World Youth Day and The Pilgrim Heart of Christ

26 July 2011 - 1:03pm — joyce

By Father Will Prospero, S.J.

On July 31 St. Mary’s World Youth Day pilgrimage to Spain formally begins. We have been preparing for this trip the past two years. Pilgrims will visit Avila (birthplace and convents of St. Theresa the Carmelite mystic, reformer and doctor of the Church) from Aug. 1-3, Javier Castle Jesuit Retreat Center (birthplace of St. Francis Xavier, one of the greatest missionaries whose statue is in our sanctuary) from Aug. 3-5, Loyola (birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus or Jesuits) from Aug. 5-7; then from Aug. 7-15 our group will divide into smaller groups for missionary trips all over Spain and Portugal ending in Madrid. Our pilgrims will be in Madrid from Aug. 15-22 for the World Youth Days there.

Religious pilgrimage helps Christians to depend on God. Left behind are the comforts and routine of home to trust in the power of God at work in people, places and events. In the Gospel for July 31 we hear about Jesus gathering and teaching the people in a deserted place. This is not a coincidence. Deserted places give the right ‘space’ for Jesus to do his work. This ‘space’ refers to the disposition of heart that Jesus can form and renew with his grace. Jesus cannot work with hearts hardened by routine and comfort. He works best when hearts are properly disposed to receiving what he wants to give, especially miracle bread. This is why times of adversity present unique opportunities for God to work. We are more desperate for Him, searching for meaning in the midst of sometimes very difficult circumstances. We bring this struggle to Holy Mass so our Lord can feed us.

We as a parish have been sacrificing and praying for this pilgrimage for some time. We are all joined together in this wonderful event. The graces of the pilgrimage are open to all who participate in it, that is, those who have prayed for it as well as those who have prayed for it or sacrificed for it through donations. Be assured you will all be remembered on the journey, that this will be a time of renewal in Christ, a time of abundant grace and blessing.