Most Urgent Prayer Request Ever

Friends, there is a situation in dire need of your prayers.

Long story short, there is a young woman I've come to know in California who is faced with a crisis pregnancy.  She is 4 months pregnant but has an appointment for tomorrow to abort the child.

We have spent hours on the phone and from our conversations it is very clear that she is paralyzed by fear and may simply coast into the abortion because she cannot think or feel because of the stress.

PLEASE pray.  Offer an Our Father.  Beg Our Lady of Lourdes to intercede!  Offer your daily Mass intention, cut 20 minutes of Olympics watching to offer a Rosary, please storm the gates of Heaven for this young woman, and the countless other women in the same position that never seek help!!!

Powerful words from Flannery O'Connor

“Push back against the age as hard as it pushes against you. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.”

The Final Chapter (teasers)

Beach Day, gay parade, condom in my face, biggest World Youth Day?, Vigil body-dodging, grace bomb, temporary imprisonment, concelebrating with the Pope, sunset, Pizza Hut again, Sugar Loaf, meat parade.

I'll fill it out as I can tonight!  It's our last night in Rio, so we're going to live it up!

The Victory of the Cross

Yesterday was all about the Cross, and how fitting for Friday.  

It started off with very little suffering...we took the morning and midday to soak up the first rays of sunshine we've seen since day 1 and chilled on the Copacabana beach.  The dudes had a blast getting beaten up in the surf and the ladies held down the fort taking in a little extra vitamin D.  I wish I could show you the waves!  There were a good couple that were probably in the 15-20 foot category, and man do they pack a punch!

After a quick shower and change, we went back to Copacabana to greet the Holy Father again.  This time I didn't bother with my fancy camera and just used my iPhone.  I posted his driveby on my YouTube channel.  Here's the link:

http://youtu.be/6-3eLVPXzb0

I was able to screen capture a front image and a back image as he whipped past us.

Unfortunately, he was favoring the left side again , but still a huge thrill to be so close to the new Pope.  I'm reminded of Acts 5:15.  Check it out.

On Fridays during World Youth Day, they always have a specia dramatic portrayal of the Stations of the Cross, and this was by far the most amazing Stations I've ever been to in my life...no joke, no hyperbole.  The reflections they had at each station were spot on powerful points to ponder for teens, covering everything from how we treat the poor to breaking our addiction to social media.  The music was spectacular (and I'll completely admit to being a snob when it comes to music, especially liturgical music).  The Holy Father then had some great words to encourage us all to really examine what the Lord is trying to personally give us through his gift of love on the cross and what we can give the Lord through the crosses that we carry.  "No matter how big or small our crosses are, the Lord carries them with us."

Full text: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-wyd-way-of-the-cross-full-text/?frommarfeel=yes

This is where things got hairy.  

The girls wanted to stay for the post-concert to see Matt Maher perform, but the guys were tuckered out, so one of the other chaperones and I walked them back to the hotel.  Stephen and our videographer Ryan stayed with the ladies.  Back at the ranch, I kicked off my sandy Nikes and took a little rest on the couch in my room.  We were going to have Mass when everyone returned from the concert, so I couldn't get too comfy.

As I began to dose, Stephen knocked on the door.  I opened the door and noticed immediately something wasn't right.  He said "Padre, it's been a terrible night."  He was still riding the adrenaline from whatever had just happened.  His brow was sweaty and there as a focus in his eyes I've never seen before.  

"Masked protestors stormed the concert.  Some had gas masks and others had facial coverings that said 'F*** the Pope'."

As he caught his breath, he told me how, as Matt was playing, some 200 protestors just rushed the stage.  The military police present went on high alert, but the masked morons, as I like to call them, were already into the crowd.  Stephen and Ryan grabbed the girls and, by their good instincts, got the heck out of there and brought the girls to safety away from all the commotion.

Here's the only article I can find that documents last night's incident: http://www.demotix.com/news/2294789/protesters-crash-world-youth-day-festivities-rio-de-janeiro#media-2294774

The girls were pretty shaken, but everyone was OK.  We had a relatively silent dinner as we all took in what happened.

This morning we were able to talk about it a little, having now a little separation form the incident.  

For good news, we have been offered to watch tonight's vigil from a roof top balcony.  I think we're going to take it :)

We're a pretty resilient group, we 2 million Catholics are!  We'll certainly play it safe, but no doofus with a mask on is going to take our joy.  The faith shines its brightest when it is persecuted, when it stands against ignorance and protest with steadfast hope and perfect charity.

Please pray for the peace of Bazil.  These protestors are angry not at the Church per se, but at their government.  May they respond to their civil woes with peaceful protest, leaving us pilgris to worship our Lord and to intercede for the World's Youth.

Where we were

You can't see us, but we're there!  Bottom center of shot.

This was right at the start of the welcome.

Popacabana

Sorry for no post last night...I was simply too tired.  

Yesterday was an amazing day.  The weather still left much to be desired, but the cold dampness couldn't take away our joy--or the joy of the 1.5 MILLION people who gathered on Copacabana to greet the Holy Father.

We started the day with Mass in the hotel.  Well, it was actually outside on the breakfast terrace.  I fear the length of my homily may have exposed the kids to hypothermia, but what can you do? It was the feast of St. James! 

Stephen got word that Pope was to arrive on the beach just two blocks from our hotel, so we walked down the street to stake our claim.  There we stood for four hours.  You have to be ruthless (or even #fearless) when standing your ground at a papal event.  People who randomly walk up 2 minutes before the Pope arrives feel they have just as much a right to be up front as you do, you who have stood in the same spot in the cold rain for 4 hours.  It's a matter of justice.  Throw some bows.

Pope Francis arrived just after 5:30 PM.  He drove right by us in the open-air popemobile, just 10 feet from where we stood.

I got no pictures of the moment.  Not because I wanted to take it in and enjoy the moment, but because my Canon T2i, as good a camera as it is, failed me by not being able to focus fast enough in the ever dimming light.  I'll see if I can get someone else's photo to post here.

The best part was how excited the teens were. It's a special moment when you see the Pope in person for the first time.  You can see the seeds of faith begin to bud out from its earthy covering.  And it makes perfect sense too; the Pope, as the successor of St. Peter takes on the charge the first pope received from Jesus himself: "Peter, I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32).

I'll let him say it in his own words: "Looking out to this sea, the beach and all of you gathered here, I am reminded of the moment when Jesus called the first disciples to follow him by the shores of Lake Tiberias. Today Christ asks each of us again: Do you want to be my disciple? Do you want to be my friend? Do you want to be a witness to my Gospel? In the spirit of The Year of Faith, these questions invite us to renew our commitment as Christians. Your families and local communities have passed on to you the great gift of faith, Christ has grown in you. I have come today to confirm you in this faith, faith in the living Christ who dwells within you, but I have also come to be confirmed by the enthusiasm of your faith!"

Full text: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-prayer-service-with-wyd-pilgrims-full

The Lord is up to something in this Pope Francis!  

Cardinals, and I'm not talking St. Louis

This morning we went to a Catechesis session with...wait for it... Cardinal Dolan from the Archdiocese of New York.

He spoke about the virtue of hope and the threats to that hope, and it was awesome.  We had the double blessing of getting to attend Mass with him.  His homily was a variation on the World Youth Day theme, "Go and Make Disciples," telling us that before you can go, you must first come.  Come to the Lord!  Find your identity in him and in nothing else.

At the end, we met Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, Australia.

We had to visit the Cathedral as a group...you can't be on a Catholic pilgrimage and not visit the Church that is the spiritual heart of the place.  We got a sweet group shot there too.

Tonight will bring us to Life Teen's XLT event an tomorrow we'll welcome Pope Francis!