The Church Is Not Dead | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The Church Is Not Dead

Why World Youth Day is Important to Today's World

4
The Church Is Not Dead
EO Catholic

This past week in Poland, thousands of youth came together for World Youth Day. If you don't know what WYD is, it is an event for young people organized by the Roman Catholic Church. It is a time where youth from all over the world come together to pray and talk about Our Lord. You come together and celebrate Mass, praise, and worship, and you get to do all of this with the Pope. World Youth Day was started by Pope John Paul II, now Saint John Paul II, in 1985 and since then the number of youth in attendance has only grown. It was said that there were 1.6 million people in attendance at the 2016 WYD which just took place from July 25th to July 31st. So why does everyone continue to say that the youth don't have any concern for the Church today or that we can't make a difference in this world today? I'm here to tell you that 1.6 million people can make a difference and the youth of the Church today are stronger than ever.

Pope Francis was in attendance at World Youth Day and he had a lot to say to the youth of the Church, but it was not only directed toward them. At the final mass on Sunday, Pope Francis spoke to the crowd and told them that "God demands of us real courage, the courage to be more powerful than evil, by loving everyone, even our enemies.People may judge you to be dreamers, because you believe in a new humanity, one that rejects hatred between peoples, one that refuses to see borders as barriers and can cherish its own traditions without being self-centered or small-minded,"

After hearing these words, I feel called to think about what our world looks like today. Our world is plagued with violence and murder. It is filled with terrorism and destruction. It is filled with war and poverty. But it is also filled with people who care about these issues. It is filled with the 1.6 million people from all over the world who attended World Youth Day. It is filled with hearts that are on fire for Jesus and hands that want to go out into the community and make a difference. It is filled with people from all nations who want peace and love in the hearts of all people today.

People of all races, nationalities, and backgrounds came together for a week with one thing in common. Most didn't speak the same language as the person next to them at Mass, but one common thing united everyone in Poland; love. The love for Jesus and the love for one another united the 1.6 million people in attendance. It united them there and it will continue to unite us all as they all return home and share what they learned with their family and friends

The Church is not dead and I see a revival coming with the amount of youth who are on fire with the love of God. I see awakenings and worship coming from all parts of the world and a cease of hatred. I pray that youth have the courage to go out and be powerful and loving to everyone, just as Pope Francis called us to be. The youth of the Church are on fire and are going out into the world to make it a better place and as a youth of the Catholic Church, I can feel the love and peacefulness of the Church today.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1955
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1195
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200410
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21019
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments