WYD Series:The journey of the Cross

WYD SERIES:

World Youth Day Cross: 

The journey of the Cross

In life we are on a journey, we are all pilgrims on a journey- our destination- well hopefully Heaven for us all.

When we attend a WYD, we have the wonderful opportunity to venerate the cross- the cross designated by the late Pope John Paul 11 for this purpose which has travelled the world since the inception of WYD.  We also have the opportunity to embrace the cross in our lives. The cross in our lives has all different forms, but in another sense, it is always the shape of the cross because it meets and challenges us in our heart- the core of our being.

 

It is important to reflect on what the Cross means to you especially if you are going to WYD. As a pilgrim of WYD, as part of your spiritual preparation, you will have the opportunity to follow the journey of the Cross, and also during the week to venerate the cross. If you a pilgrim of the host country, you have the wonderful opportunity to follow the Cross journey in your own country.

 

 

I remember the wonderful Mass we had at the Cathedral during Days in the Diocese, held in the April of 2008 when the Cross was travelling Melbourne.  The entry of the Cross into the Cathedral, carried by many different groups brought home the power of the cross to draw us together.  The glorious Mass was followed by veneration of the Cross- a packed Cathedral, and yet you would have heard a pin drop- the silence and reverence was truly awesome.

I still treasure that quiet time that I had during the early hours of the morning, when the cross was in a neighbouring parish. I remember too the spiritual excitement when it is was time for it to move to its next venue and the breakfast that was provided by the host parish.

 

What is important to realise though, the journey of the cross in the host nation brings it also together since the cross journeys for 12 months.  What I experienced at that time in 2008 was the fact that when the Cross was finally brought into the stadium in Sydney, there was a sense of completion of the journey, but a new journey was about to begin. I think that is true of our crosses in life also- the cross can be a hindrance, be uncomfortable, be a nuisance to us, but if we stay the course of the journey, the cross also helps to grow stronger and embrace Christ in a deeper way. 

 

So, for those pilgrims preparing for WYD, reflect on the meaning of the cross for you- think of your crosses in your life and what ones may be looming ahead. Then as you venerate the cross, take these with you, and the crosses of others that you know. 

For those pilgrims reading this post, I hope you will venerate the cross for me and take my crosses with you to lay there beside yours in Christ. It is same cross that many past WYD pilgrims have venerated. It is the one I venerated for you- all future WYD pilgrims back in 2008.