Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
16 Oct 2012
University of Sydney graduate, Anna Fsadni who represented the youth of Australia at the Opening Mass for the Year of Faith at St Peter's Basilica in Rome on 11 October, describes her meeting with Pope Benedict XVI as "an amazing privilege."
"My encounter with the Holy Father was interesting and beautiful," she says and explains that the "interesting" part was due to much of what was said between the two was lost in translation. But despite this she says every moment of her time during their encounter she felt "loved and important."
"The Holy Father spoke to me in a language I do not speak, which I assume was Italian. I replied in English but perhaps my Australian accent was unusual to his ears," she says. However she insists the language barrier proved no impediment to the joyful love the Holy Father radiated.
"The meeting lasted only about 60 seconds but each moment was a beautiful blessing. I know that what the Holy Father was sharing with me was the love and joy in his heart. In the end it's not about the fanfare, it's about our relationship with Christ and giving to others the love we have received so beautifully from the greatest lover of our souls."
Supported by the Archdiocese of Sydney University Chaplaincies as well as her parish in Sutherland and her family, Anna is currently studying at the Emmanuel School of Mission, and was chosen to represent the Youth of Australia at the Opening Mass of the Year of Faith at St Peter's Basilica which was held on Thursday, 11 October.
During this important mass Anna and five other young people, each representing the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, the United States, South America and Australia, were personally given a copy of documents from the Second Vatican Council by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
"To say this was an amazing experience would be an understatement," she writes in a long detailed email about what she describes as an unforgettable experience.
"Sunday's Gospel contained the words: 'Jesus looked upon him (and) and loved him. He with full attention upon the rich young man, not out of politeness, but because He loved him.' And that was how I felt as I walked up the steps of St Peter's Basilica to meet the Pope. He did not look at me out of politeness or duty, but out of love for the Church, for young people everywhere and for me," she says.
Anna describes the Holy Father as a great example of his actions supporting the message he speaks.
"I remember after World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008 I picked up a small bookmark that had the words: 'My dear young friends, I want to invite you to 'dare to love.' Do not desire anything less in your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters.'"
She says those words were spoken by Pope Benedict XVI and she keeps them in her heart to inspire and challenge in her daily Christian life and as she lives and speaks to others in the world, and in the Christian community.
"The words challenge me to treat people around me, even when I am not acquainted with them fully, with self-giving and sincere love. I could see this joyful love in the Holy Father on Sunday as he met each person individually and presented them with copies of the Vatican II documents."
Anna says anyone who has had the privilege of seeing Pope Benedict at large gatherings will have witnessed this love for the people of God.
"As I approached the Holy Father I felt a gentle, sincere, joyous and truly genuine love, as if I were the only person in the world."
Despite Anna being at sea with the Holy Father's Italian and Pope Benedict having difficulty with Anna's Australian vowels, she insists it did not matter.
"I was privileged to be able to give him a small missionary rosary ring as a gift from the youth of the world. Although the gift was only small, the Holy Father's face beamed with a joyful smile I will never forget. He was full of thanks. I know enough Italian to know that 'Grazie" means 'thank you' and he said it twice!"
Returning to her seat for the mass, which was also attended by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, Anna admits her heart was so filled with joy she felt like dancing.
"Except I was in St Peter's and at Mass so I had to let the joy sit in my heart instead."
Anna, who is a member of the Archdiocese of Sydney's parish at Sutherland, was awarded her Bachelor of Science (Advanced) degree with a major in geology in July this year, shortly before she left for Rome. Well known to other young Catholics, throughout her years of study at the University of Sydney she was an active committed member of the University's Catholic Society of St Peter.
Now studying at the Emmanuel School of Mission (ESM) she is undertaking a nine month program which trains young Catholics to be missionaries in their daily lives. Themes relating to the Year of Faith and the New Evangelisation have been incorporated into this year's program and throughout the next 12 months Anna and other students from ESM will accompany the original World Youth Day Cross to St Peter's Square each Friday to say the rosary, evangelise and invite people to attend evening Mass at the nearby Centro San Lorenzo International Youth Centre.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
16 Oct 2012
Anna Fsadni from Sydney and Robert Prybyla from Texas hold copies of Vatican II documents presented to them by Pope Benedict during the Opening Mass for the Year of Faith
"My encounter with the Holy Father was interesting and beautiful," she says and explains that the "interesting" part was due to much of what was said between the two was lost in translation. But despite this she says every moment of her time during their encounter she felt "loved and important."
"The Holy Father spoke to me in a language I do not speak, which I assume was Italian. I replied in English but perhaps my Australian accent was unusual to his ears," she says. However she insists the language barrier proved no impediment to the joyful love the Holy Father radiated.
"The meeting lasted only about 60 seconds but each moment was a beautiful blessing. I know that what the Holy Father was sharing with me was the love and joy in his heart. In the end it's not about the fanfare, it's about our relationship with Christ and giving to others the love we have received so beautifully from the greatest lover of our souls."
Supported by the Archdiocese of Sydney University Chaplaincies as well as her parish in Sutherland and her family, Anna is currently studying at the Emmanuel School of Mission, and was chosen to represent the Youth of Australia at the Opening Mass of the Year of Faith at St Peter's Basilica which was held on Thursday, 11 October.
During this important mass Anna and five other young people, each representing the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, the United States, South America and Australia, were personally given a copy of documents from the Second Vatican Council by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
Australia's Anna Fsadni (front centre) among the young people who represented each of the world's continents for the start the Year of Faith
"Sunday's Gospel contained the words: 'Jesus looked upon him (and) and loved him. He with full attention upon the rich young man, not out of politeness, but because He loved him.' And that was how I felt as I walked up the steps of St Peter's Basilica to meet the Pope. He did not look at me out of politeness or duty, but out of love for the Church, for young people everywhere and for me," she says.
Anna describes the Holy Father as a great example of his actions supporting the message he speaks.
"I remember after World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008 I picked up a small bookmark that had the words: 'My dear young friends, I want to invite you to 'dare to love.' Do not desire anything less in your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters.'"
Pope Benedict has Proclaimed 2012-1013 the Year of Faith
"The words challenge me to treat people around me, even when I am not acquainted with them fully, with self-giving and sincere love. I could see this joyful love in the Holy Father on Sunday as he met each person individually and presented them with copies of the Vatican II documents."
Anna says anyone who has had the privilege of seeing Pope Benedict at large gatherings will have witnessed this love for the people of God.
"As I approached the Holy Father I felt a gentle, sincere, joyous and truly genuine love, as if I were the only person in the world."
Despite Anna being at sea with the Holy Father's Italian and Pope Benedict having difficulty with Anna's Australian vowels, she insists it did not matter.
Pope Benedict XVI blesses pilgrims at the Opening Mass for the Year of Faith in St Peter's Basilica Rome
Returning to her seat for the mass, which was also attended by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, Anna admits her heart was so filled with joy she felt like dancing.
"Except I was in St Peter's and at Mass so I had to let the joy sit in my heart instead."
Anna, who is a member of the Archdiocese of Sydney's parish at Sutherland, was awarded her Bachelor of Science (Advanced) degree with a major in geology in July this year, shortly before she left for Rome. Well known to other young Catholics, throughout her years of study at the University of Sydney she was an active committed member of the University's Catholic Society of St Peter.
The procession of bishops at the Opening Mass of the Year of Faith
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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