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 Pope Benedict XVI at the WYD Evening Vigil
Gary Pinto performs 'Behold The Cross' as the WYD Cross & Icon is carried onto the sanctuary and put into position. Just as the young people made their pilgrimage to Randwick today, the presence of the Cross and Icon highlight the culmination of the journey is here.
7.15 Led by representatives from many nations, Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed to the Evening Vigil as he processes behind them onto the sanctuary to lead the congregation in prayer. The Holy Father is looking remarkably fresh after another full day of activity.
As at Barangaroo, the stage is awash with bright red, signifying the earthy colours of the land that is the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit, Australia, as well as the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Lauren Zolezzi, performs newly commissioned hymn, Our Lady of the Southern Cross.
7.24pm - The Holy Father opens the vigil ceremony, "In the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit."
Deacon, James McCarthy, now lights the Pascal candle. The candle has an indigenous design and was made by the Benedictine nuns at Jamboree. The light of the candle is then passed one by one to twelve young people. This symbolises the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to all present.
There is a sea of light across the racecourse grounds, symbolising Christ in the darkness. The solemn nature of this prayer vigil is thus highlighted.
The Holy Spirit is a light that no darkness can overcome.
Seven pilgrims each give a personal testimony. Each one focuses on one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Father leads the pilgrims in prayer before each testimony.
Pilgrims from Poland, Thailand, Italy, Chile, Germany and Sri Lanka as well as a hearing impaired Australian woman each give a testimony, each referring to one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, courage, piety and awe.
The hearing impaired woman is given in sign language and gives a powerful testimony, telling the pilgrims about the power of patience and of God's attentive love. "Never refuse the gift that God gives to you," she explains.
At the end of each testimony, the Holy Father acknowledges the young person and their witness and references the WYD patrons in his prayer accordingly.
Tonight's Vigil is about understanding how to be a witness and how the Holy Spirit works in our life.
The Holy Father is invited by the pilgrims of the world to teach them how to become a witness to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Pope delivers his homily.
"Tonight we focus our attention on how to become witnesses. We need to understand the person of the Holy Spirit and his vivifying presence in our lives," he says.
"This is not easy to comprehend. Indeed the variety of images found in scripture referring to the Spirit - wind, fire, breath - indicate the struggle to articulate an understanding of him.
"Yet we do know that it is the Holy Spirit, who, though silent and unseen, gives direction and definition to our witness to Jesus Christ," he says.
He again touches on the trap of relativism, telling his audience that "only in God and in his church can we find the unity that we seek".
It is the spirit's role to unify, he says in the homily.
"This is the Spirit's role; to bring Christ work to fulfillment. Enriched with the Spirit's gifts, you will have the power to move beyond the piecemeal, the hollow utopia, the fleeting, to offer the consisty and certainity of Christian witness!"
He provides his own testimony about how he read the great St Augustine while still a young Priest, teaching theology, describing him as one of the outstanding witnesses to the Spirit in the Church's history.
At the end of The Holy Father's sermon, the crowd erupt in cheers of thanks.
The pilgrims who will receive the sacrament of confirmation tomorrow morning when the Holy Spirit is invoked, are presented to the Holy Father.
The deacon now processes in with the Blessed Sacrament. This is placed in a huge monstrance on the altar and all kneel in adoration.
The Holy Father, wearing white and gold robes, incenses the Blessed Sacrament as the choir sing hymn, Jesus, My Lord.
For Catholics, Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a sacred time where they can draw closer to Jesus by spending time in His presence. It is here that we experience the true presence of the Lord. Christ is present in spirit and flesh, in the exposed Blessed Sacrament.
Exposition is a chance for the pilgrims to not only ask of Jesus but to also open their hearts and listen to Jesus, who is here present with us.
Now, Lauren Zolezzi, sings hymn, Father, I Adore You. The Holy Father and the congregation kneel in reverence. He is flanked on either side by two Deacons and his two Masters of Ceremony, all kneeling.
There is silence as over a hundred thousand young people share their silent prayers with the Lord.
Candles flicker across the crowd. The Pope earlier explained these as being symbols of them, us, "children of Christ's light ... Bearing witness in our world to the radiance no darkness can overcome" in reference in to John 1:5.
As the Holy Father incenses the Blessed Sacrament the choir chant Georgian hymn, Tantum Ergo.
The Holy Father now stands and opens Adoration with the traditional prayer, this time said in the language of the church, Latin.
The Holy Father holds the monstrance and blesses the congregation - over 150,000 fold strong.
The Ukrainian choir sings a traditional and devotional hymn as the blessed sacrament is returned to it place of reserve.
The pilgrims of the world continue to ensure that there candle's remain alight, throughout the entire prayer vigil lead by His Holiness.
The Holy Father returns to his chair, smiling with hands clasped, pointing and waving to the pilgrims.
The pilgrims break in a rejoicing chant - 'Be-ne-detto! Benedetto! Benedetto!
The Holy Father now acknowledges specifically the Italian speaking pilgrims in Italian, followed by the French in French. He now greets the German speaking pilgrims, in German - his native tongue. He continues in Spanish and now Portuguese, receiving warm applause from the international pilgrims. A loud cheer coming from the Spaniards.
The Holy Father concludes by speaking the words of Blessed Mary MacKillop "Believe in the whispering of God to your heart" Believe in him! Believe in the power of the spirit of love!"
Young people all over the grounds of Randwick Racecourse, pilgrims, embrace each other as WYD theme song, Receive the Power, is performed. The pilgrims are in full voice, even the Holy Father joins in the singing of the song.
Pope Benedict XVI moves forward from his seat waving widely, before embracing two young people as he leaves the sanctuary. The 81 year old Pontiff looks radiant and youthful as he leaves the sanctuary, moving easily and with agility down the ramp.
As the pilgrims prepare to brave the cold conditions, the Holy Father will return to
St Mary's Cathedral House, before rejoining the pilgrims, as well as the many other faithful, at Randwick tomorrow for the final mass of WYD08.
Testimonies and bands will continue to entertain the audience, while exposition will take place in tents around the grounds, and confession will be available throughout the evening. Image courtesy of WYD 2008 ACN 118060987 as Trustee for the World Youth Day 2008 Trust ABN 74 422 698 032 |
