Christ is Alive: Weekly Message for 01-14-2020

Dear Digital Pilgrim in Christ, 

At the beginning of this new year, we celebrate the feast of the young martyr, St. Agnes, a shining example of what happens when a young person has Jesus at the center of her life. 

“You, dear young people, are called to be light in the dark night experienced by so many of your friends who do not yet know the joy of new life in Jesus.”   – Pope Francis

The future of the Church, and of society in a way, depends to a large extent on the quality and the formation of our younger generations. If we want to contribute to a promising future in the Church and the world, we need to invest in our young people. 

Young people are and always have been a source of hope for the future.  The Church knows this and each year celebrates “World Youth Day” at a local level and every two or three years at an international gathering with the pope. This year will mark the 35th World Youth Day with the theme chosen from Luke 7:14.  “Young men and women, I say to you, arise!”.

Speaking to the youth earlier in the year, Pope Francis told them that like the disciples of Emmaus, who upon recognizing the resurrected Christ set out on a journey to announce what they witnessed, today’s young people are “called to bring the light of Christ into the darkness of the world…The more we bring him to others, the more we will feel his presence in our lives.”

Jesus lit a fire in the hearts of the disciples. “As you know, a fire, if it has not been put out, if it has not turned into ashes, has to spread, so feed the fire of Christ burning in your hearts, and let it spread!”- Pope Francis

This is exactly what our young saint, St. Agnes witnessed by her very life. How are we sharing the light of Christ with the young people in our lives? 

Here are 5 ways we here at RCSpirituality.org want to help our young people make Christ the center of their lives:

RETREAT GUIDES

Faithful Until Death: A Retreat Guide on Heroic Youth

Called and Chosen: A Retreat Guide on the Calling of St. Matthew

UNCLE EDDY  Navigating today’s world is tough and all of us could use a nudge in the right direction. Figuring out the right path to take at work, college or with friends is not always easy. Before making some of those big (or small) decisions, see what Uncle Eddy has to say. A pseudonym for Fr. John Bartunek, LC, Uncle Eddy, is an imaginary uncle who has been imprisoned for the Catholic Faith. Pointing toward the lives of the saints he sends a daily email with spiritual advice to his many imaginary nieces and nephews. 

STUDY CIRCLE GUIDE A free study circle guide download for a small group reflection on the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: Christ is Alive  which is addressed to young people. Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. 

ASK A PRIEST Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. Ask a Priest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Search any topic or submit a question to AskAPriest@rcspirituality.org to receive a personal response from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

SPIRITUAL SMOOTHIES These short videos, two to three minutes long, include small excerpts from the growing library of our longer, Retreat Guide videos. We decided to create these bite-sized videos for the same reason that nutritionists invented smoothies. Sometimes you just don’t have time for a full meal, but you need something tasty and nutritious to keep you going. It’s our hope that Spiritual Smoothies will be little reminders and inspirations, quick and easy to watch, but filled with spiritual nutrition.

As we join our hearts and minds praying during the 40 days for Life leading up to the March for Life, I encourage you to take some time to pray through these resources…. maybe even with your own children or a group of young people.  Let Christ’s vision of a faith-filled young life color your imagination and inspire you to renewed hope as we continue forward on our own faith journeys.

With the assurance of my prayers. 

God bless you!

Lucy Honner, CRC
Director, RCSpirituality Center
lucy@rcspirituality.org