Forever young.Two years ago I was dismayed to learn that I was no longer young. I was reading a brochure for a Catholic campus ministry Catholic Campus Ministry is a term used to describe an organization at a college or university that is the presence of the Roman Catholic Church on campus. Other names for Catholic Campus Ministry may include Newman Club, Newman Apostolate, Cardinal Newman Society, or Catholic Student , and there it was in black and white: youth ended after 35. Having just turned 36, I was disconcerted dis·con·cert tr.v. dis·con·cert·ed, dis·con·cert·ing, dis·con·certs 1. To upset the self-possession of; ruffle. See Synonyms at embarrass. 2. to realize I'd been nudged into the ranks of the officially middle-aged. By the time the promotion began for World Youth Day, I'd resigned myself to knowing that if I went, it would be as a chaperon chap·er·on or chap·er·one n. 1. A person, especially an older or married woman, who accompanies a young unmarried woman in public. 2. An older person who attends and supervises a social gathering for young people. , not a participant. However, since my own children weren't old enough to attend, we soon abandoned thoughts of trekking across Canada for the great event. We were still excited about watching WYD a. 1. Wide. on television, despite the CBC's collective ignorance of all things religious, and the sometimes inane commentary from anchorman Peter Mansbridge. It was interesting to follow the "age" theme throughout the week. Of course, much was made of the Holy Father's advanced years and his physical condition. Hence all the preliminary hoopla hoop·la n. Informal 1. a. Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement. b. Extravagant publicity: The new sedan was introduced to the public with much hoopla. 2. : "Will he show?" "If he doesn't, will anyone come to World Youth Day?" When Pope John Paul Pope John Paul is the name of two Popes of the Roman Catholic Church:
As for the pilgrims, the CBC (1) (Cell Broadcast Center) See cell broadcast. (2) (Cipher Block Chaining) In cryptography, a mode of operation that combines the ciphertext of one block with the plaintext of the next block. seemed intent on proving (at least to their own satisfaction) that all these boisterous young people couldn't possibly have come to WYD for religious reasons. As the journalists mingled with the crowds, some of them seemed to be on the lookout for in search of; looking for. See also: Lookout any air-headed teens willing to admit that they were just there for a good time. "How important is it that you actually see the pope?" they queried. One reporter even said to a group of young people, "This looks like a party," as if to imply that there was something inherently incongruous about strong religious faith and joyful celebration. I guess she hasn't been to Mass lately. When interviewed, some pilgrims were eloquent in their responses; others were less so, but everyone showed an enthusiasm which demonstrated vibrant faith and great love for the Pope and the Church. This must have baffled the sceptical middle-aged media folk, long-time proponents of Canada's official atheism. Score two for the Holy Father. It was also interesting to see the various "over-35" dignitaries, both clerical and political, greet the Holy Father. Some looked awkward; others, politely indifferent; yet others, almost condescending. Even those who showed genuine respect looked restrained, with their little nods and handshakes. It was the young people who wept, fell to their knees, and kissed the pontiff's hands, awestruck before the presence of Christ in this holy man. It was youth who chanted "The Pope is young!" in loving objection to the Holy Father's comment on being "old and a little tired" in his homily at Sunday's papal mass. It was a refreshing and truthful antidote to the incessant harping of the secular media and various dissenters dissenters: see nonconformists. . The latter enjoyed ample air time on the main networks during WYD (this is still pluralistic Canada, after all). One of their slogans has become almost a cliche: "The Church should join the 21st century." (In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , change her teaching on abortion, homosexuality, contraception, etc. for the sake of a few angry and guilt-ridden North American ex-Catholics. The case of "Alpha & Omega v. the Baby Boomers.") They evidently fail to realize that our hedonistic society does not need to be "joined," so much as challenged to rise above and beyond itself. Not only has the Church already embraced the 21st century, but she has (as Christ's representative on earth) anticipated and redeemed it. Far from being out of step, the Holy Father is way, way ahead of the pack. He's leading us out of the mire of post-modern nihilism nihilism (nī`əlĭzəm), theory of revolution popular among Russian extremists until the fall of the czarist government (1917); the theory was given its name by Ivan Turgenev in his novel Fathers and Sons (1861). and despair into the clarity of Truth, which transcends all time and space. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." Young Catholics of the world have certainly embraced the message. When will the rest of us 'get it'? World Youth Day in Toronto proved many things to me, not the least of which was that age is just a state of mind. The Holy Father showed us his eternal youth, and the young showed us the wisdom of the ages. The Church is alive. Long live our Papa! Mariette Ulrich is the mother of six girls and writes from Scott, SK. Her column appears every other month. |
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