Youth Ministry

Urbi et Orbi Blessing

On March 27th, 2020 the Pope presided over a special Urbi et Orbi blessing at St. Peter's Basilica. You can read the text of the blessing and watch the re-broadcast here!

Quote from the prayer service:

• "Open us to hope, O Lord" (SHARE)

Pope Francis dedicates this year to cultivating hope and peace

At the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis urges us to live the year 2020 in gratitude for the blessing of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Read the full story here.

Quote from the talk:

• “Thus the year that begins will be a journey of hope and peace, not through words, but through daily gestures of dialogue, reconciliation and care for creation.” (SHARE)

TED TALK

On April 27, 2017 Pope Francis surprised the social media world this week with an inspiring TED Talk that has been virally bouncing around Facebook news feeds and Twitter timelines since its release. Watch the presentation here.

Quotes from the talk:

• "To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn't lock itself into darkness, that doesn't dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow."
• "The future is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognize the other as a 'you' and themselves as part of an 'us.' We all need each other." (SHARE)

The Pope Prays for the World (Video Resource)

Quote from the Video:

• "Let us all pray together for the sick, for the people who are suffering.
  We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas — we who are put to the test — and deliver us from every danger. O glorious and blessed Virgin.
  I thank all Christians, all the men and women of good will who pray at this moment, in unison, whichever religious tradition they belong to."

God gave us his Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t make us weak and fearful. Instead, the Spirit gives us power and love. He helps us control ourselves. -2 Tim 1:7 (SHARE)

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. -James 5:14-16

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -Romans 15:13 (SHARE)

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. -Deuteronomy 31:6 (SHARE)

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. -Micah 7:7 (SHARE)

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. -Psalm 130:5

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. -Psalm 42:11 (SHARE)

And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. -Job 11:18

But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. -Psalm 147:11

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 14:27

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. -Romans 5:1-5

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” -Revelation 21:4

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28

We are a People of Hope Flyer (SHARE)

Archbishop Gomez, President of the USCCB

"In this moment saints are being made, the Holy Father tells us, pointing to the quiet heroism of ordinary people carrying out their daily duties in extraordinary times, serving one another with kindness and patience. ‘How many people pray, offer and intercede for the good of all,’ our Holy Father observes. ‘Prayer and silent service: these are our winning weapons.’" Read the full statement here.

C.S. Lewis

“Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

Passion of the Christ

What did Jesus mean when he said see mother I make all things new? In this scene from the Passion of Christ Jesus tells our Mother Mary that He makes all things new. What does He mean by this? Jesus through His life-giving Passion makes all things new by giving us the chance of eternal life. ... All the things of this world will pass away only to be made new when Jesus returns again. Watch the scene here.