(Aug. 01, 2012) The Pope’s Missionary prayer intention for the month of August is
that young people called to follow Christ, may be willing to proclaim and bear witness
to the Gospel to the ends of the Earth . Pope Benedict XVI urges all young people
called to follow Christ to be missionaries of joy and bear witness to the Gospel to
the ends of the Earth. Stating that the Good News in the Gospel is that God loves
us, and that each one of us is important to Him, the Holy Father exhorts them to
show the world that this is true. The Pope says that one cannot give what one does
not have, and one cannot witness to what one has not seen. Thus, in being called to
this great mission of the Church, the Holy Father urges them to stay close to
Jesus, to know Him and His love in a deeper way, so that they may be filled with
a joy that is contagious, and then go and tell people about their joy of finding
the precious treasure which is Jesus Himself. Pointing out that the best way for
young people to hear the gospel is from their peers, the Pope also acknowledges that
for many young people - the way Christians live at times appears dull and boring.
Stressing that this impression needs to be countered by joyful witness, the Pope calls
on young people and all of us to be the first to show the joyful and happy side of
faith. Let us pray that young people and all others, no matter what their age, may
be willing to proclaim and live the Gospel wherever they are, and wherever they go.