WYD" "
An invitation to the young not to be ashamed “of reciting the Rosary to themselves, as they go to school, to university or to work” and to be at the same time peacemakers, is made by John Paul II in his Message for the 18th World Youth Day (Palm Sunday, 13 April 2003) which this year and in 2004 will be celebrated in the local Churches, while awaiting the world meeting in Cologne (Germany) in 2005. The Pope exhorts the young to entrust themselves to Mary, especially in moments of suffering, also because the theme chosen for this year’s Day is closely linked with the Year of the Rosary: “Behold, your mother!” (Jn 19:27): “You too, dear young people, are confronted by suffering: the loneliness, failures and disappointments of your personal life; the difficulties of insertion in the world of adults and in professional life; the separations and mourning in your families, the violence of wars and the death of the innocent. Know, however, that in difficult moments, which nobody’s life is without, you are not alone” because Mary is there to comfort you “with her tenderness”. “Dear young people, you know that Christianity is not an opinion and does not consist in vain words”, says the Pope in his message: “Christianity is Christ!”, so “meeting Jesus, loving him and leading others to love him” is “the Christian vocation” and Mary helps us “to enter into a truer and more personal relation with Jesus”. Hence the invitation to recite the Rosary: “Don’t be ashamed of reciting the Rosary to yourself, as you go to school, to university or to work, on the street or on public transport declares John Paul II ; get into the habit of reciting it among yourselves, in your groups, movements and associations; do not hesitate to recite it at home, to your parents and to your brothers and sisters, since it revives and reinforces the bonds between family members”. Lastly the Pope appeals to the young to become peacemakers: “In this time threatened by violence, hatred and war, devote yourself to promoting peace, justice and brotherhood”.
