Challenge yourself!!

I got my New Zealand WYD ACTIV8 folder the other day and in it was a letter from Bishop Barry (the Bishop of Christchurch), a letter from the NZ Catholics Bishops Conference, and a letter from the Pope himself!

You should all soon be getting one of these folders, with the letters and perhaps other things in it.

From Bishop Barry's letter and the letter from the NZCBC, something that really stood out was that we prepare will for WYD "so that [we] go as pilgrims, not tourists."

Our National Committee has developed a program that all pilgrims will be going through, but if your like me then you will want to get a head start on things...

As I have said in a previous post, PRAYER is essential for any pilgrim. If we go without prayer, it would be like a runner going to run a marathon and forgetting to take water. Groups are starting adoration sessions, don't be afraid to go along. Pray with music, pray with the scriptures, pray in groups, pray alone, pray out loud, pray in silence, pray 5minutes a day, pray an hour. The following quote is from Pope John Paul II:

"How to pray? This is a simple matter. I would say: Pray any way you like, so long as you do pray."

Another good idea, especially if you are a good reader, is to start reading some of Pope Benedict's writings. You should all get his letter, so don't let it lie on your bedroom floor, pick it up and read it, talk about it with your friends, parents, fellow pilgrims.

Also, if you are a bit older, maybe you could have a go at the two encylicals he has put out, God is love (Deus Caritas Est) or Saved by hope (Spe Salvi), the links are below.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

Both are great reads, and both are challenging reads, but isn't that what being a pilgrim is all about? Challenge yourself!