Dear friends,

As we celebrate Mass here on Sunday, the Mass for World Youth Day in Brazil with millions of participants will have already finished. The grace of that event is sure to resound throughout the world as young people return to their home parishes from their experience of the Catholic Church which is truly unique and universal. Each time the Holy Father is present the potential for something amazing to happen is great. 

I know this from being in the presence of Blessed John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Both men exuded Christ in their person. They truly personified the role they have as Vicar of Christ on earth, as does each and every successor of St. Peter, by virtue of their office. Some have exemplified that role to a greater degree and have become saints (as JPII is shortly going to be canonized we are so blessed to have his example in our time). It is funny how the secular media speaks of the Church and of our Holy Father. I read last week about how BXVI was not as charismatic or affable as JPII, but he consistently drew larger crowds than his successor and at each of those gatherings made a deep impact and impression on those gathered to see him, their shepherd. Each pope is different, and Pope Francis has shown us a whole new way of connecting with and being present to the world, of which he is now the shepherd. 

All three pontiffs have shown us a deep love and devotion to Our Lady which is an essential part of our relationship with her Son, Jesus. Pope Francis opened the festivities this week with a visit to the huge Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, which holds 45,000 people, and is the most visited shrine of Our Lady in the world (it’s hard to believe that it surpasses Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe). He said to the people there and he says to us: 

When the Church looks for Jesus, she always knocks at his Mother’s door and asks: “Show us Jesus”. It is from Mary that the Church learns true discipleship. That is why the Church always goes out on mission in the footsteps of Mary.

Today, looking forward to the World Youth Day which has brought me to Brazil, I too come to knock on the door of the house of Mary – who loved and raised Jesus – that she may help all of us, pastors of God’s people, parents and educators, to pass on to our young people the values that can help them build a nation and a world which are more just, united and fraternal. For this reason I would like to speak of three simple attitudes: hopefulness, openness to being surprised by God, and living in joy.

He went on to explain how we learn these attitudes from Our Lady. She is our most sure guide to Jesus, and she is the most perfect example of what it means to be a disciple. The week before last we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I enrolled nearly 500 people in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady. A sign of her maternal love and protection for her children, the scapular is a wonderful reminder and sign of Our Lady’s constant presence with us her children. She wants to help each of us trust in the plan the God has for us, giving us hope that no one can take away. With that hope, we are always open and looking for how God is going to work in our lives day by day. Attentive to God’s action we see Him at work and we are filled with joy to know how much he loves each and every one of His children.

Pax,

Fr. Jack D. Shrum