Guestblogger Karen writes:
My husband Chris and I just got back from the pilgrimage to World
Youth Day–what we were able to do of it anyway.
We decided that Saturday would be our "practice finding a parking
place and getting around" day. After having driven 6.5 hours just to
get there, we drove another few hours figuring out how to get the
closest to Marienfeld in Cologne.
Sure, there were designated parking areas and shuttle buses, but we
quickly found that we couldn’t access them. It turned out that all
neighboring villages were being completely blocked off, allowing for
only the people who lived there to have access to the roads.
Now I haven’t measured exactly yet, but this left us at a perimeter
that was a 2-hour walk away from our destination, Marienfeld. While
we were caught in traffic, we could see that we were near enough,
because pilgrims were being dropped off by buses in the same areas we
were scoping out.
They would walk by and wave to the cars stuck in the traffic with huge
smiles. This made it impossible to be in a bad mood over the traffic.
We decided to park in a village called Quadrath-Ichendorf, and we
walked as briskly as we could to Marienfeld, just to get an idea of
how fast we could get there in case we came back Sunday (which was our
plan). Like I said, this was a 2-hour walk. When we went through the
village Horrem, pilgrims were everywhere–on bikes, marching down the
streets with guitars and drums and flags.
192 Countries
One of the first things that struck us was the high and friendly
spirit. We walked by signs that said, "Welcome, Pilgrims". Other
kid-pilgrims just kept smiling and waving. Flags were everywhere.
Later I learned that 192 nations were represented. I couldn’t believe
the corners of the Earth these people came from for this, but I was so
glad they did.
Some groups walked and sang their native hymns while a few strummed
their guitars, and the sound was fantastic. I don’t mean those crummy
modern Church-Barney-the-dinosaur "I’m okay, you’re okay" crud songs
or anything pop-sounding. They played serious music.
One group I thought must be from Spain, but they turned out to be from
Brooklyn. They were singing an energetic Spanish-sounding song and
that’s the first time of many I felt just overcome with the magnitude
of this event and the spirit.
It was like I was seeing the whole world in one place, and The World
was HAPPY. Koreans, Africans, Indians, Australians, Canadians, you
name it, they were there. Later I came to know that one million
people were expected to pour in each day.
We followed the stream of people, which eventually (1.5 hours later)
led us to Marienfeld. That’s when I realized what an incomprehensible
number 1 million was, at least when measuring people. The aerial
views that I saw later on television just kept panning and panning,
but there was no end to the people.
Chris and I decided that since it took us so long to get there, we
would stay for the prayer vigil with Pope Benedict, starting at 8:30
PM. It got noticeably darker, which made it difficult to get good
Pope Pics. Also we were very far away, so I had to zoom the best I
could with my camera and be content with the pope looking like a
little blurry ant anyway.
We sat on our little spot while other pilgrims laid the foundation for
their tents (most stayed the night in that field) and ate what little
they could fit in their backpacks. I would feel so sorry for some of
them–they were really roughing it, but they seemed to be having a
great time.
We took numerous videos and pictures–flags waving, nuns walking,
priest-leaders standing out on the road yelling into a cell phone and
waving to whoever in the distance got lost from their group. There
was a side stage way off in the distance, where musicians played and
opera singers sang. Speakers were set up everywhere so we could hear
comfortably.
We didn’t know at the time, but they would have the events for each
language translated on several different radio stations. So if we
wanted to hear the prayers in English, we could have tuned to 95.5 FM
or whatever it was. We did okay, though–knowing German and English
set us ahead of most pilgrims.
Finally about a half an hour beforehand, it was announced that the
Holy Father was on his way to Marienfeld. I suspected he’d have been
on the helicopter above, but he actually arrived in the popemobile. I
sensed he was there because of the crowd, and then saw him on one of
the large screens.
The crowd was WILD. There was (I think) an original World Youth Day
musical composition being played, and everyone who had a flag was
waving them up high. Thousands of flags everywhere. You don’t see
something this powerful anywhere, not even at the Olympics. Although
they waved different flags, they were waving as one people–Catholics.
The flags were more of a "Greetings from…", not a pride point.
Seeing something like this gave us a feeling of being transported into
some ideal world. You just can’t imagine it from watching it on TV.
Papa Benedict blessed all of us, a familiar move, but it’s different
when you’re actually there receiving the blessing. When you get
blessed like that, you feel as if that’s what you’ve wanted all your
life.
Then he went a little ways down the hill where they’d placed a large
bell, and he blessed it and dedicated it to Pope John Paul II, who was
palpably there with us in spirit. I’d even say I felt Peter, the
first pope, there with us! You look at this little dot-pope in front
of you and feel connected to the ages.
Chris and I did cheat a little and try just for a spell, to get
closer. That didn’t help our pictures any, as it became quite dark by
then.
Benedict speaks German very clearly and understandably. Much later I
heard him in English, and his accent is cute as can be. He speaks
what you might call with a stereotypical German accent. "You, zee
youss off zee Verld…" (You, the youth of the world). I wanted to
hear him speak English, maybe because I knew it would be so charming.
One thing of note about Benedict–he smiles constantly. He is as
charmed as you are by him. He is one CUTE pope. I could tell that he
was as overcome as I was. How he still kept it together enough to get
on with things, I don’t know.
Chris and I, thinking that we’d get four hours of sleep and come back
for the Mass on Sunday (at 10:30 AM), decided to head out earlier than
we wanted to, and drive to Heinsberg. We had another 2-hour walk
ahead of us just to get to the car.
About a mile and a half from our car, I, Karen, went completely lame.
I could have walked further if it hadn’t been for my feet, which felt
like knives were stabbing through the heels. Chris had to part with
me at a gas station and go get the car, and pick me up.
Anyway we finally got back to Heinsberg and slept like rocks. My cell
phone woke us up at 5 AM, but Chris and I ached all over.
Unfortunately, we did not make it to the Mass–I particularly was in
real pain and even three Ibuprofen didn’t dull it enough. BUT, we
don’t dwell on this. Not after what we did manage to do!
We watched the Mass on television. With some imagination, we were
"there" again, at the Mass. I had some more "wow" moments watching
it, and I knew that Cologne wasn’t far away anyway.
We packed up and left for home, still feeling somewhat like we only
had one foot on the ground. We still feel like that!
I know this is not the point of the post, but I just have to point out that B16 seems to be giving us the raspberry!
Generally, from what I know about Ratzinger, I find him to be pretty refreshing. As a protestant I have mixed feelings about the ‘goodness’ of the leadership of Rome. But I can not deny its powerful existance. I wrote a post on this matter back in June soon after B16’s election. Check it out:
http://christiansurvey.blogspot.com/2005/06/leadership-and-continuity.html
BTW, I went to World Youth Day in Highschool when it was in Denver (1993??). It was a great experience except the bus we took (all the way from Michigan) had a toilet back up about half way there and the bus stunk so bad we could hardly stand it.
Christian Survey Board, I disagree with your post when you write:
“The Catholic Church changes so slow that no one notices. At one point in time, doctrines such as transubstantiation…were new. But the church did not embrace them immediately, at least not formally. It was not until they were generally believed by the faithful that the church declared them dogma.”
The church has always embraced transubstantiation. That word has not always been used, however, but invented to describe something we always believed, that the substance of bread and wine are actually changed into the body and blood of Christ. This word is a stumbling point between my Orthodox friends and me. They agree that the bread and wine physically become the body and blood of Christ but refuse to accept that word to describe the transformation. I think they feel using a word to describe the transformation in someway takes away from the sacred mystery of what’s happening. I dunno. But nevertheless, it has always been believed, which is evident in the Bible and the Early Church Fathers.
Also, I’m curious to know when you think the Church that Jesus Christ founded became corrupted into what is now the Catholic Church?
I do not deny that the church has always believed that the bread and wine are in some sense Christ’s body and blood. Christ’s words ‘this is my body’ is pretty clear. What this meant has, on the other hand, been the subject of periodic debate (and consistent debate since the 16th century). For the most part, the approach of our Orthodox friends has been the mainstream (ie it is really Christ’s body but little elaboration). For example, John of Damascus said “The Holy Spirit comes upon them, and achieves things which surpass every word and thought….Let it be enough for you to understand that this takes place by the Holy Spirit.”
An example of a debate regarding what ‘real presence’ meant can be found in the discussion between Radbertus and Ratramnus (two 9th century monks). Radbertus argued that the Spirit creates the flesh and blood “by his invisible power through the consecration of the sacrament, even though this cannot be understood outwardly by either sight or taste.” Ratramnus, on the other hand, argued that the ‘real presence’ was in eyes of the believer. “This is not perceived or received or consumed by the physical senses,” he argues “but only in the sight of the believer.”
Transubstantiation was most famously defined by Thomas Aquinas and was formally defined at the 4th Lateran Council in 1215. The doctrine rested on Aristotelian foundations (particularly his distinction between ‘substance’ and ‘accident’). It was this Aristotilian foundation that most irritated Luther (who could easily have agreed with the Orthodox ‘mystery’ theology). Luther argued for ‘real presence’ but against Transubstantiation.
“Therefore it is an absurd and new imposition upon the words to understand “bread” to mean the “the form of accidents” of bread, and “wine” to mean “the form of accidents of wine”. Why do they not also understand all other things to mean their “forms or accident?”
Most of the mainline protestants still affirm that in some way Christ is present in the bread and wine. It is only those in the Baptist traditions that make a real big point to deny that it is ‘really body and blood’.
But finding which view is correct was not the point of my comment, it was the fact that transubstantiation was at one time ‘new’.
Why is nobody talking about Juventutem? That was EASILY, without a doubt, the most important aspect of World Youth Day this year. The Traditional Latin Mass trumps any and all other considerations.
“The Catholic Church changes so slow that no one notices. At one point in time, doctrines such as the trinity…were new. But the church did not embrace them immediately, at least not formally. It was not until they were generally believed by the faithful that the church declared them dogma.”
What’s in a word?
+J.M.J+
Kinda reminds me of my experience when I saw the Great John Paul II during his visit to the US back in 1995.
In Jesu et Maria,
transubstantiation was at one time ‘new’
So was the word “homoousion”. That people use new words is hardly news.
Back on topic (commenting on the guest blog), I was particularly moved by the following sentence:
“Papa Benedict blessed all of us, a familiar move, but it’s different when you’re actually there receiving the blessing. When you get blessed like that, you feel as if that’s what you’ve wanted all your life.”
I love that phrase — “you feel as if that’s what you’ve wanted all your life.”
Thanks!
‘thann
John Henry said what I was thinking. Transubstantiation is the “how” behind the fact of the Real Presence. Belief in the Real Presence (that is the changing of the bread and wine into the substance of Christ’s body and blood) has been there from the beginning.
Transubstantiation represents a more full understanding of how the Real Presence comes about and is almost the very definition of the development of doctrine, which is a concept you will need to be familiar with, CSB. While the Holy Spirit leads us to a deeper understanding of certain beliefs over time, He can never contradict himself. The understanding of the Eucharist is a good example of this, actually.
The Papacy (which is, after all, closer to the actual topic of this post) is another good example. While the word “Pope” was not used for some time, the “facts on the ground” of the papacy were there from Peter onwards.
If envy were not a sin, I would be envious of you WYD pilgrims. God bless all y’all.
Wonderful! Pope Benedict the Cute!
Yo Christian Survey Board. I wanna comment on your post that you linked us too.
First:
“Since the modern era there has been a strong push to change some core values of the orthodox Christian faith.”
Sure. But from who? Not from Cardinals. Not from all but a few bishops. Not from most priests. Think about it.
Secondly: (but earlier)
“The strong leader will chose positions carefully, speak to them with clarity and conviction, gain a following regarding the issue and then stand by this issue. ”
Like the church always has. We don’t make stuff up. Ever. Not unless we need too. (for example, Stem Cell research. Whole new tech, is it moral or not?)
Thirdly:
“But the world’s largest denomination has a built in system for continuity, centralized power, lifelong appointments and a claim (however questionable) of apostolic continuity of doctrine.”
How is it questionable? Sure, there have been some rough spots, (where there were three popes…but that was a different time when the Papacy was incorectly viewed as an Italian Prince) but on the whole, how can you question it?
Fourthly:
“Catholic Church changes so slow that no one notices.”
Whoa…it does??!!! Dang. Because in school we read the Suma Theologica and I didn’t disagree with a word of it. Heck, we don’t disagree with the BIBLE. We don’t disagree with our Church Fathers, when have we changed?
Fifthly:
“one point in time, doctrines such as transubstantiation, Assumption of Mary, and even papal infallibility were new. But the church did not embrace them immediately, at least not formally. It was not until they were generally believed by the faithful that the church declared them dogma.”
Sure…like before 100 A.D. But these were not NEW doctrines, these were just mutually understood doctrines. And no, they were declared dogma when they were called into question. For example, in the early church many doctrines were clarified and put down because of the heresies on that point. When people don’t understand things, you clarify. Which is what the church has done.
Lastly:
“If the evangelical movement is going to grow, God must provide us with a leadership structure that does not continually embarrass the faithful followers. How can we do this?”
Um, the pope does not continually embarras the faithful followers. Heck, the largest gathering of peope in the history of the WORLD gathered for JPII’s funeral. And it wasn’t to laugh at his grave.
That is all. Sorry for being off-topic, everyone else, but I felt I had to adress that.
But yeah, B16 is awexsome.
-This- Lutheran was reminded of Revelation 21:25-27.
What a foretaste!
Thanks for the description of WYD, Karen. I’m glad you had the opportunity to go (and to tell us about it!) and I hope your feet have recovered. Anybody know where/when the next one is?
kosh,
I think you may have misunderstood my point a little. The entire post was regarding evangelical leadership. It was intended to encourage evangelical leaders to stay consistant, resist change, and not to beleive the liberal lie (such as that by Bishop Spong) that the church must either “change or die”.
Regarding your six points above, I agreed with the first three. Regarding, four and five, we have some obvious disagreements (see my post above regarding transub). Regarding your last point, I think you misunderstood me. I was not stating that the pope continually embarassed followers, I actually was stating the opposite. JPII, had his problems and I disagreed with him plenty but he was consistant and rarely (with the possible exception of his comments on evolutioin) embarrassed the faithful.
hippo, it will be in Australia. I seem to remember specifically, that it will be in 2008 in Sydney, Australia. And thanks, my feet feel much better, but I’m still trying to get myself un-tired!
Hubby also corrected me a day afterwards and said that 197 countries were there, not 192. 😉
Also I’d like to add, how glorious the Church was, because this really struck me anew, being in the middle of such a wonderful representation. I say this as someone who normally shies from crowds or feels annoyed amidst crowds–I didn’t feel like this there; rather, I felt humbled and in awe, and a part of the grand scheme much more so than when I’m on my own. It became so much more apparent to me, what I already knew: that we are not meant to go through life and God’s path for us completely alone, and that the One Church is God’s provision for this. You look at the joyful, faithful youth and know that the gates of hell did not prevail against us and never will, despite what or who tries to push you to think otherwise.
The experience seemed like a gift to me–a revelation that, even I as a more introverted person, WANT this unity. Also, a small glimpse of what an important aspect of being in heaven must be like: Here on earth, we are separated mainly by the constraints of time, distance, and international boundaries. When such constraints are taken away, such as at World Youth Day, you actually see and feel before you, how much you have been craving this unity without even realizing it, and what a relief it is that everyone else feels it and wants it, and that the unity is very real and attainable.
It makes you take this increased awareness of unity home with you, focus on your unity even when there are once again temporal constraints and boundaries, and work under this new awareness towards this innate craving to be one; to be God’s people, not so-and-so from such-and-such country; and to be one with Him.
Please pray for the pope, who needs our prayers. He asked for our prayers–like each of us, neither can he do what is asked of him all alone, and he realizes this.