Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
18 Aug 2011
Cardinal Pell during the Mass following the Catechetical
Session in Madrid
More than 10,000 young pilgrims from Australia and all corners of the globe gathered in Madrid today to hear the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell give one of the first catechesis sessions at World Youth Day in Madrid.
Cardinal Pell's underlying message to the pilgrims was one of hope and encouragement.
He urged the young pilgrims to keep the flame of faith burning.
"Promise the flame of faith will not be extinguished in your watch," he said.
The Cardinal received a rousing, warm welcome when he was introduced by one of the Sisters of Life, who are not only assisting in the catechesis sessions by providing talks and testimonies, music and prayer but are also doubling as stage managers at Madrid's Palacio de los Deportes stadium which has been temporarily re-named the "Love and Life Centre."
10,000 pilgrims attended the Palacio de Palacio de los
Deportes stadium for the catechesis
Cardinal Pell said the fundamental reason for hope comes from one of his favourite scripture passages, the story of the good thief.
He quoted the good thief's words to Jesus on the cross: "Remember me when you come into my kingdom" and Jesus' reply: "this very day you will be with me in paradise".
"This gives hope to us," Cardinal Pell said. "However, I think one of the most disturbing passages in the scriptures is when Jesus asks 'when he Son of Man returns, will he find faith on earth?' Faith is a fundamental life choice. It can wax and wane. But Our Lord constantly encourages us to strengthen our faith. And our faith comes through us through the Catholic Church. There is no knowledge of God except through the Catholic Church and our faith comes to us across the generations."
There were moments of concentrated attention as the Cardinal spoke with the silence frequently broken by cheers and applause.
The message for the pilgrims was patent, with Cardinal Pell explaining the clear and strong reasons behind our belief in the one true God.
Supersized screens throughout the venue enabled
everyone to see and hear the Cardinal
He said it is reasonable to believe in our Creator and He is good.
"Christian belief is not a myth of just a useful make-believe story like Santa Claus," he said. "Our God is inherently rational. Our faith is not based on religious sentiment. Faith is a matter of the heart, an issue of the mind, because it is a claim to truth."
The Cardinal also threw out a challenge to the young pilgrims, telling them that we are presented with two choices - whether our existence came about by chance or by supreme intelligence.
What did they think? He asked. He then presented the case for supreme intelligence, giving the thousands of young people much to think about and reflect upon.
Emphasising the point that science and religion are not at loggerheads, he said and quoted the late, former atheist and renowned philosopher, Anthony Flew who after turning his back on atheism at the end of his life to become a believer, said that the greatest discovery of modern science was God.
The Altar was place on the centre stage for the Mass
following the Catechetical Session
Anthony Flew became a believer through the discovery of DNA.
"We need to remember science is with us and that our God of love, that dynamo of love, is rational," the Cardinal said. "So let's commit ourselves to maintaining the light of our faith and that the flame doesn't die in your families or parishes."
In his closing remarks, Cardinal Pell quoted from the great early Christian, St Augustine who said: "....when we part from one another let us not part from God".
Following the catechesis Cardinal Pell celebrated Mass with more than 1000 priests concelebrating. The Cardinal then distributed communion together with the concelebrating priests who moved through the massive crowd to every corner of the huge stadium.
Stationary cameras as well as a crane camera captured every moment of the Cardinal's catechesis at World Youth Day, which was then transmitted onto super-sized screen in order for 10,000 plus pilgrims present to see and hear every detail of events as they unfolded.
Cardinal Pell: "When we part from one another, let us
not part from God."
At another location in Madrid during the Cardinal's catechesis many of the 24 Australian bishops present at WYD11 were also taking part in a catechetical session and Mass.
Today, Thursday 18 August, excitement is building in anticipation of the arrival of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV1 whose flight is due to touch down at Madrid Airport at 12 noon (8 pm AEST).
The Pontiff will be welcomed at the airport by Spain's King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia together with Church and Spanish government officials. He will then rest prior to attending a special youth welcome in the city in the evening when he will be presented with the keys to the city
The Holy Father will then address the gathering in the city centre at Madrid's, Cibeles Square.
Security has been tightened around the Square with police "locking down" the area with officers on the ground and helicopters above the central streets leading to the square.
http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/news/latest_news/2011/2011818_721.shtml
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