Lasallian Youth Link

An Official OSA publication

Volume 1

Issue 5

December 2002

 

THIS MONTH

URBI ET ORBI

PRAYER

FEATURED WEBSITE

A THOUGHT

TALK TO US

 

 

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--- THIS MONTH

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The much expected 2002 has come to an end.  Most of us will remember

This year because of the Quebec symposium and the Toronto World Youth

Day.

However there were other important events which took place

globally.  On  sad note the trouble in the Middle

East has been of great concern to us all as Lasallians. 

May the year 2003 bring everlasting peace to this region.

 

 

 

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--- URBI ET ORBI: TO THE CITY AND TO THE WORLD

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December 25, 2002

 

The following are excerpts from  Pope John Paul II's "Urbi et Orbi"

message (Latin for "to the city and to the world"), as released and

translated by the Vatican from Italian.

 

"To us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Is 9:5). Today the

mystery of Christmas is renewed: this child who brings salvation to the

world is also born for the men and women of our own time, bringing joy

and peace for all.

 

We approach the crib with emotion; together with Mary we go to meet the

long-awaited of the nations, the redeemer of humanity.

 

Cum Maria contemplemur Christi vultum. With Mary let us contemplate the

face of Christ: in that child, wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in

the manger (cf. Lk 2:7), it is God himself who comes to visit us, to

guide our feet in the way of peace (cf. Lk 1:79).

 

Mary watches him, caresses him and keeps him warm, pondering the

meaning

of the wondrous signs which surround the mystery of Christmas.

 

Christmas is a mystery of joy! The angels sang in the night: "Glory to

God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is

pleased" (Lk 2:14).

 

To the shepherds they described the event as "a great joy for all the

people" (cf. Lk 2:10). Joy, despite distance from home, the poverty of

the manger, people's indifference, the hostility of power.

 

A mystery of joy nonetheless, for in the City of David "to you is born

this day a Savior" (Lk 2:11).

 

Christmas is a mystery of love! The love of the Father, who has sent

into the world his only-begotten Son, to bestow on us the gift of his

own life (cf. 1 Jn 4:8-9).

 

The love of "God-with-us," Emmanuel, who came to earth in order to die

on the cross. In the cold stable, wrapped in silence, the Virgin

Mother,

with prophetic intuition, already tastes the violent drama of Calvary,

the traumatic struggle between darkness and light, between death and

life, between hatred and love.

 

The Prince of Peace, born today in Bethlehem, will give his life on

Golgotha, so that love may reign on earth.

 

Christmas is a mystery of peace! From the cave of Bethlehem there rises

today an urgent appeal to the world not to yield to mistrust, suspicion

and discouragement, even though the tragic reality of terrorism feeds

uncertainties and fears.

 

Believers of all religions, together with men and women of good will,

by

outlawing all forms of intolerance and discrimination, are called to

build peace: in the Holy Land, above all, to put an end once and for

all

to the senseless spiral of blind violence, and in the Middle East, to

extinguish the ominous smoldering of a conflict which, with the joint

efforts of all, can be avoided; in Africa too, where devastating

famines

and tragic internal conflicts are aggravating the already precarious

conditions of entire peoples, although here and there signs of hope are

present; in Latin America, in Asia, in other parts of the world, where

political, economic and social crises disturb the serenity of many

families and nations.

 

May humanity accept the Christmas message of peace!

 

Adorable mystery of the Incarnate Word! Together with you, O Virgin

Mother, may we stop and reflect at the manger where the Child lies, to

share your own amazement at the immense "condescension" of God.

 

 

Help us to be credible witnesses of his message of peace and love, so

that the men and women of our own time, still torn by conflicts and

unspeakable violence, may also recognize in the Child cradled in your

arms the one Savior of the world, the endless source of that true peace

for which every heart profoundly yearns.

 

 

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--- PRAYER

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Prayer for Peace

The Peace prayer of St. Francis Of Assisi.

 

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow charity;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, the truth;

Where there is doubt, the faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light; and

Where there is sadness, joy.

 

O, Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

 

 

 

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--- FEATURED WEBSITE

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Peace, non-violence, The Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace

http://www.peace.ca/

 

 

A website full of resources related to World peace.  Some of you might

find some of the information very useful for your daily work.   You can

also subscribe to the newsletter and receive information on updates

made

to the site.

 

 

 

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--- THOUGHT

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The Nail In My Pocket

 

I carry a nail in my pocket

A simple reminder to me

Of the fact that I am a Christian

No matter where I may be.

 

This little nail is not magic

Nor is it a good luck charm

It isn't meant to protect me

 From every physical harm.

 

It's not for identification

For all the world to see

It's simply my

understanding

Between my Savior and me.

 

When I put my hand in my

Pocket To bring out a coin

or a key The nail is there to

remind me Of the price

He paid for me.

 

It reminds me too, to be

Thankful For my blessings day by

day And to strive to serve Him

better in all that I do and say.

 

It's also a daily reminder

OF the peace and comfort I share

With all who know my Master

And give themselves to His care.

 

So, I carry a nail in my pocket

Reminding no one but me

That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life

If only I'll let Him be.

 

 

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--- THIS MONTHS' SONG

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U2

Peace on Earth

 

 

Heaven on Earth

We need it now

I'm sick of all of this

Hanging around

 

Sick of sorrow

I'm sick of the pain

I'm sick of hearing

Again and again

That there's gonna be

Peace on Earth

 

Where I grew up

There weren't many trees

Where there was we'd tear them down

And use them on our enemies

 

They say that what you mock

Will surely overtake you

And you become a monster

So the monster will not break you

 

And it's already gone too far

You said that if you go in hard

You won't get hurt

 

Jesus can you take the time

To throw a drowning man a line

Peace on Earth

 

Tell the ones who hear no sound

Whose sons are living in the ground

Peace on Earth

 

No who's or why's

No one cries like a mother cries

For peace on Earth

 

She never got to say goodbye

To see the color in his eyes

Now he's in the dirt

Peace on Earth

 

They're reading names out

Over the radio

All the folks the rest of us

Won't get to know

 

Sean and Julia

Gareth, Anne, and Breeda

Their lives are bigger than

Any big idea

 

Jesus can you take the time

To throw a drowning man a line

Peace on Earth

 

To tell the ones who hear no sound

Whose sons are living in the ground

Peace on Earth

 

Jesus in the song you wrote

The words are sticking in my throat

Peace on Earth

 

Hear it every Christmas time

But hope and history won't rhyme

So what's it worth

 

This peace on Earth

Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth

 

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--- TALK TO US!

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We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all and your

families a very a happy  New Year 2003.  As always if there any

of your friends who would like to start receiving the Youth link

kindly forward us their addresses.

 

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

Ivan , Mark and David.