Channeling Youth Enthusiasm for a Renewed Sense of Mission in the Church - 2019 (BJMM005)

 

Channeling Youth Enthusiasm for a Renewed Sense of Mission in the Church

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath, published in 'The Living Word in 2019)

In every age youth have been dubbed as an enigma and it is the same even in the present times. On the one hand they are the source of life and joy and, at the same time, the greatest concern of most families and communities is surely youth and their erratic ways. They are at once the hope as well as the cause of great anxiety for the Church and society. No wonder in various ways every community looks for strategies to positively build up the young ones as well as to mitigate the negative youth trends.

The Church has always paid special attention to the young generation, knowing well that the continuance of her mission that the Lord entrusted her is in the hands of young ones. Moreover, they will bring in new life and enthusiasm to all aspects of Church life. The strongest indication of Church’s interest in the younger generation in recent times has been the Youth Synod that Pope Francis convened. Different preparatory steps that ran up to the big event became “the expression of the Church’s wish to listen to all young people, without exception” [1]. More than anything else, the Synod itself, the various documents that came out in connection with it and several other initiatives that it occasioned, have together brought youth and their challenges and possibilities into greater focus.

I.      Youth, surely a big promise

As was already mentioned, young people are receiving a preferential attention these days, but who are these young people that we discuss? How can they be described? The United Nations categorizes youth as those between 15 and 24 years[2] . And they say that this age bracket is flexible. The age group that the Youth Synod considered was 16 to 29 years[3]. But many other organizations tend to stretch the age with their eyes on the functional expediency and practical benefits. A consumer related study of youth categories remarks that “The traditional demographic definition of ‘youth’ is no longer applicable in today’s society, and marketers should target consumers based upon their engagement and participation in youth culture rather than on their chronological age”[4]. Their strong contention is that in practical terms those in the age groups of 25 to 34 should, for all practical purposes, be considered ‘youth’. Today’s tendency is not to rigidly speak of youth as an age category, but rather to speak of youth culture[5] with a broad age category in the backdrop. This approach of considering ‘youth as what youth do’ is significant so that they will not be looked upon as a recipient category who will enter and leave the ‘revolving doors’ of organizations but will be respected as partners in mission sharing an ever-continuing path in the Church and the world.

They are big in numbers: The overwhelming headcount of the youth and children in the contemporary world, though in its own right is significant, is not the whole reason for a youth priority policy in the Church and society. But it can never be forgotten that nearly half of the world’s population is under the age of 25, that is about 3 billion of them, and about 85 per cent of the world’s youth live in the developing countries[6]. If you are in Asia or Africa surely the presence of the younger ones is more than half.

They are deeply influential: Today the influence of teens and youth in family decisions is undisputed. Gone are the days when elders ordered, and youth obeyed. In most practical decisions now-a-days youth are either the decision makers or have a critical influence[7]. ‘Kidfluence’[8] is already an accepted term in the language and at the same time a very strong present-day reality, very powerful in purchases[9], but also in a variety of social behaviours. In communities if youth as a group take a stand that will have far reaching consequences.

They are in touch with ‘today’: To operate a gadget, to get some quick information you need youth. In a technology driven world youth have a big say. “What can global business leaders learn from a 14-year-old kid in a cyber cafe in Bangalore, India? …Just about everything”[10]. In a world of fast spreading and fast changing communication modes and means, youth are at the heart of it all. As communication becomes synonymous with technology without the youth skill the families and communities become out of touch with daily life.

They are there where things happen: For a communicating generation social networking sites are the place to be. Out of the total world population of 7.6 billion, 57% or 4.3 billion are present on the internet and about 45% or 3.5 billion are active users of social media[11]. Globally, Facebook still reigns supreme among the social media. During the first quarter of 2019 there were 2.38 billion Facebook users worldwide of which 58% (35% males and 23% females) were between the age of 18 and 34. To check the US teenage trend, which often is the future indication of social media use, 85% use YouTube, 72% Instagram, 69% Snapchat and only 51% use Facebook[12].  Youth are surely in touch with the dynamic realities of the contemporary world. Art, music, politics, sports – young people are close to all these areas where there is life, action and creativity. And definitely, being in touch with youth is the best way to be in touch with the world.

Idealistic and innovative: What characterize the youthful spirit, more than all else, is idealism. Dictionary.com defines ‘idealism’ as ‘the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc’. “Most children I have come to know, whether rich or poor,” remarks Peter Dalglish, founder of Street Kids International, “have a profound longing to do something worthwhile with their lives. They speak to me about their desire to protect Brazil's tropical rain forests or rescue green turtles in Indonesia or help street children in Central America. …What happens over time to this deep-set idealism? Unfortunately, even the most independent young adults usually succumb to relentless messages from peers, family members and the corporate world that earning a big income must be their top priority”[13].

High potential as agents of change: Even though very often youth are kept aloof from decision making and policy implementation by the top leadership due to a variety of reasons, young people have an extraordinary capacity to effect change. Discussing the immense potential of youth as peace builders Felice and Wisler hint at the core of youth character: “Young people are searching for new ideas and open to new challenges while adults have already formed their dogmatic discourses”[14]. Youth in general are open to change, future oriented and daring. These three qualities in a way make up inevitable ingredients of an effective agent of social transformation.

 What the Council Fathers spoke about young people more than half a century ago remains all the more relevant and important in contemporary times. “Young people exert a very important influence in modern society. The circumstances of their life, their habits of thought, their relations with their families, have been completely transformed” [15]. The unique place and importance of youth in today’s families and communities indicates the special mission they have in today’s society. Many of them surely have dreams and are eager to take responsibilities, but ‘the powers that be’ in the communities and institutions very often either do not find them suitable for any significant roles or just don’t take them seriously. Here again the Council Fathers suggested an entirely different attitude towards the young generation. “The growth of their social importance demands from them a corresponding apostolic activity; and indeed their natural character inclines them in this direction” [16].

For one thing, it is good to ask why in most families and communities youth are often taken for granted, in spite of their proved competence in a variety of avenues. In every Catholic parish an average young person past mid-20’s is educated, reasonably well employed and handles significant professional responsibilities. But unfortunately, he or she may never be looked upon as a source of any important information or leadership in the home community. Consequently, most of them keep away from community responsibilities also. One major reason for the distrust of the new generation by the seniors and those in authority is the immature behaviour of youth and their restlessness regarding the ‘old ways’ at home or in their communities. As the recent papal document Christus Vivit mentions, "Much of the longing present in the hearts of young people can be summed up in the word 'restlessness'" [17]. In brief the very smart youth of today are rendered misfits due to their ‘restlessness’ with the existing state of affairs and sometimes with the traditional attitudes and ways of doing things at home and in the community.

In connection with this Pope Francis quotes his predecessor's homily at the Mass with young people in Sydney in 1970. "As Saint Paul VI said, 'In the very discontent that you often feel… a ray of light is present'. Restless discontent, combined with exhilaration before the opening up of new horizons, generates a boldness that leads you to stand up and take responsibility for a mission." [18] The need of the hour is to have visionaries like these two popes who look at young people, their restlessness with the present state of affairs, and to see them as the true hope as well as agents of positive change of our communities. Helping young people grow is not to help them come out of this restlessness but come to see it in a positive light and to use it for creative commitment, as “This healthy restlessness typical of youth continues to dwell in every heart that remains young, open and generous” [19].

II.   Preparing youth to be the agents of change

What are some of the effective approaches and means to help youth to assume their rightful role of initiators of positive changes in their living situations? Today the Church believes that “youth must not simply be considered as an object of pastoral concern for the Church: in fact, young people are and ought to be encouraged to be active on behalf of the Church as leading characters in evangelization and participants in the renewal of society” [20]. The foundation of such an approach is that there is much that the Church and society can learn from today’s youth and there is much that the youth can contribute to growth of the Church and society. But then naturally a question arises, are the youth we come across able to rise to these grandiose expectations? Even when we talk about the great potentialities of the young these riches are as if in clay pots.

‘Youth is wasted on the young’, the tongue-in-the-cheek quote from the famous Irish writer, in a way, depicts the dilemma regarding our young people. On the one hand today’s youth are such a great promise and possibility, yet they as one section of society are the greatest cause of concern and, often, disappointment for families and communities. It is in this connection that we search for effective ways of extending support to help youth to be ‘real youth’.  There is indeed a pressing need for suitable personnel and befitting approaches to prepare youth to fulfil their God given destiny as leaders and initiators of positive change around them and to build a world that is nearer to their sublime ideals.

Anyone who would like to accompany youth should realize that youth is a time of great joy as well as immense pain. In a variety of ways youth of today, more than in any other age, go through deep frustration and pain. Change is a big reality in all ages of the past and it affects young people more than any other section of society, but what characterize contemporary times is multipronged, rapid and profound transformations that happen in a variety of fields. Surely these technological, cultural and socio-economic changes and the need to adapt to them upset the young lives deeply. To make things worse teenage and youth are unsettling times for any person when he or she goes through complex growth pangs. With all these highly unsettling and traumatizing external and internal challenges young age could appear to be the most unsuitable time to take big steps for oneself or for the society at large. But creation and new birth take place when the Spirit of God hovers over darkness and void (Gen 1:2) and very often chaotic times in life are the most productive periods. With a bit of sympathetic and perceptive support from a ‘significant other’ a young person’s life can be transformed from chaos to fruitfulness.

From a Christian perspective what are some of the significant components or steps that will help form a motivated and dynamic young person?

 It is important that we view youth effectiveness formation as a journey that goes through significant steps of faith and commitment. They are: i) An invitation, ii) An encounter experience (Initiation), iii) Examining one’s values and priorities (Faith rootedness), iv) Developing a lifestyle (forming habits), v) Growing in a community (relationships & culture), vi) Formation for personal effectiveness (Self-esteem & Leadership), and vii) Fostering Commitments. Though not entirely identical, Catechism Catholic Church also speaks of some similar ingredients: “Catechesis is built on a certain number of elements of the Church’s pastoral missions, . . . , that prepare for catechesis, or spring from it. They are, the initial proclamation of the gospel . . ., examination of the reasons for belief, experience of Christian living, celebration of the sacraments, integration into the ecclesial community and apostolic and missionary witness” [21]. In this manner a young person is prepared to live a life of fruitfulness.

i. Befriending and invitation: Youth accompaniment begins with a step from a youth friendly elder or a zealous young person, going out to a youth and inviting him or her to an event or a gathering. In the words of Pope Francis, “The Church which ‘goes forth’ is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice” [22]. Such a contact often takes place in a friendly setting or in the context of a common interest. Joy-filled social gatherings, social media, sports and games, cultural events and so on can create opportunities for an initial contact with a young person or a group of youth. What makes this befriending step different from the usual incidents of social interaction is that in a formative journey these will be followed up to a deeper walk-in faith and on-going Christian companionship. In other words, the mentor has in his or her mind an invite-immerse-equip-send paradigm.

ii. Leading youth to a personal Encounter: Sooner or later the person invited is led, to what in Christina parlance called, an Encounter.  A proper adult initiation or encounter is the foundation on which the other important elements of growth are to be built up. For some youth this happens in a session of retreat or reflection, but for others during social exposure or being in a place of suffering. But a few things invariably happen during such an encounter: i. The person begins to take his or her life seriously, ii. He or she starts to connect with a few significant others, and iii. The person is eager to take some visible commitment in life. “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction” [23]. A person very often experiences a serious shift in life beginning with an encounter experience in life. Today there prevails a great fallacy of presuming that everyone has had a proper Christian initiation. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI “It often happens that Christians are more concerned for the social, cultural and political consequences of their commitment, continuing to think of the faith as a self-evident presupposition for life in society. In reality, not only can this presupposition no longer be taken for granted, but it is often openly denied” [24]. Unfortunately, most of our regular parish contexts or activities are not ideal setting for such an experiential encounter, but they could be very good places for the follow up. Familiarity, misplaced focus and time constraints, often, come in the way of a serious look at one’s life and taking a significant step towards a new encounter.

iii. Examination of one’s values and priorities: A committed life is built on the bedrock of reflected values and personally examined faith. Sorry to say, today’s value upbuilding or faith formation is very often done as an academic exercise that is textbook assisted, examination oriented and syllabus focused, and this, though it may serve some teaching purpose, falls short of imparting convincing personal formation. JPII talks of “a catechesis capable of leading the adolescent to re-examine his or her life and to engage in dialogue, a catechesis that does not ignore the adolescent’s great questions . . . such a catechesis can be decisive” [25]. Today young people question their beliefs very early. Listening to these, very often raised only among their peers, and effectively accompanying them in their search will serve as an important step in the formation of their convictions.

 iv.   Promoting a lifestyle of commitment: Forming habits of commitment is an expected outcome of effective value formation. Every good teacher after inculcating clear values leads the pupil to practicing of a lifestyle. In a Christian community there is ample emphasis on a lifestyle. Acts 2:42 speaks of certain sure pillars of faith to which the early Christians committed their lives. This in turn ensured the formation of a community that practiced such a lifestyle.  Helping young people to commit themselves to certain habits of life is important for a fruitful life. This is also a natural corollary to the personal encounter that launched their lives on a serious note and the rediscovering of significant values. In Jesus’ words, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”[26]; it is not enough that young people come to a new discovery, but they should be helped to fashion their daily lives in a manner that befits this newness that they have discovered.

v. Community participation: Friendship is the most cherished thing in the life of a youth and so having a friendship circle that is passionate about faith and values is the best formative arrangement in the life of a young person. A gathering of individuals turns into a community when there is enough mutual communication, they have a distinct culture and they act together. For the past many decades, in her abundant wisdom, the Church has been promoting SCC or Small Christian Communities where people can know one another and experience living and acting together. So, bringing interested youth together and helping them to grow into a cohesive fellowship with goals of mission and commitment will build every one of them into truly committed individuals. Promoting a general mind-set of sharing and caring in the group, sporadic outreaches, discussion and reflection on creative initiatives in the context of their life, are some of the possible ways to promote a sense of communion.

vi. Focus on Personal Effectiveness: Today’s youth spend time and money to equip themselves for successful careers. ‘Soft-skills’ has become a favourite buzzword in academic and youth guidance sessions. Self-awareness, goal setting, positive attitude, joyful habits, effective communication, leadership and similar topics find prominence there. It is important that while helping youth towards missionary effectiveness these personal effectiveness aspects also receive ample attention. Rather these must be integrated into the path of guidance that the youth are taken through.

vii. Leading to commitment & mission: Papa Francesco speaks of an urgent need for a missionary twist that can dramatically change all that we do in Church, including youth formation: “I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation” [27]. “Go” is the catchword of mission, and today it is going to the peripheries: “Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the ‘peripheries’ in need of the light of the Gospel” [28]. As we already mentioned youth is a time of idealism and they come alive when they are challenged to relevant avenues of mission. Reaching out to other young people in need, to people in poverty and suffering, making use of media and art for value formation and the like easily motivate young people. A missionary engenders other missionaries; a significant other who has commitments and passions in life will easily challenge young people to take steps of mission in their lives.

An aimless life is surely a miserable life. In a bygone age and social context securing even the bare minimum for a living required endless toil, and so a search for higher goals in life was unimaginable for a large section of people. But for a young person living in these modern times, life’s necessities are taken care of and they are generally in search of some superior thrill and challenging adventure. Surely, Christianity has up in its sleeves highly interesting and challenging commitments to offer to every young person. Presenting such attractive commitments in a manner and language that youth would appreciate is an important challenge for those who offer help to young people.

III.      Accompanying youth toward a committed life

The recent Synod on young people was a clarion call for effective youth accompaniment.  At the Synod, “many pointed to the shortage of qualified people devoted to accompaniment. …. The Synod also recognized the need to train consecrated persons and laypeople, male and female, to accompany young people. The charism of listening that the Holy Spirit calls forth within the communities might also receive institutional recognition as a form of ecclesial service” [29]. In our communities there must be a greater resolve to offer closer interaction with young people in general and a more focused plan to journey with those manifest further commitment. As the Pope urges, "There is also a special need to accompany young men and women showing leadership potential, so that they can receive training and the necessary qualifications" [30].

An important question is, who should accompany young people? Everyone who cares about youth should make it their priority to enter the world of youth and actively journey with them, including those in leadership, like the clergy, religious and men and women faithful. At the different stages of Youth Synod there were references to the required qualities of those who accompany youth:

The qualities of such a mentor include: being a faithful Christian who engages with the Church and the world; someone who constantly seeks holiness; someone who is a confidant without judgement. Similarly, someone who actively listens to the needs of young people and responds in kind; someone deeply loving and self-aware; someone who recognizes his or her limits and knows the joys and sorrows of the spiritual journey. An especially important quality in mentors is the acknowledgement of their own humanity – the fact that they are human beings who make mistakes: not perfect people but forgiven sinners. … Mentors should not lead young people as passive followers, but walk alongside them, allowing them to be active participants in the journey. They should respect the freedom that comes with a young person’s process of discernment and equip them with tools to do so well. … All such mentors should benefit from being well-formed, and engage in ongoing formation.[31]

In a sense there is no dearth of mentors and events of youth animation in our midst, but there is a pressing need for an ‘aggiornamento’. The words and deeds of the present Pontiff are a constant challenge and inspiration for effective youth accompaniment in tune with the contemporary times. He strongly urges us “to abandon the complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way’”, and he invites “everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods” [32].  What could be some of the important points to keep in mind as we help youth to come alive in their mission today?

1. Begin with listening: “Those of us who are no longer young need to find ways of keeping close to the voices and concerns of young people” [33]. This is the best way to connect with them and also get ourselves formed to become effective instruments in the Lord’s hands. “listening makes possible an exchange of gifts in a context of empathy… At the same time, it sets the conditions for a preaching of the Gospel that can touch the heart truly, decisively and fruitfully” [34]. A setting and attitude of listening that opens the doors of lively dialogue is the best backdrop for an effective and fruitful accompaniment.

2. Tackling boredom is real: The framework of the contemporary youth mind set, we are aware of; but most of us don’t take it seriously. Advice turns them off and reprimand turns them away; and dogmatism is counter-productive. Instead, there is a need to appeal to the heart. St. Francis, Don Bosco and all other effective teachers following the mode of Jesus have done it. In imparting information or aspects of values and faith, start with the tangible and move towards the incorporeal. If possible, like the Lord himself, recreate life and use drama. Use of the media is also important.

3. Reflection is the key: These days, teaching is abounding, but reflection is absent; retreats are growing and personal time we have done away with. “Although the young may enjoy the support of the members of their family and their friends, they have to rely on themselves and their own conscience and must ever more frequently and decisively assume responsibility for their destiny” [35]. Hence, sessions of formation should have spaces for youth to think for themselves, discuss with their peers and express seeming disagreement. This is integral to a re-possession of their faith. Group discussions, structured experiences, role plays, all followed by guided reflection can be very beneficial. In this context comes the significance of suitable adoration session and other relevant prayer times.

3. Mission is a culture that is joyfully lived today: The Church eagerly welcome post-synodal Grassroots Movements, some of them initiated by youth or those close to them, as they are able to balance fidelity to core tenets yet enthusiastically living it in the context of contemporary culture. World Youth Days initiated by JPII galvanized it. Youth need meaningful celebration. They need to have relevant cultural celebrations in consonance with contemporary modes yet rooted in faith. Such an approach to life and faith results in genuine commitment to mission.

4. Never teach hatred nor try divisive approaches: Contemporary generation finds religion as most selfish, unreasonable and divisive. When they look around such instances abound.  It is important that we not only preach forgiveness and reconciliation, but also practice real tolerance and acceptance of difference.

5. Participative and team-based efforts: Involvement of all kinds, most of them look forward to. What is most important is not our plans nor projects ‘from above’, but their ideas and initiatives. So, provide chances to do interesting projects, do-it-yourself sessions and creative service. When they work in teams youth become extremely efficient and fruitful.  There surely is a pedagogy that is full of friendship, fun and play. Yet it is also important to remember that competitions and matches are short sighted route to promote initiative and participation.

6. They need heroes and opportunities for adventure: We hear of youth who are fed up with flavourless spirituality and running to radical forms of religion. May be, we fail to show that history of the Church is packed with examples of sublime heroism. It is important to connect youth with this, but also there is need to provide activity space today. Age specific relevant forms of projects and trips, service initiatives, and the like could be steps in this line.

7. Caring and mercy are very much in the air: And youth love the spirit of ‘Laudato Si’ as well as the driving spirit of the Year of Mercy. We live in a society where all these became only the topics of seminars and some insipid rituals.  An active faith that looks at nature and life with a sense of commitment and move forward with a motivation for involvement is what youth look forward to.

              “The increase in the number of young people is without doubt a fact charged with hope and at the same time with anxiety for a large part of the contemporary world”[36]. This is true not just for the nations in general, but for Church and for each local community. Along with this there is a growing perplexity concerning the myriad influences and their impact on the young generation. The Church looks at formation of youth leadership and channeling out of their immense creative energy as an effective solution in the above context, but surely it has to be refocused and reoriented to be the “new wine put into fresh wineskins”[37]. And let us not forget that a community where youth find a space to be creatively active and receive respect, freedom and care, that community is on a path of active growth, and its future is bright.

 

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[1] Baldissery, Lorenzo Card. Presentation. Instrumentum Laboris. Synod Bishops 2018.

[2] "By youth, with youth, for youth". UNESCO. Accessed 24 July 2019. <https://en.unesco.org/youth>

[3] Pope Francis. Christus Vivit. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. 2019, 68.

[4]  "Youth No Longer Defined by Chronological Age; Consumers Stay ‘Younger’ Longer". Marketing Charts.J Watershed Publishing. Accessed on 24 July 2019. http://www.marketingcharts.com/topics/asia-pacific/youth-no-longer-defined-by-chronological-age-35-is-new-18-6530/>

[5] Heaven, Cara and Mathew Tubidy. "Global Youth Culture and Youth Identity". UNESCO. Accessed on 25 July 2019  <https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e3a1/d600dea8e70e943925f1e8d5867d52f11abb.pdf>

[6] World Population Foundation. Accessed on 25 July 2019 < https://www.advocatesforyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/storage//advfy/documents/fsstateworld.pdf>

[7] “Who's the Boss? Teens Influence Household Spending Worldwide”. Emarketer. Accessed on 25 July 2019. <https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Whos-Boss-Teens-Influence-Household-Spending-Worldwide/1015039>

[8] “Kidfluence” < https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kidfluence>

[9] “Kidfluence: How Kids Influence Buying Behavior”. Viacom. Accessed on 25 July 2019. <https://www.viacom.com/news/kidfluence-kids-influence-buying-behavior>

[10] "Young World Revolution! - Youth, Technology and Business with Rob Salkowitz". YouTube. Accessed on 25 July 2019. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuHEc5GS8Qc>

[11] Digital Around the World in 2019. Hootsuite Global Report. Accessed on 25 July 2019. <https://hootsuite.com/pages/digital-in-2019>

[12] "Wild and Interesting Facebook Statistics and Facts (2019)". Kinsta. Accessed on 25 July 2019. <https://kinsta.com/blog/facebook-statistics/>

[13] Dalglish, Peter. "Harnessing Youthful Idealism and Dreams". Family Care Foundation. Accessed on 25 July 2019 <http://www.familycare.org/opinions/harnessing-youthful-idealism-and-dreams/>

[14] Felice, Celina Del and Andria Wisler. “The Unexplored Power and Potential of Youth as Peace-builders”. P.24, Journal of Peace Conflict & Development Issue 11, November 2007. www.peacestudiesjournal.org.uk

[15] Vatican Council II, Apostolicam Actuositatem (Lay People), 12.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Pope Francis. Christus Vivit. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. 2019. 138.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Pp. John Paul II. Christifideles Laici. 46

[21] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 6

[22] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), 24.

[23] Pp. Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 217

[24] Pp. Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 2.

[25] Catechesi Tradendae, 38

[26] John 13:17

[27] Pp Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 27

[28] Evangelii Gaudium, 20.

[29] Christus Vivit, 244

[30] Christus Vivit, 245

[31] Christus Vivit 246.

[32] Evangelii Gaudium, 33.

[33] Christus Vivit, 38.

[34] Ibid.

[35] Catechesi Tradendae, 30.

[36] Catechesi Tradendae, 35.

[37] Mt. 9:17