Positive RevolutiON! Young people in Spain

“It was a new experience, very different from all the others I’ve had.” “I’m encouraged at seeing that we’re already so many living like this, building a more united world.” These were a few of the impressions gathered from participants.

The songs and dances proclaimed the great ideal that animates the “Youth for a United World” – who are joined with other youths in building a new world. This is how Positive RevolutiON! began as a fascinating challenge to be lived together, to start changing the world around us.

During the afternoon 650 youths (including 50 from Portugal) participated in 18 thematic workshops: “Does it make you smile? – Bioethics, my attitude toward the value of life – I study, I consume, I work, I have fun, I relate to people. Am I satisfied? – Far more than pure theatre – Volunteering: don’t just watch, but do something! – The green revolution. . .” Then the youths gathered in the main hall to share what happened in the workshops.

Many experiences were shared by the young people of the Focolare who told how they live their daily lives: in school, on weekends, organizing solidarity concerts, building “bridges of brotherhood” (like with some Muslim youths from Tangeri). The experiences of suffering were both powerful and profound. These were shared by a young woman with a serious illness, who gave the chance to Maria Voce – who had been invited to Spain by the youths themselves – to say something about the key to building unity: Jesus Forsaken, the culmination of God’s love for humankind. She invited the youths to take upon themselves the sufferings of others, the divisions, the difficulties. . . and to transform them into love as Jesus had done.

The Focolare’s president addressed the youth with her usual directness and depth: “In archery, when you want to center the target, you have to look higher, because the arrow descends during its trajectory. You need to look higher in order to hit the target. Look higher, don’t be afraid, you are the protagonists of your life. You all are. And you’ve already begun. How? Like the youths told us earlier: taking up the words of the greatest revolutionary, Jesus Christ. His revolution began two-thousand years ago and it isn’t over yet. Each one of us has to play his part in this revolution, beginning with the word love. Living in love, being love alive for all the people you will meet. Do be satisfied with anything less.” And she concluded with a challenge: “This evening was the beginning of something great. Now carry on, without fear. The world is yours. The positive revolution has begun.”

RevolutiON! also involved thousands of youths from around the world who already live and work for a more united world in the different zones of the world. The many messages they sent  bear witness to this.

The event concluded at midnight with an “explosive” celebration prepared by the Youth for a United World. Everybody left with joy on their faces, committed to begin right away with the “positive revolution” as a concrete way of responding to the difficult situation of all young people, not only in Spain.  Upcoming events for everyone: The “International Meeting of Youth for a Unite World” in Castelgandolfo, Rome, preceding the beatification of John Paul II; and the World Youth Day in August 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

[nggallery id=14]