By Salvatore Cernuzio
ROME, DEC. 23, 2011 (Zenit.org).- With the slogan «Thanks to the Christian Family, We Young People Were Born,» youth and families of the Neocatechumenal Way will «invade» Madrid with their usual joy on Dec. 30, for the feast of the Holy Family.
It is the second meeting in the Spanish capital for Neocatechumenal youths who, already last August, took part in the World Youth Day with the Holy Father, and who now return to express their gratitude for the grace received.
The meeting marks the 4th Feast of Families, and this year, young people are the protagonists of the Feast. The slogan, in fact, is intended to reflect the children’s gratitude to their parents for the gift, received from God, of being open to life, thanks to which they were born.
«In today’s world many children are aborted. I would have been one of them, given that initially the doctors themselves advised my mother to interrupt the pregnancy because it could lead her to death,» explained Maria, the third of seven children, of a Community from the center of Rome. «Hence, I thank the Church which gave my parents the necessary faith to be open to life, and God who put me in a Christian family.»
«Two years ago now, I took part in the meeting for families in Madrid,» said Giovanni, the eldest of four children, also of a Community of the capital, «and I’m happy that, even though there were families of every language and nation, thanks to the Church, we felt like only one family.»
«I return gladly,» he continued, «because I believe that the world needs to see how beautiful it is to live in a Christian family. We, children, are not ‘overlooked’ or penalized for having so many siblings, but we are happy because every day must be a continuous entrusting of ourselves to God; we can testify that he provides for all our needs.»
The culmination of the event will be a Mass presided over by Madrid’s Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela, who was also present at the last meeting of the Neocatechumens in Madrid’s Cibeles Square.
Numerous are those invited to take part in the event, not only youngsters and families of the Way, but also all the pilgrims of Spain and of other European countries, accompanied by their bishops.
Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, is also expected to attend, and will invite those present to take part in the 7th World Meeting of Families, planned for Milan from May 30 to June 3 of next year.
