On Sunday last, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Church also marked World Youth Day. At Slane, Co Meath, in the spirit of WYD, about three-thousand people attended an outdoor Mass on the Hill of Slane celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin, as part of the ‘Light the Fire’ festival of faith. During the day, a service of healing was led by Sister Briege McKenna, who was accompanied by Father Pablo Escriva de Romani. Dana Rosemary Scanlan also performed her new song Light the Fire, recalling how our patron Saint Patrick lit the fire of faith on Slane in 433AD. The following is an excerpt from Archbishop's Eamonn's fine homily.
'Today marks the conclusion of the near week-long 37th World Youth Day festival in Portugal. This global celebration of faith for young people is being attended by Pope Francis who, earlier in the week, visited and prayed at the Marian Shrine of Fatima. This morning the Holy Father will celebrate Mass at 9.00am in Lisbon for an estimated one million people.
As we go out from here to spread the Gospel, we must seek to convince others, but avoid engaging in pointless polemics which make lots of noise but fail to win hearts for Jesus and the Gospel. Yes, we must stand up for the faith; yes, we must confront falsehood and evil as Saint Patrick did. But the Gospel cannot be imposed; we must propose it with conviction and joy. The way to win souls these days will be ‘heart to heart’, by speaking the truth with love and attracting others to God by the example of our lives. Those who meet us must see that our lives are ‘transfigured’ by faith, hope and love. And then they will be inspired to inquire, ‘What is that treasure you have? You, believer, you live your life totally aware of this world with all its struggles and problems, but you point us to the transcendent, to our real homeland and destiny in life beyond this world, with God, in heaven; how is it that you have such meaning and purpose in your life? You radiate hope in this troubled world!’
6th August 2023
コメント