Number 200/201 - Octobre 2000

"A New Pentecost"

Elisabeth POUYAT

Alouette N° 200 ­ Pages 2-11

As a family likes to get together to celebrate a big event, it was with joy that the communities of Châteauneuf welcomed young people from all over France and from all horizons : Africa, Asia, Ecuador accompanied by the Foyers of Tressaint, Baye, Combs-la-Ville, Courset, La Flatière, Martinique and Taïwan. Everyone arrived on the Saturday evening, to live together a festive and prayerful evening.

The Sunday in Châteauneuf permitted us to prepare our hearts for these great days which had been so long awaited!
Marthe's little room, where all the young people were able to pray for a brief moment, brought together the Church of Heaven and Earth, each one placing in Marthe's prayer his expectations, his desires, his search, his calls and this little room where "love went further than words" received as in a chalice the offering made to the Heavenly Father. Through living the Mass, and then the meal with the retreatants, all the Foyers were able to enjoy sharing in the graces received by the retreatants and the enthusiasm of the young people about to set off. At the beginning of the afternoon, Father Ravanel invited the young people to revive within them the desire to live a Pentecost, that their hearts should not be afraid of opening up to all the "presents" Jesus was preparing for them in this Jubilee. As the Pope was to say in Rome: "To receive within you the Power of Life which is in Him, (Jesus)". The conference was prolonged by a forum in the Foyer, with adoration of the Holy Sacrament for those who wanted to let the Holy Spirit already start speaking in their heart.

It was beautiful to see these 10 coaches leave Châteauneuf, carried by the prayer of all those who waved them off. Forwards to celebrate "the Jubilee of the Young Church" ! After a night in the coach, we arrived at 7 o'clock in the morning at Mount Alverno. The morning freshness greeted us in this very beautiful mountain scenery, and we were able to sing the praises of the Lord whilst contemplating the first "revelation": His creation. Saint Francis sang so well the praises of the Lord, and it is on this mountain that he received the stigmata; the most intense moments of his life, which we were able to meditate with the young people. This desire of St Francis to resemble Jesus in everything was granted to such a point.

The Mass which followed in the Sanctuary was a beautiful moment of stillness, as if inviting us to the courage of daring Love, knowing that with the grace of God, everything is possible. Our Mass was prolonged by a silent walk in the mountain, favourizing in this way an intimate time of thanksgiving of the soul with its Lord, and tasting the song of "Lady Nature", as St. Francis sang so well.

On Tuesday evening the Pope was to say: "If you have set off to come, it's not just for reasons of amusement or culture" That's sure! Already on leaving Alverno, one coach remained broken down; the difficulties and trials are there, not as obstacles, but as means for us to surpass ourselves in Love this is what the young ones of the Foyer of Tressaint lived, by putting up with an extra night in the coach, but arriving just in time to welcome the Pope at St. Peter's. The days spent in Rome split up our big group of Foyers de Charité; but on the Tuesday night, at St. Peter's, the Pope spoke to the young, saying:
"Live these days as if you were living a great week of retreat, keep times of silence, prayer and stillness for yourselves"

It is there that, in the diversity of things proposed: instruction, prayer, festival, Jubilee day with the passing through the Holy Gate, confessions each one was alone in the midst of the crowd, sharing the fraternal unity of all these young ones, but having to make his own personal move to live his true encounter with Jesus.

At the heart of this week of "Fire", we had the grace of living 3 exceptional days at "St. Louis of the French" where, with about 30 young people, we animated a time of prayer with songs, music, dance and with, as a summit, Eucharistic adoration. Father Michon who went with us was able to experience the action of grace on hearing confessions after the performances. How many people were directly touched by the Lord!

One young person wrote: "I lived this show for and through and with Jesus, and above all in His gaze, discovering a new phrase, a new gesture at each performance I re-discovered the joy of being the monstrances of Jesus".

The Friday evening was very marked by the Way of the Cross at the Coliseum, honoured by a multitude of young people who certainly carried in their prayer how many of those close to them, who are lost in a world which forgets God.

A sun, heavy as lead was there to meet us at Tor Vergata, after a long walk, showered from time to time by refreshing jets of water! There were 2 millions of us to listen to the strong message of this Pope of the Year 2000, who is so able to communicate with the young; "to be young with the young". The unwinding of the evening had been placed under the protection of Mary, our Mother, in the welcoming of the icon of Mary ...The Pope consolidated the young in their listening to the Word of God, encouraging them to follow Jesus each day in all situations. After this beautiful evening, where the spontaneity of the Pope surprised many, a splendid firework display called us to rest in contemplating the canopy of Heaven!!

Then came the morning, and the young people, with as much energy as the night before, welcomed the Pope for the summit of these days: the Mass. "Live the Eucharist, in giving witness of the Love of God for mankind".

Our Family of Foyers was brought back together again the following night, arriving one after the other at Roquefort les Pins. Mass at 10 o'clock in the open air, permitted us to sum up everything in thanksgiving, sharing already the witnesses of the least timid!!

With the Pope we can say:
"Thanks to God for the path of the World Youth Days"; and with Him, we ask Mary to watch over each one of the young throughout the whole world.