蜜桃交友

By Lisa Zengarini

鈥淚t is an honor to serve Jesus when He gives His life for us in the Eucharist鈥�, but "serving the Mass requires a follow-up."

Pope Francis underscored this point on Friday as he addressed a pilgrimage of some 1,200 young altar servers from France gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican.

A model for other young people

Reflecting on the theme chosen for the pilgrimage, led by Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort of Reims 鈥� 鈥楥ome, Serve and Go!鈥� 鈥� the Pope said they should be 鈥減roud鈥� of what they do, because through their participation in the liturgy, they 鈥渙ffer everyone a concrete witness of the Gospel鈥� and 鈥渃an be a model鈥� for many young people of their age.

Serving Jesus in the people around us

At the same time, Pope Francis remarked that their mission does not end at Mass, but continues in serving their neighbours in need.

鈥淎fter serving Jesus at Mass, He sends you to serve Him in the people you meet every day, especially if they are poor and disadvantaged, because He is particularly united with them,鈥� said the Pope.

He, therefore, urged them to reach out in particular to their peers living in difficult neighbourhoods, or who face great suffering and even addictions, and to young migrants and refugees.

Prefer 鈥渞eal friendships鈥� to 鈥渧irtual ones鈥�

Insisting on the importance of 鈥渃loseness鈥�, Pope Francis further called on the French altar servers not to fall into the temptation of selfishness, of withdrawing into themselves, in small groups, and in virtual social networks.

He said they should prefer 鈥渞eal friendships鈥� to 鈥渧irtual ones鈥�, which are 鈥渋llusory鈥�, imprison them and separate them from reality.

Cherishing relationships with grandparents

Pope Francis went on to encourage the young pilgrims to cherish their relationships with their grandparents, reiterating once again that the elderly are a 鈥渘ecessary resource鈥� for young people鈥檚 human maturity and for their faith.

Dream big

At the same time, Pope Francis encouraged the French altar servers to 鈥渄ream big鈥� and to cultivate their aspirations, including that of becoming a priest or entering a religious order.

"Never give up on your dreams; never bury a vocation definitively," he said. 

Entrust yourselves to Mary

Finally, before imparting his blessing, Pope Francis urged the young pilgrims to entrust themselves to the Lord through the Virgin Mary who made 鈥渉erself a servant with her generous, fruitful and joyful 鈥榶es鈥�."

鈥淥n your paths, in your moments of difficulty and loneliness, do not forget to entrust yourself to her,鈥� he concluded.