(Father B.F. Heffernan, Peterborough, Ontario is covering World Youth Day for Canada Free Press.)
Germany-- My toughest assignment this week in Germany was this column. Why? Because it’s about something holy and that turns people off. I didn’t want that to happen. So what could I do? I thought of tying it to Maria, the new nun being tested in "The Sound of Music". The Mother Superior sings or sighs, "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" But that might still be too holy?
Would this be a better idea? Have Hockey Night in Canada’s Don Cherry promote it. Then everyone would read it. Well that didn’t happen.
What did happen was a former Chicago TV sports jock, who covered National Hockey and Pro Basket Ball, said, "Yes!" This colour commentator interviewed the stars in the dressing room when Detroit won the Stanley Cup and when the Chicago Bulls triumphed and when his sports career took off for Texas. This former TV host of The Sports Network is John Morales.
No! John doesn’t have the gold cuff links and the colourful ties and the starched high collars like Don Cherry, but like Cherry, this guy can talk a blue streak and when 700,000 young people, 7000 clergy and Pope Benedict XVI showed up last night (Sat.) at a vast field near Cologne, Germany, John was the unofficial colour commentator.
Three! Two! One! O.K. John! You’re on!
"Tonight Mary’s Field, Germany, is an ocean of lights and humanity. It’s electrifying. It’s an emotional night for at least 700,000 youth on hand for this World Youth Night Vigil. From every corner of the world flags assembled, danced and swayed. Pope Benedict XVI has captured the imagination of Germany and blesses all.
as the sun was setting, the white Pope mobile appeared carrying the white clad leader of a billion Catholics. The crowd went wild.
We’re about a football field away from the main altar located on a massive altar mound, lit with 6,500 candles. The all-Night-Vigil caps the pilgrimage for many young people who have walked as far as 15 miles from the Cologne Cathedral here to Marian Field.
This field is humongous - the size of 92 football fields. It took over four months to construct.
The evening vigil included prayers and singing; the arrival of the World Youth Day Cross and the Picture of the Blessed Mother and child. It also included Eucharistic Devotion called Benediction and a Service of Light.
When the Holy Father blessed a huge bell in honour of the former Pope, John Paul II, the crowd erupted and went berserk. Their new Pope told the youth that they are repeating the pilgrimage of the Three Christmas Majii of the East who journeyed to pay homage to the infant King. They learned about adoring the King, about giving. The saints gave. John Paul II beatified and canonized many of them. They are our examples of those who shine the light of Christ.
as pilgrims, we are side by side with the Wise Men and with Christ." afterwards young people led the crowd in the Hail Mary, in many languages with moving songs, as the Icon of Mary was being carried in procession, reminiscent of Lourdes, France in a sea of lights as it descended the altar mound."
at the adoration of the Blessed Eucharist, John was especially moved by the reverence of the youth. Like the Majii they fell to their needs as they sang "Down in adoration Falling"
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