WYD- Body,Mind and Soul experience Part 2

WORLD YOUTH DAY SERIES.

WYD- Body,Mind and Soul experience Part 2

Getting Your Soul ready for WYD

Have you decided to attend WYD?  Perhaps you are just considering it. It is not too early to start to prepare, since preparation of your soul and spiritual life is vital if you are wanting a soul experience during WYD.

Perhaps your motivation for going to WYD is to see the pope.  This is a great starting motivation.  However, you might like to consider that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ- he is Christ's representative on earth. So in a sense, to see the Pope is to see Christ. So naturally it is important to be as ready physically, emotionally and most importantly spiritually for this encounter.

Having been to two WYD- in Rome where there were over 2 million people,and in Sydney where there were over half a million  people,  you might think I am not going to see the pope, so what is the point. Despite the crowd,  it was a personal spiritual experience.  

Going to Rome was a dream come true, so just sitting on the ground in St Peter’s square in front of the basilica was indeed a memorial moment hearing the pope speak from the balcony.  I was in the eternal city at last.  In Sydney, when the Pope came to the pilgrims on the boat, it was as though he was walking on the water.  There was also the great delight of Our Holy Father being in our home country. I am sure Madrid pilgrims will feel that same pride and delight.

I want to encourage you to go to WYD, but  I ask you to consider how you might feel if you cannot see him for the crowd, cannot see him on the big screens for the flags waving  and cannot see him because you are behind  the kiosk building at the opening Mass or some other major event.

I say this only to make you aware and to save you first time WYD disappointment, especially if your motivation is soley to see the pope. I have seen the disappointment of some pilgrims, especially those who have saved their money and worked hard to get there.  Some feel initially cheated, and it can ruin their week for them.

My first challenge for this week is to ponder how you might feel. Is going to WYD to see the pope enough motivation for you?  You might like to make some notes in your WYD challenge journal.

However, the real challenge is to be spiritually prepared and this starts now.  Do not wait until you are packing your bags or getting on the plane.

So, what might you do to be spiritually prepared?  

·         First, take a stock take of your spiritual life- your prayer life, your attitude and regularity in attending Mass and Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation and your overall relationship with God.

·         Write a plan over the 12 months and decide on what area/s of your spiritual life need attention.

·         Decide on how you will give those areas attention  over the 12 months.  Seek out a spiritual director if necessary, to assist you.

I chose to give the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation a 'mighty shake up' - a total make over in fact in my life as my preparation.  I imagined I had never ever received the sacrament before, seeking out the catechism and other resources to help me re-learn the sacrament, as if I had never received it.   After all, I had been receiving this sacrament for over 40 years in much the same manner.  I chipped away each week at learning something more about the sacrament, and gradually with practice developed a different style which was far closer to being a spiritual experience with the merciful Christ.

I do not regret for one moment all the effort I put in during the preparation towards WYD because it helped me grow spiritually- at the time of preparation, during WYD and most importantly after WYD.  There is life after WYD.  More about that in another post.

So to all aspiring WYD pilgrims, please take seriously this wonderful opportunity and start preparing your soul for WYD this week.  

For all those like myself, who are interested but not attending WYD in Madrid, we can also assist you by our prayers and encouragement and support. We too can walk the journey with you and be prepared spiritually so that we can be with you in spirit at WYD.  Then it will be your turn to pray for us whilst you are there.

Let us not delay.  Start our preparation today.