Young people have maturity for silence, reflection

By Father Steven Bruno

Guest Columnist

    One of the things that struck me most about World Youth Day in Madrid is that the church is alive.
    A million and a half young people gathered in one spot, and I came away with the sense that we are underestimating the capability of our young people to be mature and rock solid in their faith. They are ready to become living temples.
    Many people, even inside the church, draw misconceptions about young people. They think they need to be bombarded by sounds and visuals to draw their attention to the faith. It’s almost as though in youth ministry we try to baby them – to say that unless there’s blaring rock-n-roll and flashing lights, we won’t capture their hearts and minds.
    What I experienced in Madrid awakened me. We’ve been stuck in this youth ministry mentality where, without thinking about it, we give them LEGOs when what they’re asking for is bricks and mortar for their faith.
    Here’s an example. One night the American pilgrims gathered for lectio divina, a method of prayer in which a person is asked to read a Scripture passage slowly and deliberately and then reflect quietly on its meaning in his or her life. But as we read the passage, music was ringing in the background. Then everyone was told to meditate on the words, and, again, there was music in the background. It’s almost as if we were saying that young people are not capable of silence.
    But then something incredible happened. After the vigil on Saturday night and having to endure a storm and wind and 102-degree heat, those million and a half kids showed they could be silent. The pope brought out the Blessed Sacrament and exposed it in a seven-foot monstrance from Toledo. For 20 minutes, you had a million and a half youths completely silent in adoration. You could hear the rustling of the tarps from the breeze because it was so quiet.
    I realized at that point that our young people are capable of silence, deep prayer and deep devotion. So often we think we have to fill every bit of silence with music. There’s an underlying notion that young people are incapable of silence and reflection. But they are capable of it. It’s the same perception that we have when we don’t think young people are capable of abstinence and so we should have contraception. But they are capable.
    Father Steve Bruno is archdiocesan vocation director. He attended World Youth Day with members of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.