The New Age of the Holy Spirit

28-07-2008

ROME, JULY 27, 2008 (Zenit.org).- In a message to World Youth Day pilgrims, published as Benedict XVI arrived in Sydney, Australia, the Pontiff quoted a saying attributed to St. Augustine: "If you wish to remain young, seek Christ."

The quote was appropriate not only for the young people awaiting the Pope's arrival, but for everyone, including the increasingly secular societies of the West that are often hostile to Christ's message.

Secularism is a problem, says Paul Kelly, editor-at-large of The Australian, a Sydney-based newspaper.

In a commentary published just prior to the start of World Youth Day, Kelly observed that secularism not only wishes to restrict religion to a strictly private affair, but also seeks "the creation of atheism as the de facto established religion to drive real religion from the public domain."

This theme was, in fact, one that kept coming up throughout the youth event.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in his welcoming speech to the pilgrims at the opening Mass of World Youth Day on July 15, gave what was a strikingly overt recognition by a political leader of the importance of Christianity.

Rudd stated: "Some say there is no place for faith in the 21st century. I say they are wrong. Some say that faith is the enemy of reason; I say, also they are wrong."

The prime minister went on to praise Christianity's role in developing education and providing for the poor: "And I say this, that Christianity has been an overwhelming force for good in the world."

A better world

The challenge to religion's role in the world was a topic in Benedict's XVI homily during the dedication of the altar of St. Mary's Cathedral on July 19. "In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God's name is passed over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith is shunned in the public square," he noted.

In other addresses the Pope made sure to underline the positive contribution made by religion and believers. In his address during the welcoming ceremony at Government House on July 17 he spoke about how the pilgrims are gathered in order to hear the word of God, and to learn more about their Christian faith.

This is, however, just the beginning. He added: "They are eager to take part in an event which brings into focus the high ideals that inspire them, and they return home filled with hope and renewed in their resolve to contribute to the building of a better world."

In his address, the Holy Father also recalled the theme of the Holy Spirit chosen for World Youth Day: "You Shall Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You, and You Shall Be My Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth" (Acts 1:9).

The Holy Spirit, Benedict XVI observed, will give wisdom so that young people will know which path to choose, and also courage so that they can follow it.

The Pope made continual references to this theme of the Holy Spirit during his speeches in following days, culminating in the homily during the closing Mass on Sunday, July 20, at Randwick Racecourse.

The power of the Holy Spirit that is invoked is the power of God's life, Benedict XVI explained. It is the power of creation, the power that raised Jesus from the dead, and the power that leads us to the Kingdom of God.

The Pope also evoked a concept often appropriated in past years by forms of alternative religion, that of a new age. "In today's Gospel, Jesus proclaims that a new age has begun, in which the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity," the Holy Father commented.

Thus, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not only a force for enlightenment and consolation, but also is a power for the creation of a new world, the Pope explained.

"Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished -- not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed," he said.

In this new age, the Pontiff continued, love will not be greedy or egoistic, but pure and free. It will be a new age in which people are open to others and will radiate joy and beauty -- a new age of hope that liberates people from both shallowness and apathy.

Challenge

In his homily the Pope also made it clear that he was not only offering hope and comfort to young people, but was also challenging them to help construct this new age: "Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity."

Benedict XVI also launched a series of questions to the young people gathered at the Mass. He asked them what they would be leaving to the next generation, and how well they would use the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit.

He asked, "Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely conceived freedom?"

This challenge to young people was also a theme in the Pontiff's address the previous night during the vigil. The Pope spoke about what it meant to be a witness in a world that he described as fragile and weakened by wounds.

Many of these wounds, Benedict XVI commented, are due to the ill effects of relativism that "fails to see the whole picture," because it ignores the principles "which enable us to live and flourish in unity, order and harmony."

Key to seeing the whole picture is opening ourselves up to the action of the Holy Spirit that will maintain us in union with Christ and the Church. This unity is of the essence of the Holy Spirit, the Pope explained, given that what is characteristic of the Holy Spirit is the sharing by the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit is also love and self-giving, Benedict XVI continued. "Let unifying love be your measure; abiding love your challenge; self-giving love your mission!"

Fruits

Prior to the commencement of World Youth Day a large number of press reports in the Australian media had concentrated on the negative aspects of the event, such as its cost and the disruption to normal city life.

Once the event got under way, and people could see for themselves the Pope and witness and participate in the spectacular events, such as the moving ceremony of the Stations of the Cross, the media were overwhelmingly favorable.

Numerous reports commented on the competent organization of the events, and a number of press articles noted that the police had little to do, in contrast to other occasions when large numbers of young people are gathered together.

"World Youth Day has shown us that the Church can rejoice in the young people of today and be filled with hope for the world of tomorrow," the Pope commented in his parting words at Sydney airport on July 21. The challenge now, for the Church in Australia and around the world, is to make that hope become a reality.

http://www.zenit.org/article-23347?l=english