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Very soon the XXXIV edition of the World Youth Day of the Catholic Church will take place, which will take place in Panama from January 22 to 27, 2019. It is the third WYD that will take place in Latin America, after Buenos Aires 1987 and Rio de Janeiro 2013.
Here is the official website:
https://panama2019.pa/es/inicio/
Speech by the Holy Father in preparation for the XXXIV World Youth Day 2019 (Panama)
Dear young people:
We are approaching World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in Panama next January and has as its motto the response of the Virgin Mary to God's call: «Behold the servant of the Lord; Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
His words are a brave and generous “yes.” The yes of someone who has understood the secret of vocation: to leave oneself and put oneself at the service of others. Our life only finds meaning in serving God and others.
There are many young people, believers or not, who at the end of a stage of study show their desire to help others, to do something for those who suffer. This is the strength of young people, the strength of all of you, which can change the world; This is the revolution that can disrupt the great powers of this world: the “revolution” of service.
Putting yourself at the service of others does not only mean being ready for action, but you also have to put yourself in dialogue with God, in an attitude of listening, as Mary did. She listened to what the angel told her and then responded. From that relationship with God in the silence of the heart, one discovers one's own identity and the vocation to which the Lord calls; This can be expressed in different ways: in marriage, in consecrated life, in the priesthood... All of them are ways to follow Jesus. The important thing is to discover what the Lord expects of us and be brave to say “yes”.
Mary was a happy woman, because she was generous before God and opened herself to the plan he had for her. God's proposals for us, like the one he made to Mary, are not to extinguish dreams, but to ignite desires; to make our lives fruitful and bring forth many smiles and make many hearts happy. Giving an affirmative response to God is the first step to being happy and making many people happy.
Dear young people: Let each one of you go inside and say to God: What do you want from me? Let the Lord speak to you; You will see your life transformed and filled with joy.
Given the imminent World Youth Day in Panama, I invite you to prepare, following and participating in all the initiatives that are carried out. They will help you walk towards this goal. May the Virgin Mary accompany you on this pilgrimage and may her example encourage you to be brave and generous in your response.
Good road to Panama! And please don't forget to pray for me. See you soon.