Prayer for World Youth Day
August 2005
Cologne, Germany

The theme of the Youth Day is “We Have Come to Adore Him.” see www.wyd2005.org.

Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, You became man, to give us a life in abundance. You promised to remain with Your Church until the end of time. Then Your kingdom will come: a new heaven and earth full of love, justice and peace.

This is our hope, our foundation. Thanks be to You. Lord, we pray: Bless the young people around the world. Reveal Yourself to those who are in search of You. Awake the non-believers. Strengthen the faith of those who confess You. Let them continuously search for You like the three Wise Men from the East. Make them architects of a new civilization of love and witnesses of hope for the whole world. Through them may You be with those who suffer from hunger, war and violence. Inspire those who are contributing to the World Youth Day 2005.

May they serve Your kingdom with the power of their faith and their love and may they welcome their brothers and sisters from all over the world with open hearts. Lord, You gave us Mary as our mother. Let her be our advocate for this World Youth Day. May it become a celebration of faith. Bless Your Church with new strength in these days, so that it can become a credible witness for You.

We ask this through our Lord and God, living in the unity of the Father and the Holy Spirit, reigning forever and ever. Amen.

POPE JOHN PAUL II SPEAKS TO THE YOUTH - REJECT THE EVILS OF SEX AND PLEASURE
Pope John Paul II exhorted youth to follow a path of chastity, saying that human beings are "not fulfilled by following the impulses of pleasure".

Maria Goretti, an 11-year-old from Nettuno, a town south of Rome, died July 6, 1902, after trying to fend off an attack by Alessandro Serenelli, who tried to rape her. At her canonization on June 24, 1950, Pope Pius XII described her as a “little and gentle martyr of purity.”

"St. Maria Goretti is an example to the new generation...’ Her martyrdom reminds us that a human being is not fulfilled by following the impulses of pleasure but by living life in love and responsibility," he said."Don't allow the culture of having and of pleasure to lull your consciences to sleep," he advised the young. "Be alert and vigilant guards."


St. Maria Goretti,
Model of Holiness

“May St. Maria Goretti help all young people to experience the beauty and joy of the evangelical beatitude: ‘Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God,’” he said. “Purity of heart, like every virtue, calls for daily training of the will and constant interior discipline. It requires, above all, assiduous recourse to God in prayer.” - Pope John Paul II

I am only a youth (Jeremiah 1:6-8)
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." 7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. 8* Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."