Pope Francis Decides On World Youth Day Themes

Pope Francis has announced themes for the next three World Youth Days, marking the spiritual preparation that will lead to WYD Krakow in 2016.

The themes are based on the Beatitudes, which comes as no surprise after the Holy Father's words at WYD Rio:

In Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis asked the young people “with all my heart” to read the Beatitudes again and to make them the action plan for their lives: “Look, read the Beatitudes: that will do you good!”

So the theme for the 29^th World Youth Day, 2014 is: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3).

The theme for the 30^th World Youth Day, 2015 is: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Mt 5:8).

Finally, the theme for the 31^st World Youth Day in Krakow is: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Mt 5:7).

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us, and especially for your beloved young people, that they may live the Beatitudes with joy.

The feast of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Certainly, at a superficial glance, Frassati's lifestyle, that of a modern young man who was full of life, does not present anything out of the ordinary. This, however, is the originality of his virtue, which invites us to reflect upon it and impels us to imitate it. In him faith and daily events are harmoniously fused, so that adherence to the Gospel is translated into loving care for the poor and the needy in a continual crescendo until the very last days of the sickness which led to his death. His love for beauty and art, his passion for sports and mountains, his attention to society's problems did not inhibit his constant relationship with the Absolute. Entirely immersed in the mystery if God and totally dedicated to the constant service of his neighbor: thus we can sum up his earthly life!

…Today's celebration invites all of us to receive the message which Pier Giorgio Frassati is sending to the men and women of our day, but especially to you young people, who want to make a concrete contribution to the spiritual renewal of our world, which sometimes seems to be falling apart and wasting away because of a lack of ideals. By his example he proclaims that a life lived in Christ's Spirit, the Spirit of the Beatitudes, is "blessed", and that only the person who becomes a "man or woman of the Beatitudes" can succeed in communicating love and peace to others. He repeats that it is really worth giving up everything to serve the Lord. He testifies that holiness is possible for everyone, and that only the revolution of charity can enkindle the hope of a better future in the hearts of people.

               -Blessed John Paul II, Beatification Mass of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

In his Wednesday catechesis last week, Pope Benedict XVI said that deep joy is the fruit of imitating God’s Son. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was full of that joy, and he carried it with him as he served the poor, spent time with friends, and knelt in front of the altar. Like the “Man of the Beatitudes,” we should kindle our relationships with God and carry the fruits of that intimacy with us, wherever we go.

Blessed Pier Giorgio, Pray for Us!