ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

My dear young people,
I am very happy to be here with you, to adore and praise Jesus truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. You mean so much to Jesus, to the Church and to me. In fact, you are a gift to the whole Catholic Church and to the world. Your presence here sets an example for young people everywhere. You are a sign of hope and promise for what is good in the world.

We live in a world of great tolerance. No matter what people believe, they can find someone to agree with them. Some people see sex before marriage as acceptable. Others accept lying and cheating for financial gain. Others want to justify violence against those who do not think or believe as they do. In your own living room on TV you can see that some accept swapping wives and being sexually intimate with people of the same sex. The question becomes: how do you decide what is acceptable?

What is important for you is always to know that what Jesus says is what is acceptable. He came to earth for the purpose of saving us from our sins and to show us the way to heaven. He is very clear about what is right and what is wrong. He gives us guidelines and commandments. He also gives us the grace of forgiveness when we fall short and sin. Jesus challenges us to live an upright and holy life and then He offers us forgiveness and grace when we recognize our human weakness and turn to Him for help. Sometimes people pretend that things are acceptable because of their own human weaknesses. They prefer to give in rather than to make an effort. They are tempted and so they follow their own desires rather than trying to please God. If you watch these people long enough, you will realize that they are not truly happy. They have no true joy.

You, on the other hand, are obviously interested in pleasing God. This holy hour here tonight is not fulfill an obligation for you. This holy hour fulfills a longing in your heart for Jesus.

You come before God with open hearts and open hands bringing all that you are to Him. You sing with joy of your belief, giving God glory and praise. What you do tonight will be recorded in heaven forever. You are the Church militant still working and struggling for holiness. The saints in heaven, in the Church triumphant, intercede for you because you are doing what they spent their lives on earth doing. By your presence and praise, you proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

I challenge you, dear young people, to be brave in this world that you live in. When you go forth from this church, Jesus sends with you His Holy Spirit. In fact, this Jesus whom you adore goes before you to prepare the way for you in everything. Troubles will come, but here tonight, and every time that you come to Him, Jesus will give you strength to persevere and grace and courage to make progress in Christian living. Saint Rose of Lima was a young woman who said that trials and tribulations become the stairway to heaven. It is Jesus who makes that possible for you.

You sing a song called "My All in All". You say "Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name. You are my All in All." I say to you believe those words that you sing. They are true. Jesus is everything that you need. How many of you know what to do with your life? I tell you, Jesus knows what you are to do. Even if you think you already know, ask Him! Each one of you was created with a distinct purpose. Many of you are called to the vocation of Christian married love. Others are called to a single life of dedicated service. Some are called to the consecrated life and some of you young men are called to be priests. It is this vocation that serves every category in the Church because everyone needs the Eucharist. When God created you He had in mind a job that no one else can do as perfectly as you can. Many people do not understand this. Yet, it is true! He says "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." There is no one else exactly like you.

So, I challenge you to go forth into the world and be an advocate for Jesus. He is an advocate for you and all of heaven supports you. When you call on your heavenly friends, they will help you. Read about the lives of the Saints and how they are able to help you. Spend a few minutes every day, talking to them and especially to our Blessed Mother Mary. Come back to be with Jesus often. Each time you are with Him, you will grow in strength and holiness. Do not be afraid. Go forth with the joy that so many cannot find. This joy comes from the Heart of Jesus. You have Jesus, the Light of the World, and so you are able to light up the world. Give everything to Jesus. I challenge you to spend your life doing something worthy of Jesus.