It was great fun as there were so many pilgrims everywhere. We were saying 'hola!' to everyone we meet, people kept asking us where we come from and how we are enjoying Madrid so far, it was a bit crazy in the end because most of the metro was filled with different youths from all over the world.
We went to the talk on JP II Theology of the body with Christopher West. It was crazy, we got there about half an hour early and the line was already half way around the building. Most of the people there were either Canadian or USA, they chanted like it was a football game, perhaps because there was more people from USA, the contest leaned more towards them in the end.
Here we are inside the stadium after lining up for an hour.
Christopher West was an excellent speaker as well as author. I highly recommend everyone to get their hands on a copy of the book. There is a profound theological message from JP II and his book makes it much easier to digest.
The central message is clear, we are made for something greater, do not settle simply for earthly pleasures that do not satisfy. there is more install for us!
There was a very moving moment when Christopher West was talking about our bodies, he invited a guy on stage and asked us to look at his body. Everyone laughed and cheered. Then he went on to clarify that we never say we are looking at a body, we say we are looking at a person, because it means we recognize there is something more to that body, each body contains a soul. Somehow I was awed by this small and simple truth that I never thought of on my own.
We must never let the media and culture of today convince us that the body is the most important when in even in our very basic understanding we know there is more.
He then went and invited all the priest and nuns to the front, those who have taken a vow of chastity for the Lord. He said to us that these people are living witnesses to this truth, never think that in their vocation they are giving up something and losing out, in fact they are living witnesses to the truth that there is something even greater and better intended for us in the future! The whole room stood up and clapped for them, I felt I saw before me the pillars of our church, people who help and shelter us young people from the storm. I am so grateful for their work and dedication!
A very cool sand picture being made live that develops as the worship team sings.
After the talk, we found a place to have a late lunch at one of the local restaurants, it was packed with pilgrims and I can see that the staff has been working double time to accommodate us. It took us about half an hour to line up.
I chatted with the girl taking the orders, she said that although the work is tiring, business is always better than no business. The economic crisis must have affected a lot of the local businesses.
It was just before 7pm by the time we finished our 'lunch' and we rushed down into the metro to get to Cibeles for Opening Mass.
The metro platform was full of pilgrims!
This is the Plaza Indepencia. By the time we got there we were half an hour before opening Mass.
We manage to squeeze into a place just in front of the arch. All I could see was people and a big screen at the side. There was a group of Aussi next to us so I asked her where was the alter?
To my shock she replied "I think it's about two blocks away."
There was a group of pilgrims with special needs close to us, they had leaders do sign language for the readings and homily. Although I do not know sign language, it was still beautiful to watch God's words translated into signs.
When it was time for communion, there were so many people flocking around the priest, I felt like I was in Western Spring, us being the ducks! (if you are from Auckland you will know what I mean!!)
Thank you for all the volunteers who have come to Madrid from all over the world to help out. WYD is not the same without you!
There is always a sense of awe for me at the Opening Mass, where can you find so many young people gathered together, all waving their own country flags, all speaking different languages, yet all united under one body of Christ. The Opening Mass signifies for me not only the start of World Youth Day but also of the hope in a group of young people who are the light and salt of the world!
We later found out that there was over 500,000 people gathered for this Opening Mass! It is estimated that over 1.5 Million people will be attending JMJ 2011!
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Location:Calle del Amor de Dios,Madrid,Spain
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