Benedict to Young Folks

A call to arms on the occasion of the publication of the new Youth Catechism, YouCat.  Excerpts:

...I ask you: study the catechism with passion and perseverance!...In whatever way, remain in dialogue on your faith!

You must know what you believe; you must know your faith with the same precision with which a programming specialist knows the operating system of a computer; you must know it like a musician knows his piece. Yes, you must be much more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of your parents, in order to be able to resist forcefully and decisively against the temptations of this time.

You need divine help, if your faith does not want to dry up like a drop of dew in the sun, if you do not want to succumb to the temptations of consumerism, if you do not want your love to drown in pornography, if you do not want to betray the weak and the victims of abuse and violence.

If you dedicate yourselves with passion to the study of the catechism, I would still like to give you one last bit of advice: you all know how the community of believers has recently been wounded by the attacks of evil, by the penetration of sin inside, even into the heart of the Church. Do not take this as a pretext to flee from the presence of God; you yourselves are the body of Christ, the Church! Carry intact the flame of your love in this Church every time that men have obscured its face. "Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Romans 12:11).

When Israel was at the darkest point of its history, God called to help not the great and respected persons, but a young man named Jeremiah; Jeremiah felt charged with a mission that was too great: "'Ah, Lord God!' I said, 'I know not how to speak; I am too young'." (Jeremiah 1:6). But God did not let himself be dissuaded: "Say not, 'I am too young'. To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak" (Jeremiah 1:7).

I bless you and pray for all of you every day...