On the Tuesday morning, for the first time ever, Canadians held the distinction of hosting the first official event at WYD, a special gathering at Palacio de Deportes, known during WYD as the Love and Life Centre. The morning prayer service drew together 22 Canadian bishops, nearly 100 priests and more than 5,000 out of 6,000 Canadian WYD registrants. As a delegation processed into the arena bearing the WYD Cross and the Icon of Mary, and a mixed choir from Vancouver and Sherbrooke, Que., sang the “Song of the Cross” from WYD 2002, I thanked God for the memories of the blessed event in Canada nine years ago.

We returned to Palacio de Deportes three nights later for a big-screen viewing of the Stations of the Cross that was being held on the over-crowded streets of Madrid. Using social networking, we got word out in the afternoon of what we were planning. More than 8,000 people showed up in a matter of hours. Throughout the television presentation, the arena was totally silent. When we arrived at the death of Jesus on the Cross, something remarkable happened. Like a wave sweeping across the arena, every single person rose from their seat and knelt on the pavement. The sound of all those wooden seats in the Palacio creaking, and the knowledge that a huge arena of people had suddenly knelt on the cold, concrete floor will remain with me as a reminder of the deep Catholic culture that united all pilgrims at WYD.

Another memory was a bit more worldly. In fact, it had nothing to do with a WYD event. On Saturday morning, with a free hour between events, I ducked into a barbershop for a haircut. There were two barbers, both from Morocco, both Muslim. I was wearing my Roman collar and the official badges of WYD so they knew why I was in Madrid. They were intrigued at what was happening in their city. “You people must have some beautiful stories in your religion to gather so many young people together for this event,” said my barber. I smiled and replied: “Yes, we do.” I told them the man’s name was Jesus and He was God’s Son. They asked for a memento from the event and so I gave them holy cards I had collected during the week.

The other memory that will last is the many striking moments of silence amid all the noise. At various times at the large gatherings of liturgies, prayers, devotions, and most especially during the Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, there were long pauses of absolute silence. One of the police officers assigned to the event said to me: “This is a miracle. How could they be shouting out one moment and suddenly remain silent for 20 minutes?”  

It’s all part of the culture of being Catholic. And it is something that Pope Benedict cherishes deeply.

Many of us returned home from with more questions than answers, questions that will help us to reflect on real issues and keep our faith alive.

Who do we say that He is for us? For me? Why did we flock to Madrid for this chaotic experience? Is it perhaps because our religion does indeed have beautiful stories that still attract the multitudes?

(Fr. Rosica, CEO of Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation, was co-ordinator of WYD 2011 for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

{iarelatednews articleid="5590,5240,5859,5883,5884, 5885, 5888, 5891, 5892, 5895, 5897, 5898, 5899, 5900, 5901, 5903, 5906, 5908, 5916"}