Young people, recognize your dignity

“Young people, what are you in the eyes of the world?... Come now and learn from us what you are in the eyes of God. My respected brothers, listen to me: You are children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, co-heirs of his eternal Kingdom. Young people, recognize your dignity.” This is the message of Saint Eugene de Mazenod, addressed to the poor in the Madeleine church in Aix in 1813, which we feel called to continue to proclaim to young people today.

In the Fifth General Chapter, mission with young people was one of the most common themes, and it gave rise to various initiatives for greater responsibility and commitment at the parish, community and personal levels. In the final document of the Chapter we expressed that mission with young people has a privileged place in our charism. 

After reflection and time spent working on youth and vocational ministry, we saw very clearly that the mission with young people must be strengthened with creativity and boldness because, as we say in our Constitutions: indeed, their mission takes them everywhere, principally to those whose condition cries out for a hope and a salvation that only Christ can offer in its fullness; and we are listening to the silent cry of young people.

In the years that we have worked with them, we have come to realise that this mission is still relevant because, since the dawn of humanity, the period of adolescence and youth has been a crucial time of great change, a search for identity and meaning in life, a search for the unconditional love of God.

All the more so when today's society (the analysis of which would take several pages) continues to weaken young people, making it more difficult for them to face the challenges of life. Young people have great potential and strength, but society and the lack of recognition of God's presence in their lives do not allow them to grow and develop, thus fostering more insecurity and disorientation. In this situation, we are called to strengthen them so that they can face difficulties knowing that they are not alone, but that God is always with them, present in their lives, willing to give them his love and grace to overcome difficulties and so that they can recognize who they are , what they are called to be, and who they are in the eyes of God. In this way, they will be able to discover and build their identity and their mission in life.

In order to respond to the needs we see in young people, we feel it is necessary to work as a team to encourage and animate mission with them. Based on our community witness we need to make of our communities homes, places of encounter and welcome. We need to offer and provide accompaniment to help young people recognize the presence of God in their lives and thus find the meaning of their lives.

Other challenges are how to build or foster a vocational culture and how to respond to young women with vocational concerns who come from other countries where we do not yet have a community. Finally, we need to strengthen social media in terms of formative-collaborative content, since these are places where they are present and have access to content.

We can listen to Jesus again: “The young woman is not dead but asleep” (Matthew 9, 24). Let us awaken the youth, let us bring them closer to Jesus so that he may take them by the hand and lift them up. As the sycamore was for Zacchaeus, let us be the tree which young people may climb to see Jesus. May He may enter their lives and may they hear: “Today salvation has come to this house, to this heart” (Luke 19, 9). These are youth thirsting for an unconditional love which will transform their lives.

Inma OMI