'Christus Vivit!'

'Christus Vivit!'

"Christus Vivit (Christ is alive)! He is our hope. In a wonderful way, he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!"

Pope Francis' post-synodal apostolic exhortation to young people and to the entire people of God begins in such a convincing way. His recent apostolic exhortation consists of 299 articles in 9 chapters.

Through the mode of "synodality" (collegiality), he led the synod on youth with the theme of "Young people, faith and vocational discernment" in October 2018, and that synod inspired him to write "Christus Vivit," which was published in April 2019. The Korean translation came out just recently in August.

When I read it, I was so happy to feel much hope, dream and vision for the future community. How to discern the way when others only look at the wall or barrier? How to see the possibility when others see dangers and difficulties only? "Christus Vivit" suggests that there is always an "exit" even in dark and painful situations.

In the beginning, this apostolic exhortation presents various examples of young people in the Bible: Joseph, Gideon, Samuel, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, a Jewish servant girl of Naaman and Lot in the Old Testament, as well as young Jesus and young Mary of Nazareth in the New Testament.

Furthermore, many young saints are introduced: St. Sebastiano, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joan of Arc, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Dominic Savio, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Blessed martyr Andrew Phu Yen, Blessed Ceferino Namuncura, Blessed Isidore Bakanja,, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Blessed Marcel Callo, and Blessed Chiara Badano.

As a prophetic and hopeful witness, young people are not only the future but also the "now" of God. Living in the world of the dark web, cyber-bullying, abuse and crisis, they are invited to be wise and brave in the ever-changing digital world and to discern well in the great flow of migrants in the world.

Pope Francis presents three most crucial messages containing three truths: first, God is love. God always raises us up, lets us be reconciled one another, and stimulates us to be renewed constantly. Second, God saves us all through endless and unconditional forgiveness. Third, God is alive among us. These three fundamental messages are realized through the Spirit giving life, and they are possible through hope, patience, and making constant efforts.

What we need most are fraternity, solidarity, dedication, and communion. Above all, we can grow to the full when we are deeply rooted in the relationships with the elderly. We need to be with others "not by preaching but with the grammar of love."

What do young people expect from us? They want us to pursue holiness constantly, not to judge but to support them, to listen positively and respond with kindness, to love deeply, to know the self well and admit personal limitations and fragility, to appreciate the joy and the sorrow of the spiritual life, to respect their freedom and walk together.

"Be revolutionary. Swim against the currents. Don't give up on dreams. Arise and go forward, while looking at Jesus only. Keep running." How convincing and promising the words of Pope Francis are, as in the theme of the 11th General Chapter of the Daughters of St. Paul being held from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5, "Arise, go on your journey" (Dt 10:11) trusting in the promise!