Papal Subliminal Message

In case anyone might have missed it, the Holy Father in his address to the new Australian Ambassador to the Holy See said, "More than an event, World Youth Day is a time of deep ecclesial renewal, especially among the young, the fruits of which will benefit the whole of your society. In countries such as yours, where the disquieting process of secularization is much advanced, many young people are themselves coming to realize that it is the transcendent order that steers all life along the path of authentic freedom and happiness. Against the tide of moral relativism which, by recognizing nothing as definitive, traps people within a futile and insatiable bid for novelty, the young generation is rediscovering the satisfying quest for goodness and truth. In so doing they look to both Church and civil leaders to dispel any eclipse of the sense of God and to allow the light of truth to shine forth, giving purpose to all life and making joy and contentment possible for everyone."

On reading the last line with its references to the light of truth and joy, one can't help wondering if perhaps the Holy Father is sending a covert message that Juventutem '08 will have a strong effect on the pilgrims gathered in Sydney. After all our theme is "Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam." Again his reference in the previous sentence to a futile and insatiable bid for novelty and quest for goodness and truth could also be interpreted as a subtle reference to the Latin Mass, which avoids resorting to novelty (cf. Dorothy day's quote in my previous posting) whilst satisfying that quest for goodness and truth through the traditional liturgy.

PS I know my comments seem a little far fetched but nonetheless it does demonstrate that our presence at World Youth Day will not be a waste of time.