Moved by the cross” “

“Kreuzbewegt” (“moved by the Cross”). The WYD Cross through Germany, on the road of reconciliation from 4 April 2004 to 21 August 2005″: that’s the title of the handbook on the World Youth Day Cross published by the German Bishops’ Conference in collaboration with the WYD office in Cologne. The handbook is the result of the recommendations made by the “WYD Cross” work group, which met, from April to September 2003. The 115-page booklet is subdivided into various chapters. Its declared aim is to contribute to the “preparations for the reception and handing over of the Cross” in its pilgrimage through Germany, make “proposals” on how this should take place, and “arouse interest in preparing for this event”. KEYWORD: rECONCILIATION. The central significance of the pilgrimage of the Cross is already explained in the preface to the booklet: “This Cross, grasped and carried by thousands of young people, is the sign of a reconciliation that embraces the whole world, given to us by the Crucified Lord with his arms outstretched”, writes Bishop Frank-Josef Bode of Osnabrück, chairman of the Commission for youth ministry of the Bishops’ Conference. Msgr. Bode expresses the hope that “this Cross will move as many young people as possible to continue walking at Christ’s side and rediscover this path for ever. I have good grounds for hoping so, – he adds – thanks to the meetings with this Cross that have deeply touched me”. Bishop Felix Genn of Essen and member of the Commission for youth ministry of the Bishops’ Conference, sees in the pilgrimage of the Cross through Germany “an obligation and a challenge to support not only this Cross, but also the many invisible crosses that people are forced to bear. And how much reconciliation there will be, if the young choose next year to participate in this pilgrimage, which is expressly intended to be a pilgrimage of reconciliation!”. The booklet identifies four fundamental elements of the pilgrimage of reconciliation: “Cross, pilgrimage, reconciliation and Mary” – concepts that play “a central role in the context of the preparations for the 20th WYD in Cologne”. PILGRIMAGE THROUGH THE WORLD. In reviewing the most important events in the history of the WYD Cross, the booklet describes the pilgrimage made by the Cross through the world and in particular the journey that the Cross is currently making in its way towards Cologne: a journey that began on Palm Sunday 2003 and that will take it through 26 European countries, before it arrives in Berlin on 4 April 2004. And only in recent days the news has been confirmed that, for the first time in history, the Cross will be received in a parliament house: the German Bundestag in Berlin. the cross in faith and in life. Apart from the most disparate information and curiosities about the WYD Cross, the handbook contains numerous practical suggestions about the organization of the ceremonies for the reception and handing over the Cross in its various German stages. Liturgical recommendations and suggestions for meditation are also included, ranging from hymns to readings, from prayers to ideas for discussions in school classes and workshops, and even practical suggestions for the relief of the needy, bearing in mind the meaning and power of the Cross. The official anthem of the pilgrimage of the Cross is also presented. “Kreuzbewegt” also contains the contributions and testimonies of the young with regard to the WYD Cross and, more generally, with regard to the theme of the Cross and human suffering. An unique characteristic of the handbook is the possibility for its “updating” by the young, who can send their own thoughts and ideas to the official website of the pilgrimage of the Cross (www.kreuzbewegt.de). BEYOND WYD. Apart from the event in itself, the pilgrimage of the Cross and WYD are an occasion to give an impulse to the youth ministry of the host country. “The WYD Cross, the meetings in the dioceses, and the pilgrimage before the start of WYD, will help us to define the youth ministry in the years ahead on the basis of the Word of God thanks to self-dedication and contemplation”, writes Father Manfred Entrich of the Bishops’ Conference, “because the time has come to speak about God”.