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A teen’s World Youth Day journal
By Betsy Sava
Day 1 – Aug. 15: Visit Avila/ Valley of the Fallen
History is really everything. History teaches us how and where St. Teresa lived (Avila, Spain) and history explains conflicts surrounding certain cathedrals. Being Catholic is like history, too—explaining what was and who we are today.
Day 2 – Aug. 16: World Youth Day – Opening day
World Youth Day solidifies the meaning of “catholic.” Not only defining “catholic” as “universal”—reaching every person, no matter age, language location or time—catholic also means “here comes everybody!” and there they were.
Day 3 – Aug. 17: World Youth Day (Witnessed protests today)
To best defend the faith, you must first live the faith. There will be persecution no matter what; our best defense is to set the example.
Day 4 – Aug. 18: World Youth Day – Papal welcome
Sometimes language is a barrier; trying to read a map or travel through a crowd of thousands of people is nearly impossible without communication. But when everyone is gathered together as the body of Christ, it doesn’t matter what language you speak because we communicate without words.
Day 5 – Aug. 19: World Youth day – Way of the Cross
Yo soy adicto a Papá Benedicto! (“I’m devoted to Pope Benedict!”) He gives up everything to spend hours with us praying the Stations of the Cross.
Day 6 – Aug. 20: World Youth Day – Pilgrimage to vigil site/ Evening vigil
I can’t put this into words: a million people slept in a crowded field to see the pope. This 84-year-old man spent a rainy evening in adoration with us.
Day 7 – Aug. 21: World Youth Day – Closing Papal Mass
We were stinky, tired, dirty and muddy and we were all blessed by the pope. After camping out all night and waiting for the streets to be cleared, we had the most beautiful Mass I’ve ever been too.
Betsy Sava, 17, attends St. Mark Parish in Westminster. She was part of the Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Office’s World Youth Day group.
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