An excerpt of the theme for World Youth Day (WYD) 2013 in
Rio de Janeiro in Brazil by Benedict XVI
Before
all else, I invite you once more to take part in this important event. The
celebrated statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking that beautiful Brazilian
city will be an eloquent symbol for us. Christ’s open arms are a sign of his
willingness to embrace all those who come to him, and his heart represents his
immense love for everyone and for each of you. Let yourselves be drawn to
Christ! Experience this encounter along with all the other young people who
will converge on Rio for the next World Youth Day! Accept Christ’s love and you
will be the witnesses so needed by our world.
I
invite you to prepare for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro by meditating even
now on the theme of the meeting: “Go and make disciples of all nations!” (cf.
Mt 28:19). This is the great missionary mandate that Christ gave the whole
Church, and today, two thousand years later, it remains as urgent as ever. This
mandate should resound powerfully in your hearts. The year of preparation for
the gathering in Rio coincides with the Year of Faith, which began with the
Synod of Bishops devoted to “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the
Christian Faith”. I am happy that you too, dear young people, are involved in
this missionary outreach on the part of the whole Church. To make Christ known
is the most precious gift that you can give to others […]
What
does it mean to be a missionary? Above all, it means being a disciple of
Christ. It means listening ever anew to the invitation to follow him and look
to him: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29). A
disciple is a person attentive to Jesus’ word (cf. Lk10:39), someone who
acknowledges that Jesus is the Teacher who has loved us so much that he gave
his life for us. Each one of you, therefore, should let yourself be shaped by
God’s word every day. This will make you friends of the Lord Jesus and enable
you to lead other young people to friendship with him […]
May
Our Lady, Star of the New Evangelization, whom we also invoke under the titles
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, accompany each of you in your mission as a witness to
God’s love!
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