In a world where the focus is on the "instantaneous" and where life is reduced to a whirl of fragmented experiences" only Christ is "the One who can show us the way of life". In a nutshell this is what Msgr. Giuseppe Betori said today during Hold Mass for the solemn occasion of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated in the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Cologne, where the official opening of the 20th World Youth Day will take place tomorrow, upon completion of the initial phase which envisaged twinning initiatives with the German dioceses. "Nothing of the past seems to remain and nothing of the present seems to last into the future stated the Secretary General of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) we need steadfast points of reference in order not to fall prey of relativism. And such points of reference cannot come from within ourselves. Solidity can only come from those who dominate history. Jesus is the One who can show us the way of life, the life that was perfectly accomplished by His Mother". And it is precisely the Mother of God "who tells us that we can hope. She says it to the poor who suffer, to the youth whose expectations never seem to be met, to those who have given up hope of reaching the truth, to those who have stopped feeling love". "Here in Cologne, many young people have come from all over the world to gather around Benedict XVI to strengthen their faith in this hope for life. They are led by the words of the Magi, "We have come to worship Him". " And again, today he concluded – Mary points to Jesus because in Him we recognize the hope of our life, and only He will give us eternal life. Let Mary guide us".
