August 3, 2022 Reflection – The 33rd Youth Festival in Medjugorje, Day 3
Pilgrims on Apparitions Hill on Day 2 in deep prayer with Jesus!! 33rd Youth Festival in Medjugorje Day 3! August 3, 2022 Dear Family of Mary! Day 2 of the Youth Festival is over, and it was a day of so many graces! The young people climbed Apparition Hill to pray the Rosary and offer this week of prayer and reflection to Our Mother, asking for her guidance and protection! The picture above is of several pilgrims in deep prayer with Jesus on the Cross on Apparition Hill. The Morning Session was filled with wonderful talks and witnesses. The one that impressed me deeply was the testimony of Bishop Jan Sobilo from Ukraine. You don’t want to miss his humble and deeply faith-filled sharing. The Second Session began with a moving testimony by Davide Colono and proceeded with the Rosary, Holy Mass, and a procession with the Statue of Our Lady lovingly carried throughout the crowd!! Adoration ended the day. And no one wanted to leave! They sang and danced with such joy and vigor! The Homily for the Evening Mass was very moving, given by Fr. Massimo Fussarelli, OFM, Franciscan Minister General. I have recorded his opening remarks, as they register the awe and wonder of the Youth Festival. Only Our Lady could create such worship, love and joy! Here are his remarks: Dear Brothers and Sisters and especially you young people in this place, May the Lord grant you His peace. It was a joy and surprise that I received an invitation to be here with you today from His Excellency, Monsignor Aldo Cavalli, whom I greet with brotherly affection. I could not imagine without seeing with my own eyes, such a spectacle of a multitude of faith and prayer. This is a sign that the Lord Jesus still knows how to attract young people and call them into an encounter with Him, to faith and to follow Him with their whole life. Dear young persons, who are filled with anticipation for the future, even at this time which seems to be stealing our future. Today is not just any day, but August 2nd, the day on which we Franciscans, together with the entire Church, humbly ask for and receive Assisi’s forgiveness. Our Lady of the Angels welcomed St. Francis at the Portiuncula and still today welcomes the faithful even at this Franciscan Church. The Virgin Mary welcomes all of us, especially you young people who are still seeking rest and the true consolation of peace. (Excerpt from the homily given on August 2, 2022 at the 33rd Youth Festival in Medjugorje by Fr. Massimo Fussarelli, OFM) Well this day was filled with so much grace. I can’t wait for tomorrow. You can find all the sessions on the home page in the archive entitled “Youth Festival 2022) Here is the schedule for Day 3 of the Youth Festival: WEDNESDAY, 3. 8. 2022 09.00 Prayer to the Holy Spirit 09.30 Catechesis 10.30 Testimonies 12.00 The Angelus RECESS 17.00 Testimonies 18.00 Rosary 19.00 Holy Mass 20.30 – 21.30 Meditation with candles Prayer before the Cross Let’s pray for the young people that all the gifts and graces God has for them will be received!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV.TV Mary TV will stream all the events of the 33rd Youth Festival in Medjugorje! Everything will be live on our channel! Join us at https://marytv.tv/ for the entire 6 days of joy! Join us!! And remember every session of the festival is recorded and posted on our website on the homepage, in the window entitled “Youth Festival 2022”