We shall be concluding the Eastern Season with the Feast of the Pentecost and in a special way with the call that the Pope made in Rome to more than a hundred ecclesial movements and new communities to celebrate together this feast which will have as its central theme, “The Beauty of Being Christians and theJoy of Communicating This.” (www.laici.org)The Pope is very hopeful in the lay movements – as well as in the VMY-, and supports their formative, educative and missionary richness. We unite spiritually with the thousands of pilgrims who shall be going to Rome to be renewed by the Spirit in our commitment in favor of the young people and the poor.As such we may continue to our walk as a Church with enthusiasm and with the assurance that the power of the Spirit of God lives within us, that we are called to give witness to this new law of love.

Let us allow that the breath of the Spirit may refresh and renew us in our personal, familial, group and societal commitments. We are members of a dynamic association formed by young people who are in a constant search, one that makes our hearts restless until we find it and do the will of God, the way St. Augustine said, “Lord, thou hast made us for Thyselfand our heart is restless until it rests in Thee. “

In the Acts of the Apostles 2:2-11 the marvelous signs that manifest the presence of God among the disciples was described to us.The text speaks about a sudden gust of violent wind, tongues of fire, the bravery of the apostles, gift of tongues, noisy conversations, etc.Now, we discover these signs in the constant call of God and in those daily events which challenge us to follow him in love.

This true love that makes us go out of ourselves and submit to others without conditions requires us to become better in all levels. We could not conform ourselves to a social work or a weekly group meeting, if we would not reaffirm our faith with human Christian formation and with the celebration of the sacraments, in a special way the Eucharist which Christ gave us in the purest, simplest and most sublime manner.

Therefore, let us provide a time for silence, contemplation, listening to God and His word in the programming of our activities. Let us allow Him to become the meaning of our lives, activities, faith and hope. The giving witness of our acts and evangelize through them is the great ecclesial commitment that we have. Our members need models to be followed, models that are coherent between what they say and what they do, so that the love that we proclaim is shown when we look for the good of others. “Jesus got up from the table, removed his outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…”(Jn. 13, 4-5).

Let us express our love to Mary by praying the holy rosary, with the commitment that we assume in the Marian Consecration so that together with her, we may discover, follow, love and surrender ourselves to Him the way Mary did for the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Dorys Castillo

VMY International Councilor