date: 03.08.2021.
The programme of the second day of the 32nd Youth Festival started this morning at 6 am on Apparition Hill with the Rosary. This year’s Youth Festival is being held with the theme “What good must I do” (Mt 19: 16). The Rosary on Apparition Hill, along with the youth from 54 countries, was led by Medjugorje parish priest Fr. Marinko Sakota and visionary Ivan Dragićević.
“It is so beautiful that the youth is back in Medjugorje, in such a great number, despite this situation. It is beautiful indeed and we are joyful. Personally, I feel fulfilled, joyful, grateful to God and Gospa”, said Fr. Marinko this morning, who opened the Youth Festival this morning at 10 am with prayer. This was the morning part of the programme held at the White Dome of St. James’ church. The catechesis was given by Msgr. Tadeusz Wojda, Archbishop of Gdanjsk in Poland.
As he reflected on the theme of this year’s Youth Festival “What good must I do?”, Archbishop Wojda told us that “the Lord wants you, youth, to be the instrument of spreading your light and hope, he wants to count on your courage, on your enthusiasm and then he asked them if they were ready for that.
“Here in Medjugorje talk to Mary about that, the Mother of Jesus. Tell her what is happening in your hearts, what is your heart fed on, how it lives and She would lead you to Her Son, Jesus. She would help you fully comprehend what is in your hearts, she would help you find the exact answer to the question: What good must I do?, concluded Archbishop Wojda.
After him, Sanja Barisic gave her testimony how she came from hell of addictions, problems she had in her life, Cenacolo community to the life she has now here in Medjugorje.
The afternoon programme started with another testimony, and Fr. Mathieu Rey, programme director of Radio Maria France spoke to the youth on his priestly calling and the path to Jesus. The Rosary followed and then the central evening Holy Mass in concelebration of 311 priests, led by Fr. Miljenko Steko, the Provincial of Herzegovina Franciscan Province, who said in his homily that when “secular people see such gatherings of the youth, they ask themselves in amazement: Why do these people gather in such great numbers? What gathered them here? What made them take such efforts on their back, to overcome so many obstacles and to come here? The world that lives as if God does not exist does not know these gatherings and cannot understand them as long as they remain the way they are”, and added that these youth know why they are here and what gathered them.
“You were gathered by the safety that God loves you immensely. He makes you capable of loving yourself. He, by the power of His love makes you brothers and sisters. He gathers you in one family of God’s people so strongly that this bond remains unbreakable and firm even when you depart after this encounter to the all ends of the world. He who knows that he is loved, he cannot remain passive. He responds in the same way – by love!”, said Fr. Miljenko in his homily and also reflected on the theme of this year’s Youth Festival – “What good must I do” (Mt 19, 16).
He said that the young man from the Gospel was wise in asking questions, but he was not wise enough to accept that and to bring into life Teacher’s wise answer, which would be “true and complete wisdom”.
“Besides that, he had the wrong perception on the Kingdom of God. He thought that man can either deserve or earn the eternal life in some part, as he earns or deserves earthly goods. Brothers and sisters, no! It was Jesus who earned it with His sacrifice on cross for all people of all times and He offers it to all people, but only those who accept conditions set by Jesus can obtain that. Medjugorje has been reminding us for four decades now here in the school of Our Lady about those conditions – to convert, to do penance, to pray perseveringly, to love, forgive, to willingly suffer, to carry one’s cross and to place at God’s disposal all we have and all we are, all of our abilities, strength and our lives”, said Fr. Miljenko and added that “Mary appears to Christians of all times as the one who is actively compassionate to sufferings and human miseries”.
“Let us recall how many young people who have gone astray, found their way back to God here in Medjugorje! How many dramatically changed their lives after the profound conversions of minds and hearts! It was here that they saw how much the world they came from was full of false splendour, false happiness and false ideals, and how horrifying and difficult this world was and how far it was from what Christ did for us. He redeemed us with His blood, with His grace He forgave us our sins and transgressions. This is where they felt His merciful gaze full of love, His forgiveness. He whispered to them, from the stations of Cross Mountain, he called on them with His forgiveness, and after that in tears they repented over their false vices and ideals. The liberation and a new life followed, they became the constructors of the new mankind! It was here that so many discovered the invitation to priesthood and religious life and they generously and without hesitation placed themselves at Lord’s disposal in consecrated life”, said Fr. Miljenko Steko and invited all to take this “opportunity for a new life”.
The Prayer with candles before the Cross followed after the Holy Mass. (PHOTO)
