date: 10.07.2008.
The theme of the festival is, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
The logotype contains four basic elements:
1. Dove – symbol of the Holy Spirit
In the Gospels, the Holy Spirit manifested himself in the form of a dove when Jesus was baptized on the river Jordan. The evangelist Matthew is saying: “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove” (Mt 3:16). Mark (1:10), Luke (3:21-22) and John (1:32) are saying the same in similar words. With his grace, the Holy Spirit is wakening our faith and bringing a new life which consists in “knowing the Father, and the One that the Father sent, Jesus Christ”. The Holy Spirit enlightens us, dwells in us as in a temple, sanctifies us for a dwelling place for God, and he is making all things new. The Holy Spirit is gathering the Church, awakening in our hearts faith in Jesus Christ, by whose word he is gathering us into a community.
2. The Blessed Virgin Mary
Jesus entrusted his Mother Mary to us as a special gift of his love, with the words, “Women, behold your son!”, and to John he said, “Behold your mother” (Jn 19:26), and so he entrusted all of us to Mary. Mary is the Mother of the Church and our mother. The Blessed Virgin Mary presented herself in Medjugorje as the Queen of Peace.
3. The Church
The Church is a place where the entire sacramental life is taking place. The sacraments are effective signs of grace, established by Christ and entrusted to the Church, and they confer to us the divine life (CCC 1131). Those who receive them, are being healed and transformed by the Holy Spirit, and conformed to the Son of God.
4. Youth
In Medjugorje, it is clearly seen, especially during the Youth Festival, that the Church is really the bride: young, beautiful and joyful. Seven young people holding hands represent the Church from the whole world united in the Holy Spirit.
