World Youth Day

World Youth Day will be held in Kraków, Poland from July 25 – 31, 2016.

This year the focus is on the human search for happiness as expressed in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5).  We are conscious of young pilgrims from around the world and remember them in prayer at this time:

 

God, merciful Father,

in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love

and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman.

We entrust to you in a special way

young people of every language, people and nation:

guide and protect them as they walk the complex paths of the world today

and give them grace to reap abundant fruits

from their experience of the Krakow World Youth Day.

 

Heavenly Father,

grant that we may bear witness to your mercy.

Teach us how to convey faith to those in doubt,

hope to those who are discouraged,

love to those who feel indifferent,

forgiveness to those who have done wrong

and joy to those who are unhappy.

Allow the spark of merciful love

that you have enkindled within us

become a fire that can transform hearts

and renew the face of the earth.

 

(2016 World Youth Day Prayer)    World Youth Day 2016