Act1v8d: My World Youth Day 2008 Experience

Act1v8 refers to WYD 08's theme taken from "ACT"s "1 V"erse" 8":

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." 

It’s been a year since World Youth Day 2008. The chants, cheers, greetings and fanfare of those days have died down, but their memories still find echo in the minds and hearts of the participants.

Memorable experiences

With a bishop from US after the catechesis.

• Walking along the streets of Sydney, chanting with thousands of other pilgrims: “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie… Oi, oi, oi”. The youth of the world seems to be waking up the slumbering church in Australia. 
• Seeing the flags of China and other Middle East countries in the pilgrim walks. It encouraged praying for the Church in those countries where Christianity is a minority. 
• Singing the WYD theme song, in a dark night dotted by the lights of the candles held by the pilgrims. It enkindled in the hearts of many a great hope for the church. 
• Seeing many people praying in a large tent where the Blessed Sacrament is kept and seeing other people lining up for confession outside and inside the tent. It showed that the World Youth Day is not just the Christian version of the Woodstock; conversions happen in this massive gathering. 
• Praying the Way of the Cross. The whole thing was very moving. The related passages from the Bible were read as the words were flashed to widescreens; important words and phrases animated as they were being read; the scene was re-enacted by actors; prayerful songs were played. 
• Being surrounded by great friends and the youth of the world and realizing it's cool to practice your faith 
• Seeing how one man can unite so many people from all walks of life, race, color and nationality. People see in this man Christ's representative on earth, Il dolce Cristo In terra, the sweet Christ on earth. 

Excerpts from the addresses and messages of Pope Benedict XVI during the World Youth Day 2008

• Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? How are you using the gifts you have been given…? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make? 
• God is with us in the reality of life, not the fantasy! It is embrace, not escape, that we seek! 
• Inspired by the insights of Saint Augustine: let unifying love be your measure; abiding love your challenge; self-giving love your mission! 
• In the end, life is not about accumulation. It is much more than success. 
• We have to let God’s love break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. 
• The Church also needs this renewal! She needs your faith, your idealism and your generosity, so that she can always be young in the Spirit 
• Do not be afraid to say ‘yes’ to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others.