On Day 10, Friday, we went to Catechesis again. We left earlier than last time so that we would not have to wait for trams or long lines, so that we could listen to each talk that morning. Security was tougher this day, and I had to give them my (sealed) energy drink, because I am just the most threatening person on the planet. Sr. Lizbeth had to turn in her sunscreen, because apparently she could have sprayed some pagan with her sunscreen. But we did make it into the arena in time for catechesis.
After Cardinal Dolan finished, an Iraqi refugee testified to mercy, as ISIS took over her original home, killed her relatives, and destroyed Christian communities. She challenged us to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and to replace "us" with a more specific intention. Hers was "For the sake of your sorrowful passion, have mercy on ISIS and on the whole world." This was a new and fresh way for me to pray this powerful prayer. The enemies we have, we must pray for and must show mercy to.
We then had a Q&A (1:37:45), which is definitely worth listening to.
There was one question and answer that stood out to me. The question was asking if truth really existed, since we are taught to make our own truth.
He answered: "Look, if there is ever a place to ask that question, it is right here in Krakow, because Krakow is where two of the greatest horrors in the history of humanity occurred. Krakow saw what happens when you deny truth. Krakow saw what happens when you make up your own truth. Krakow saw what happens when truth becomes defined by us, and not by God. Krakow saw the Nazis, Aucshwitz, Katyn forests (where 100,000 Polish intellectuals were shot in the head). Krakow saw Nazi atrocity on steroids. And when the Nazis were defeated, Joseph Stalin came in and Krakow continued to see the culture of the lie, where objective truth, the dignity of the human person, and the sacredness of human life was trampled upon. That is what happens when we believe that we can make up truth. Hitler believed he was following the truth. That there were certain people, like Jews and Poles, that were meant to be eradicated. Stalin believed the truth as he defined it. THAT is what happens when truth is subjective. THAT shows us that truth is objective.
Pope Benedict called it the dictatorship of relativism. Contemporary people think, 'Oh how liberated we are. We make up our own truth; we aren't shackled by handcuffs by what other people say God defines as truth. We're free.' Uh-uh. You're slaves! You live in the worst dictatorship of all: the dictatorship of relativism because truth is objective. And as Jesus said the Truth will set you free!"
Honestly, this hit me hard. How often do we make up our own truth? All. The. Time. We make exceptions to the faith, exceptions that are lies. We come up with stuff that would bring others down and ourselves up, just like Hitler and Stalin. I have friends that make up their own truths about the Catholic Faith, about Confession and the Eucharist. If the truth is objective, and Jesus Christ IS the truth, then the Catholic Faith is real and is truth. The Eucharist is truth, is Jesus.
As Catechesis ended, we left the Tauron Arena, and headed to the JPII Sanctuary, only to find it closed, because Pope Francis was going to visit the next day. Mercy, mercy. Have mercy on the guards, Nick. We would go another day (Monday).
We then went shopping in the market square. I also washed my clothes in a laundromat for the first time (quite the experience). After hearing about the nuns' experience (they witnessed a man openly snorting Cocaine right in front of their faces. Now that I think about it, I wonder if it was laundry detergent...), we were anxious to see how it would go.
After getting yelled at by only one Polish lady, we finished and headed back to try and see the Pope in a courtyard outside the window where he was staying at the Archdiocese of Krakow. We never got in, because it got full, so Sarah C., Cameron E., and I went to see the Pope's motorcade as he rode by, waving. After, we went to go eat, and went to sleep, because we had to rest our bodies for the long day ahead of us.
P.S. Also on Day 10, seeing as it was Friday, they help the Stations of the Cross with Pope Francis in Blonia Park, but we did not attend. Watching the video later, I discovered that it was very artfully and craftfully done. Very much worth a watch.
Thus ended Day 10.
Nicholas Scalfano
To watch the video of the morning, click here. (I highly recommend watching it, if your wifi is better than ULL's wifi.) It started with a video of Chris Stefanick as a narrator. One of his main lines in it was, "Jesus didn't die to receive your praise. We can always praise Him. He died to receive our [burdens]." He then walked out, started with some fun, and then brought out Sister Gaudia Skass from the Sisters of Divine Mercy after showing a video bout Auschwitz.
Sister gave a talk on the cross, and Divine Mercy. In all honesty, I had never heard a talk on the cross so interesting as the one she gave. She started by asking us to to take out a crucifix and hold it in our hand as she spoke. I wear a large crucifix around my neck each day to remind me to unite my sufferings to Christ, and I'll never look at it the same. She related the cross and mercy to us personally, and really showed us what Divine Mercy does and should mean in our society. If you do one thing today, watch her talk (It's at 16:45, beginning with a brief video). I want to just quote her whole talk in here, but just let her speak for herself.
She spoke on Saint Maximilian Kolbe, and said that his death was a natural consequence of his lifestyle. She then asked what would a logical, natural consequence for your lifestyle? After talking about Maximilian Kolbe and his personal sacrifices and crosses, she said, "Don't be afraid to face the truth, because heroes aren't born out of illusion, heroes are born out of truth. Even if its the truth about your weakness, offer your weakness to Jesus and He will make you a hero."
She went on about the cross, and asked us to turn our crucifix in our hand around.
"Take a look at the cross in your hands, turn it around, and see the empty space on the other side. That’s the invitation for you. By this sign of the cross, of the crucifix, Jesus asks you today, ‘Do you want to live I did? Do you want to follow my lifestyle? Are you brave enough to choose mercy? Living for others, and dying for others? Mercy costs. We see it also costs Jesus His life. If you and I decide today to choose Jesus again, to choose His ways, to follow Him, this will also cost us much. Just think now about all the situations in contradiction to your plans: dreams. In contradiction to your will: that’s the cross. Maybe at first this will be little things. But these little things further prepare you for bigger offerings. And as you further feel that mercy costs, that it is really the cross of your life, heavy, ugly, painful, remember that this is where you are (on the cross), but on the other side is Jesus. SO don’t be afraid because He’s always with you; He will never, ever leave you. You will never be alone with your suffering, with your struggles. Following Jesus won’t be easy; He never said that, He never promised that. Following Jesus won’t be easy, but it will be beautiful. Living your life to the full, it is demanding, but fascinating. ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, He must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will save it.’ Are you ready to say yes? If you are, put on your cross, and [venerate] it. Say it in your heart: ‘Yes, Jesus, I am ready to follow you. Amen.’”
The next part I would like to talk about is Catechesis with Cardinal Dolan. I believe I forgot to mention that I completely fangirled over him on Tuesday, and I even got a picture with him. Let's say that he acted like he already knew me, as he grabbed my neck and squeezed it in a brotherly way, asking me how I was. I just kinda stood there and smiled, and he was like, "Oh, that's nice." He is such a great man, and so charismatic as a speaker and lover of Christ. His talk begins around 1:06:30 at the same link provided above.
He starts, "Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy." He talks about the Apostles' guilt after Jesus' death. They locked themselves in a room, denying their friendship with Christ. They were filled with doubt, as to whether or not Jesus was speaking Truth. Then Jesus walked through the door. He asked us to imagine what Jesus would have said to them. Those that just betrayed Him and denied Him. What's He gonna do? The Lord says to them, "Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit, who will heal your doubts and fears and guilt. Who's sin you forgive they are forgiven." Mercy. Mercy for you and for others. He sent them out. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Jesus makes the Apostles an instrument of His mercy.
In today's world, we need to ask Him to make us instruments of His mercy. This is so important! JPII said, "We are at our best when we give ourselves away in love to another person." We need salvation, we need mercy. We need GOD, we need a SAVIOR. Especially today. And it takes us to admit it before we can start being mercy. Cardinal Dolan reminded us of JPII forgiving the man who shot him three times.
How many times do people tick us off (a lot for me)? And how many times do we just want to lash out and attack them back. Jesus was literally betrayed and denied by his BEST friends. He died because of them. He died because of me. Yet, he still made me. He still puts every breath into my mouth as I breathe. He shows me mercy every single second of the day. So must we. We MUST show mercy, and not hate. I must love those around us, no matter how much I want to be salty towards them.
The next part I would like to talk about is Catechesis with Cardinal Dolan. I believe I forgot to mention that I completely fangirled over him on Tuesday, and I even got a picture with him. Let's say that he acted like he already knew me, as he grabbed my neck and squeezed it in a brotherly way, asking me how I was. I just kinda stood there and smiled, and he was like, "Oh, that's nice." He is such a great man, and so charismatic as a speaker and lover of Christ. His talk begins around 1:06:30 at the same link provided above.
He starts, "Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy." He talks about the Apostles' guilt after Jesus' death. They locked themselves in a room, denying their friendship with Christ. They were filled with doubt, as to whether or not Jesus was speaking Truth. Then Jesus walked through the door. He asked us to imagine what Jesus would have said to them. Those that just betrayed Him and denied Him. What's He gonna do? The Lord says to them, "Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit, who will heal your doubts and fears and guilt. Who's sin you forgive they are forgiven." Mercy. Mercy for you and for others. He sent them out. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Jesus makes the Apostles an instrument of His mercy.
In today's world, we need to ask Him to make us instruments of His mercy. This is so important! JPII said, "We are at our best when we give ourselves away in love to another person." We need salvation, we need mercy. We need GOD, we need a SAVIOR. Especially today. And it takes us to admit it before we can start being mercy. Cardinal Dolan reminded us of JPII forgiving the man who shot him three times.
How many times do people tick us off (a lot for me)? And how many times do we just want to lash out and attack them back. Jesus was literally betrayed and denied by his BEST friends. He died because of them. He died because of me. Yet, he still made me. He still puts every breath into my mouth as I breathe. He shows me mercy every single second of the day. So must we. We MUST show mercy, and not hate. I must love those around us, no matter how much I want to be salty towards them.
After Cardinal Dolan finished, an Iraqi refugee testified to mercy, as ISIS took over her original home, killed her relatives, and destroyed Christian communities. She challenged us to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and to replace "us" with a more specific intention. Hers was "For the sake of your sorrowful passion, have mercy on ISIS and on the whole world." This was a new and fresh way for me to pray this powerful prayer. The enemies we have, we must pray for and must show mercy to.
We then had a Q&A (1:37:45), which is definitely worth listening to.
There was one question and answer that stood out to me. The question was asking if truth really existed, since we are taught to make our own truth.
He answered: "Look, if there is ever a place to ask that question, it is right here in Krakow, because Krakow is where two of the greatest horrors in the history of humanity occurred. Krakow saw what happens when you deny truth. Krakow saw what happens when you make up your own truth. Krakow saw what happens when truth becomes defined by us, and not by God. Krakow saw the Nazis, Aucshwitz, Katyn forests (where 100,000 Polish intellectuals were shot in the head). Krakow saw Nazi atrocity on steroids. And when the Nazis were defeated, Joseph Stalin came in and Krakow continued to see the culture of the lie, where objective truth, the dignity of the human person, and the sacredness of human life was trampled upon. That is what happens when we believe that we can make up truth. Hitler believed he was following the truth. That there were certain people, like Jews and Poles, that were meant to be eradicated. Stalin believed the truth as he defined it. THAT is what happens when truth is subjective. THAT shows us that truth is objective.
Pope Benedict called it the dictatorship of relativism. Contemporary people think, 'Oh how liberated we are. We make up our own truth; we aren't shackled by handcuffs by what other people say God defines as truth. We're free.' Uh-uh. You're slaves! You live in the worst dictatorship of all: the dictatorship of relativism because truth is objective. And as Jesus said the Truth will set you free!"
Honestly, this hit me hard. How often do we make up our own truth? All. The. Time. We make exceptions to the faith, exceptions that are lies. We come up with stuff that would bring others down and ourselves up, just like Hitler and Stalin. I have friends that make up their own truths about the Catholic Faith, about Confession and the Eucharist. If the truth is objective, and Jesus Christ IS the truth, then the Catholic Faith is real and is truth. The Eucharist is truth, is Jesus.
As Catechesis ended, we left the Tauron Arena, and headed to the JPII Sanctuary, only to find it closed, because Pope Francis was going to visit the next day. Mercy, mercy. Have mercy on the guards, Nick. We would go another day (Monday).
We then went shopping in the market square. I also washed my clothes in a laundromat for the first time (quite the experience). After hearing about the nuns' experience (they witnessed a man openly snorting Cocaine right in front of their faces. Now that I think about it, I wonder if it was laundry detergent...), we were anxious to see how it would go.
After getting yelled at by only one Polish lady, we finished and headed back to try and see the Pope in a courtyard outside the window where he was staying at the Archdiocese of Krakow. We never got in, because it got full, so Sarah C., Cameron E., and I went to see the Pope's motorcade as he rode by, waving. After, we went to go eat, and went to sleep, because we had to rest our bodies for the long day ahead of us.
P.S. Also on Day 10, seeing as it was Friday, they help the Stations of the Cross with Pope Francis in Blonia Park, but we did not attend. Watching the video later, I discovered that it was very artfully and craftfully done. Very much worth a watch.
Thus ended Day 10.
Nicholas Scalfano
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