From Catholic News Agency
Bishops from Spain recently addressed a message to young Catholics, inviting them to participate in World Youth Day 2011. The bishops said the youth celebration will be an authentic festival of faith and a chance to go on an interior pilgrimage towards Christ.
The bishops told the young people in their message that the Catholic Church has always looked to the youth “with hope and joy because you are the present, and above all, the future of society and of the Church.”
The message was released March 2 as the bishops concluded their 97th Plenary Assembly.
“We also, as your bishops, trust in you and consider you not only as recipients of the Gospel of Christ, but also as protagonists of the building of the Church and of her history,” they said.
The bishops recalled the theme of World Youth Day, “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.” They then encouraged young people “to fortify and build up your faith, to deepen your roots in Christ, who loves you and calls you to friendship with Him.” The bishop added that Christ invites them “to follow Him in the priesthood, the consecrated life or in marriage to make of you His witnesses.”
The Spanish bishops also referred to the upcoming May 1 beatification of John Paul II. “The Pope of young people” always invited the youth to give themselves “completely to the love of God and of man and to lead a Christian life that is free of all mediocrity and if necessary, counter cultural in our times.
“How many times he invited you to be saints! He began the passionate endeavor of World Youth Day with all of you in mind,” the bishops said.
They encouraged young people to take advantage of the week-long event to pray personally and as a community. World Youth Day will thus be an authentic festival of faith that will highlight the crucial role Christians play in today’s world as “builders of peace, promoters of justice, and advocates of more humane world according to God’s plan,” they continued.
Listen to the pop version of "Firm in the Faith" the World Youth Day 2011 Hymn:
Lyrics in english:
Firmes en la fe, firmes en la fe!
We go forward in Christ, he's our companion and he is Lord!
Glory be to him! Glory be to him!
We go forward in Christ, made stronger in our faith.
Your love, it builds us up and keeps us rooted,
Your cross, it gives us constant strength and courage,
Your flesh, it ever saves us and sustains us,
Your blood, it flows to cheer us and renew us.
Firmes en la fe…
Your hands, they hold us when we have been wounded,
Your eyes, they purify the way we see things,
Your lips, they speak to us words of forgiveness,
Your feet, they guide our steps to find life's fullness.
Firmes en la fe...
Your breath, it is the breeze that blows from heaven,
Your smile, it is the sign of grace and blessing,
Your precious wounds, they are love's burning embers,
Your sorrows are the price of our souls' ransom.
Firmes en la fe...
Your face is like an icon of life's fullness,
Your countenance is light from death returning,
Your death, it is the reason for my living,
The baptism of my flesh in your salvation.
Firmes en la fe...Your glory is our future, men and women
Who, aided by your grace, go forth together;
Your Church, a house which has a thousand doorways,
A house built on your rock, so firmly rooted.
Firmes en la fe...
We are the young, and Mary journeys with us,
And like a joyful bride she sings your praises;
With her we too shall sing and praise your triumph,
Because already death has been defeated.
Firmes en la fe...
Bishops from Spain recently addressed a message to young Catholics, inviting them to participate in World Youth Day 2011. The bishops said the youth celebration will be an authentic festival of faith and a chance to go on an interior pilgrimage towards Christ.
The bishops told the young people in their message that the Catholic Church has always looked to the youth “with hope and joy because you are the present, and above all, the future of society and of the Church.”
The message was released March 2 as the bishops concluded their 97th Plenary Assembly.
“We also, as your bishops, trust in you and consider you not only as recipients of the Gospel of Christ, but also as protagonists of the building of the Church and of her history,” they said.
The bishops recalled the theme of World Youth Day, “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.” They then encouraged young people “to fortify and build up your faith, to deepen your roots in Christ, who loves you and calls you to friendship with Him.” The bishop added that Christ invites them “to follow Him in the priesthood, the consecrated life or in marriage to make of you His witnesses.”
The Spanish bishops also referred to the upcoming May 1 beatification of John Paul II. “The Pope of young people” always invited the youth to give themselves “completely to the love of God and of man and to lead a Christian life that is free of all mediocrity and if necessary, counter cultural in our times.
“How many times he invited you to be saints! He began the passionate endeavor of World Youth Day with all of you in mind,” the bishops said.
They encouraged young people to take advantage of the week-long event to pray personally and as a community. World Youth Day will thus be an authentic festival of faith that will highlight the crucial role Christians play in today’s world as “builders of peace, promoters of justice, and advocates of more humane world according to God’s plan,” they continued.
The bishops also urged the young people of Spain to welcome their brothers and sisters from around the world and to volunteer for the event.
World Youth Day 2011 will take place Aug. 16 – 21 in Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Listen to the pop version of "Firm in the Faith" the World Youth Day 2011 Hymn:
Lyrics in english:
Firmes en la fe, firmes en la fe!
We go forward in Christ, he's our companion and he is Lord!
Glory be to him! Glory be to him!
We go forward in Christ, made stronger in our faith.
Your love, it builds us up and keeps us rooted,
Your cross, it gives us constant strength and courage,
Your flesh, it ever saves us and sustains us,
Your blood, it flows to cheer us and renew us.
Firmes en la fe…
Your hands, they hold us when we have been wounded,
Your eyes, they purify the way we see things,
Your lips, they speak to us words of forgiveness,
Your feet, they guide our steps to find life's fullness.
Firmes en la fe...
Your breath, it is the breeze that blows from heaven,
Your smile, it is the sign of grace and blessing,
Your precious wounds, they are love's burning embers,
Your sorrows are the price of our souls' ransom.
Firmes en la fe...
Your face is like an icon of life's fullness,
Your countenance is light from death returning,
Your death, it is the reason for my living,
The baptism of my flesh in your salvation.
Firmes en la fe...Your glory is our future, men and women
Who, aided by your grace, go forth together;
Your Church, a house which has a thousand doorways,
A house built on your rock, so firmly rooted.
Firmes en la fe...
We are the young, and Mary journeys with us,
And like a joyful bride she sings your praises;
With her we too shall sing and praise your triumph,
Because already death has been defeated.
Firmes en la fe...
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