A message that sounds like a life-plan. At least this is what emerges from the first reactions of the youth who last night participated in the Vigil of prayer at Marienfeld, at 30 km from Cologne. The words of Benedict XVI impressed everyone for their "simplicity and depth". "An engaging speech, rich in indications says Juan, a Spaniard from Alicante that invite us to be true to the Gospel; something which at the present time seems to be most urgent. The pace of our lives as consumers is staggeringly fast, instead the Gospel invites us to rediscover the taste of true and essential things, with prayer coming first and foremost. Rediscovering what is essential in life is a step towards holiness". Also three young volunteers from Vienna, Maria, Hakim and Julia were struck by the invitation to holiness: "The presence of so many young people here in Cologne is a sign of commitment and good will by our peers to build a new world based on evangelical values. History teaches us that ideologies have had disastrous outcomes at times, leading to extremism and fundamentalism. What we can do to avoid all this is to live the Gospel in our daily lives and in our milieus. Doing small thing well is a sign of holiness". Two young people from Pavia, Stefano and Davide, agree: "We were impressed by the continuity with the words of John Paul II who often invited us to being holy. Hearing this invitation again pleased us immensely".
