS BY THE HOLY FATHER
5. SONG
II. TESTIMONY AND REFLECTION
1. SOME BRIEF TESTIMONIES FROM YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD
2. ENTHRONEMENT OF THE BOOK OF THE WORD OF GOD
(accompanied by candles, incense, acclamation song and dance)
3. TESTIMONY FROM A YOUTH: THE JOY AND FULFILLMENT PRODUCED BY MEETING CHRIST
4. BIBLE READING
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to John. 20:19-21
5. QUESTIONS TO JESUS
A young person:
Holy Father, you have made all these journeys for us in order that we might meet with Christ. Allow us now to put some questions to Jesus himself. His life inspires us, his way of living is really fascinating, we imagine him as a young person like us, full of life and love for all; we see him tempted in the desert, recollected every day in prayer, surrounded by his friends announcing the Good News, suffering at Gethsemane, dying in solitude, triumphant and glorious in his Resurrection.
But what is the secret of your life, Jesus?
What is the secret of your freedom in giving your life for us even into death?
How did you feel God the Father's presence in your earthly existence?
How did you respond to and fulfill the mission He entrusted to you?
Why do you call us to work with you for the salvation of the world?
6. ADDRESS BY THE HOLY FATHER
7. SONG
III. WE LOOK AT MARY, MOTHER
AND MODEL
1. PROCESSION AND ENTHRONEMENT OF THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF ANTIPOLO
A young person:
With fear and wonder, we have heard and responded to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus: to go on the roads of the world to meet with our brethren and to tell them about his wondrous love, to become apostles of the new evangelization.
And close to us, as a sister and a teacher, as a pilgrim of faith, walks Mary of Nazareth, Mother of the Lord and Mother of the Church. It is she who, with her intercession and example, strengthens our commitment.
2. ADDRESS BY THE HOLY FATHER
3. LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
A young person:
The Lord calls us to be the light of the world. Mary invites us to do whatever He tells us.
In our heart we have said yes to the invitation the Pope has given us in God's name. Now we light our candles as a sign of our commitment to cooperate with Jesus in carrying to all our brothers and sisters the Good News of salvation.
The candles are lit.
4. FINAL BLESSING
The Holy Father:
The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.
May the God of love,
who guides your hearts in their search for Christ's face,
confirm you in the struggle against every evil.
R. Amen.
May the God of hope,
who with the power of the Holy Spirit
leads you to the true knowledge of the Father,
encourage you to give your lives entirely
in trusting surrender to Him.
R. Amen.
May the God of every grace help you to be strong
and steadfast witnesses of your faith,
strong and daring believers in love
and may He fill your hearts with hope.
R. Amen.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, ✠ and the Son, ✠
and the Holy ✠ Spirit.
R. Amen.
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