Dare to love, embrace it to change hearts, pope urges world's youth

VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - Dare to love, to embrace the only force capable of changing the hearts of every human person and of cultures, Pope Benedict XVI urged the world's young people.

In a message released Feb. 5 for the 22nd World Youth Day to be observed in all dioceses on Palm Sunday, April 1, the pope spoke directly to youths, acknowledging the confusion and challenges associated with longing for love and pointing to God as the source of true love. "Love is possible," Pope Benedict said, noting that he wrote this message "to help reawaken in each one of you - you who are the future and hope of humanity - trust in a love that is true, faithful and strong; a love that generates peace and joy; a love that binds people together and allows them to feel free in respect for one another." The theme of the 2007 World Youth Day observance is taken from Jesus' words from the Gospel of John: "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (Jn 13:34). While noting that "everybody feels the longing to love and to be loved," the pope said that ability to love not easy with "many mistakes and failures have to be reckoned with in love." "There are those who even come to doubt that love is possible," who come to believe through "emotional delusions or lack of affection" that love is "utopian, an impossible dream," he said. Yet, Pope Benedict stressed, it is through seeing the God not only loves us, but is the "only one source" of true love that one can begin a journey toward attaining it. "My dear young friends, I want to invite you to 'dare to love,'" he said. "Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters, in imitation of the one who vanquished hatred and death forever through love." "Love is the only force capable of changing the heart of the human person and of all humanity, by making fruitful the relations between men and women, between rich and poor, between cultures and civilizations," he said, noting that the lives of the saints, "true friends of God" provide examples of how to live a life of love. The pope called young people to reflect on "how is God-love revealed," pointing to Christ's redemption of mankind through which "no human life is useless or of little value." Christ's example teaches mankind that "to love as he loves us means loving everyone without distinction, even our enemies," he said. Pope Benedict urged young people "to demonstrate the love of God" in their actions in the church, in their preparation for the future and in daily interaction with "family, studies, work and free time." Young people should be leaven to stimulate with "enthusiasm and charity" activities in parishes, communities, ecclesial movements and youth groups, he said. While being "attentive in your concern for the welfare of others," he strongly urged them to "to joyfully abstain from some of your entertainments; cheerfully accept the necessary sacrifices; testify to your faithful love for Jesus by proclaiming his gospel, especially among young people of your age." Society often promotes "the common prejudice" that Christianity's "commandments and prohibitions place obstacles in the joy of love and impedes you from fully enjoying the happiness that a man and woman seek in their reciprocal love," the pope said. Pope Benedict stressed, though, that "the love of a man and woman is at the origin of the human family and the couple formed by a man and a woman has its foundation in God's original plan." He called those engaged to be married to use that time as "a demanding apprenticeship" to learn to love one another in preparation for a "future as a couple and as a family." "The period of engagement, very necessary in order to form a couple, is a time of expectation and preparation that needs to be lived in purity of gesture and words," the pope said. "It allows you to mature in love, in concern and in attention for each other; it helps you to practice self-control and to develop your respect for each other." Benedict urged young people to "respond generously to the Lord's call," whether to the vocation of Christian matrimony, the priesthood or the consecrated life. Love requires, the pope said, the cultivation of talents for not only obtaining career goals, but, more importantly, "to help others to grow." "Develop your capacities, not only in order to become more 'competitive' and 'productive,' but to be 'witnesses of charity,'" the pope said. He added that young people should study the church's social doctrine "so that its principles may inspire and guide your action in the world" and add to "your contribution to the building up of the 'civilization of love.'" Pope Benedict said each human person has the same capacity for love, which can only be tapped through "the indispensable support of divine grace." "It instills in us the courage to accomplish that which is humanly inconceivable," the pope said. He urged young people to pray regularly, as a means to realizing the humility necessary to experience love, and to "share the eucharistic bread with our brothers and sisters of the church community." "The Eucharist is the great school of love," the pope said at ehe conclusion of the message. "When we participate regularly and with devotion in Holy Mass, when we spend a sustained time of adoration in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, it is easier to understand the length, breadth, height and depth of his love that goes beyond all knowledge." The 2008 World Youth Day international gathering is set for July 15-20 in Sydney, Australia.

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