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Vatican Aid Said City Will Be Transformed

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Choosing Sydney as the venue for World Youth Day 2008 was an act of faith on the part of Benedict XVI, and the Archdiocese of Sydney, says a Vatican spokesman.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, affirmed this in the most recent edition of Vatican Television's "Octava Dies."

The spokesman is traveling with the Pope as part of his entourage to Australia.

He said he believes that with the Pope's and pilgrims' arrival, "the countenance of the Australian metropolis is being transformed for a week into the world capital of youth, and not just Catholic" youth.

World Youth Day is proving to be the most numerous event in Australia's history. It will attract some 125,000 young pilgrims from all over the world, more than the 2000 Olympic Games.

"It was an act of faith and courage of Cardinal George Pell and of the Church in Australia to invite young people worldwide to Sydney," Father Lombardi acknowledged. "It was an act of faith and courage of the Pope to accept.

"It is an act of faith and courage of the local Churches to send their young people in the measure of their possibilities, despite the cost and exhaustion of a long trip.

"However, no place of the Church is far away. The Spirit leads the disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And every place of the earth is at the center when the Eucharist is celebrated there."

"Many young people," he added, "if unable to be physically present in Sydney, will be there 'virtually,' [...] and many -- and this is what is most important -- will be there spiritually, united in prayer."

"Young people of past World Youth Days are now adults and know up to what point this experience has been wonderful for their lives," said the priest. "Today's young people, tomorrow's adults, will also know that Sydney is close, and that hope and love in the Church's future and in that of the whole of humanity also depends on them."

ZE08071310 - 2008-07-13
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-23196?l=english

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03 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)