STABAT MATER IUXTA CRUCEM FILII
“At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.”
(Hymn Stabat Mater)
“My dear young people!
It always gives me great joy to address a special message to you
on the
occasion of the World Youth Day.
It is also a way to show you the extent of my affection for you. …
“For the 18th World Youth Day …
I have chosen a theme related
to the Year of the Rosary:
‘Behold, your mother!’” (Jn
19:27).
Before his death, Jesus entrusted to the apostle John
what
was most precious to him: his Mother, Mary.
(John Paul II, Message for 18th WYD, 13 April 2003, 1)
“At the foot of the Cross …
Mary received, as it were, a ‘second annunciation’:
‘Woman, behold your son!’” (Jn 19:26)
“The Son upon the Cross can pour out his suffering into his Mother’s
heart.
Every child who suffers experiences that need.
You too, my dear young people,
are
faced with suffering:
loneliness,
failures and disappointments in your personal lives;
difficulties
in inserting yourselves in the adult world and in professional life;
the
separations and losses in your families;
the
violence of war and the death of the innocent.
Know, however, that in difficult times, which everyone experiences,
you are not alone:
Like John at the foot of the cross,
Jesus also gives his Mother to
you
so
that she will comfort you with her tenderness.”
(John Paul II, Message for 18th WYD, 13 April 2003, 2)
“My dear young people,
you
are more or less the same age as John
and
you have the same desire to be with Jesus.
Today, it is you whom Jesus expressly asks to receive Mary
‘into
your home’
and to
welcome her as one of yours to learn from her, the one who
‘treasured
up all these, and reflected them in her heart’ (Lk 2:19)
that
inner disposition to listen
and
the attitude of humility and generosity that singled her out
as
God’s first collaborator in the work of salvation.
She will discharge her ministry as a mother
and train you and mold you
until
Christ is fully formed in you (cf Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 15)
(John Paul II, Message for 18th WYD, 13 April 2003, 3)
“This is why I now wish to repeat the motto
of my
episcopal and pontifical service: ‘Totus tuus’.
Throughout my life
I have experienced the loving
and forceful presence
of
the Mother of our Lord.
Mary accompanies me every day in the fulfillment of my mission
as
Successor of Peter.
Mary is Mother of divine grace,
because
she is the Mother of the Author of grace.
Entrust yourselves to her with complete confidence! …
Open up to the breath of the Spirit,
and you will become courageous apostles,
capable
of spreading the fire of charity
and
the light of truth all around you.
In Mary’s school,
you
will discover the specific commitment
that
Christ expects of you,
and
you will learn to put Christ first in your lives,
and
to direct your thoughts and actions to him.
Dear young people, you know that Christianity
is not
an opinion nor does it consist of empty words.
Christianity is Christ!
It is a Person, a Living Person!
To meet Jesus, to love him and make him loved:
this
is the Christian vocation. …
Mary teaches you to gaze on him with love,
for He
has loved us first.
She forms in you a disciple’s heart.”
(John Paul II, Message for 18th WYD, 13 April 2003, 4)
“To recite the Rosary means
to
learn to gaze on Jesus with his Mother’s eyes,
and to
love Jesus with his Mother’s heart.
Today, my dear young people,
I am also, in spirit, handing you the Rosary beads. …
Do not be ashamed to recite the Rosary alone,
while
you walk along the streets
to
school, to the university or to work,
or as
you commute by public transport.
Adopt the habit of reciting it among yourselves,
in
your groups, movements and associations.
Do not hesitate to suggest that it be recited at home
by
your parents and brothers and sisters,
because
it rekindles and strengthens the bonds between family members.
This prayer will help you to be
strong
in your faith,
constant
in charity,
joyful
and persevering in hope.
With Mary, …
you
will discover the joy and fruitfulness of the hidden life, ...
follow
Jesus along the streets of Palestine, …
accompany
Jesus in his passion and death, …
welcome
the festive Easter proclamation
and
the priceless gift of the Holy Spirit.”
(John Paul II, Message for 18th WYD, 13 April 2003, 5)
“My dear young people,
only Jesus knows
what is in your hearts and your deepest desires.
Only He, who has loved you to the end (cf Jn 13:1),
can
fulfill your aspirations.
His are … words that give meaning to life.
No one apart from Christ can give you true happiness.
By following the example of Mary,
you
should know how to give him your unconditional ‘yes’.
There is no place in your lives for selfishness or laziness.
Humanity is in urgent need of the witness
of free
and courageous young people
who
dare to go against the tide
and
proclaim with vigor and enthusiasm
their
personal faith in God, Lord and Savior. …
[T]his mission is not easy.
It becomes absolutely impossible
if one
counts only on oneself.
But ‘what is impossible with men is possible for God’ (Lk 18:27; 1:37).”
(John Paul II, Message for 18th WYD, 13 April 2003, 6)
ECCE MATER TUA
“If the winds of temptation rise against you,
if you
strike against the reefs of temptation,
look
at the star, call on Mary.
If you are tossed
by the
waves of pride, of ambition, or of envy,
look
at the star, call on Mary.
If anger, greed or impurity
throw
themselves violently against the ship of your soul,
look
at Mary.
If you are troubled by the memory of your sins,
confounded
at the ugliness of your conscience,
fearful
at the thought of judgment,
and
you start sinking in the bottomless pit of sadness
or
in the abyss of despair,
think
of Mary.
In danger, in affliction, in doubts,
think
of Mary, call on Mary.
Don’t let Mary be apart from your tongue,
don’t withdraw her from your heart;
and to obtain her intercession,
do not depart from the example of her virtue.
You will not go wrong
if you
follow her,
and not lose heart
if you
pray to her;
you will not be lost
if you
think of her.
If she takes you by the hand
you
will not fall;
if she protects you,
you
will never have cause to fear;
you will not grow weary
if she
guides you;
you will reach port safely
if she
aids you.”
(St Bernard, Homily on the Virgin Mother, 2)
“O thou Mother: fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord;
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt,
With the love of Christ my Lord.”
(Hymn Stabat Mater)
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First Edition 24 March 2005