Loreto: Pope signs Apostolic
Exhortation to young people
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| Pope Francis signs his post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation (ANSA) |
Pope Francis signs his post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation to
young people, entitled “Christ lives”, during his pastoral visit to Loreto on Monday.
By John Waters
On the Feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis signed his
Apostolic Exhortation for the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational
Discernment.
“Christus vivit – Christ lives” is a letter to
the world’s young people that represents the fruit of the October Synod. The
Vatican will release the full text in the near future.
The Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto contains the walls
of what tradition holds to be the house in which the Virgin Mary lived when the
Angel Gabriel announced that she was to give birth to Jesus.
During his visit to Loreto, Pope Francis spoke about the
Exhortation and explained that there are 3 sections to the document, which
mirror 3 phases of the Synod process. To explain this further, he outlined this
process whilst referencing the story of the Annunciation.
Listening
“The first moment, that of listening, is
manifested by the words of the angel: ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.’ It is
always God who takes the initiative in calling people to follow Him”, said the
Pope.
He went on to explain that young people need to find moments
of quiet and stillness to listen to God’s call and that God’s voice will not be
heard amongst noise and agitation.
Instead, quiet and stillness will help young people discover
that “His plan for our personal and social life is not perceived by remaining
on the surface, but by descending to a deeper level, where moral and spiritual
forces act. It is there that Mary invites young people to come down and tune in
to God’s action.”
Discernment
Then comes the phase of discernment, which is “expressed in
Mary’s words: ‘How will this happen?’ Mary does not doubt; her question is not
a lack of faith; on the contrary, she expresses her own desire to discover
God’s ‘surprises’. In her there is attention to grasping all the demands of
God’s plan for her life, to knowing it in its facets, to make one’s
collaboration more responsible and complete.”
Pope Francis said this is the proper attitude with which to
follow God’s call in our lives, since this attitude allows people to discover
not only what God’s plan is for their lives, but also how God’s grace will help
them to develop the skills and abilities needed to live out his call for them.
Decision
“Decision is the third step that characterizes every Christian
vocation, and it is made explicit by Mary’s response to the angel: ‘Let it be
done to me according to your word.’ Her ‘yes’ to God’s plan of salvation,
implemented by means of the Incarnation, is the handing over to Him of her
whole life. It is the ‘yes’ of full trust and total openness to God’s will,”
said the Pope.
He highlighted the Virgin Mary as the model Christian
disciple and suggested that today’s young people try to imitate her example as
they search for God’s plan for their lives.
The Pope pointed out that Mary had lived a multitude of
family relationships.
She was a daughter, a fiancée, a bride and a mother, so all
young people, no matter what their role in life and calling from God, can find
an example and inspiration in her.
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