Prayers and reflections from Latin America You may wish to use some of the following prayers and reflections which are from communities in Latin America as part of your preparation for WYD. Many are from Brazil and written by young people. PRAYER FROM YOUNG PEOPLE (Given by Maristely, one of the youth narrators from Divineia Connect2 community she uses this prayer in her groups of young people see attached picture of prayer card) Lord, we are young people from many places and of many charms. Our faces show a history of pain, joy, challenges and hopes. We dream with a civilization of love, where justice, Solidarity and peace are intensely experienced and lived. We want to walk guided by Your power, love, and wisdom, placing all our potential in the service of life and hope. We young people, believe in the strength of dialogue, of truth, of justice, of sharing, of union and of happiness. We ask for the Gift of discernment, so that we can be protagonists of our own walk during this new millennium. Give us the critical clarity and true freedom; Coherence of witness and audacity; Creativity in celebration and utopia, hope. So that, through our groups of young people, we are able to join all the live forces in the face of new questions and challenges, Transforming our reality and bringing a new Heaven and a new Earth. Amen
Reflection: The Seeds of God: A young man entered a shop and saw a gentleman in the balcony. Marvelled by the beauty of the place, he asked him: - Sir, what do you sell here? - All the gifts of God, the man replied. - And are they very expensive? he asked again - They do not cost anything. Everything here is for free. He looked at the shop and saw that there were jars of love, glasses of faith, packets of hope, boxes of salvation, lots of wisdom, bundles of forgiveness, big packets of peace and many others gifts of God. He gathered courage and asked: - Please, I would like the biggest jar of god s love, all the bundles of forgiveness, a big glass of faith, for me and for all my family. So the gentleman prepared everything and gave him a small bundle that fit in the palm of his hand. Amazed, he said: - But how can all I asked be here? Smiling, the man answered: - But my dear brother, in God s shop we don t sell fruits, we only sell seeds. PLANT THEM! HARVEST PRAYER from Brazil All seeds have a desire to give fruit, and all fruits are a way for people to give of themselves. Do not worry about the harvest, you are planting for your brother All words have a desire to communicate, and all conversation is a way for people to give of themselves. Do not worry about the harvest, you are planting for your brother All bricks have a desire to construct, and all buildings are a way for people to give of themselves. Do not worry about the harvest, you are planting for your brother. 3 HYMNS FROM BRAZIL Free hearts: by Jorge Trevisol I see that young people have a lot of love. They carry hope that lives in their song. They know new paths without secrets. They desire justice and they desire peace. But I also see the pain of insecurity. That hurts when it s the right time to decide. They have fear of living everything and are not tired. They say no to the right path and are not happy. Youth, face of the world Your dynamism charms all those who see you Liberty bets on everything, but looses nothing, As it has the certainty of winning.
Young Hope: By Zé Vicente Youth united, crying out night and day, with cries of Hope and of peace, of peace! We are in the public squares, we are millions In rural areas and in shantytowns, we are a crowds Lost we sought a path. Nobody will be happy of they go alone. With hunger in our teeth and death on the floor. Out of power they made a curse. We will not die in the hands of the oppressed. We want to and we shall be free instead. The flower of liberty in our gaze. Passion, tenderness and dream in our air. We remain with our view on the future, And on the life we love and seek. Mother of the dark sky: by José Fernandes de Oliveira Mother of the dark sky, Our Lady of Latin America, Of regard and charity so divine, Of colour like that of many races. Virgin so serene, Our Lady of our people who are suffering, Patron of the young and oppressed, Pour over us your graces. Pour over young people your light, Show to those who are poor your Jesus. Bring your motherly love to the whole world, Teach those who have everything to learn to share, Teach those who have little to not tire, And help make our people walk in peace. Pour hope over us Teach the people not to quiet their voice. Wake up the heart of those who have not awoken. Teach that justice is condition To construct a more fraternal world And make our people know Jesus. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS Lord, with your fatherly hand, Sculpt the sign of the cross on our foreheads and in our hearts. May the cross unite us as brothers and sisters to Christ in his passion And increase our solidarity with the suffering of all humanity. May the cross preside over our lives And from there may we learn to offer our prayers in trust So that your Kingdom comes. Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero
OUR FATHER Of the poor and marginalised Of people martyred and tortured Hallowed be thy name In those who die defending life Your name is glorified When we pursue justice. Your Kingdom is one of freedom, fraternity, peace and communion. Damn all violence which annihilates people with repression. Thy will be done. You are the true God of liberation. We will not follow doctrines manipulated by the forces of oppression. Give us this day the bread of life The bread of hope And the bread of the poor The bread which brings friendship And builds lives instead of guns. Forgive us When, through fear, We remain silent In the face of death. Forgive and transform the Kingdom of corruption. Protect us from the evil Of arrogance and assassins. Revolutionary Brother of the poor God of the oppressed Verbo Filmes, Brazil 1986 Prayer from the community of Divinéla, São Paulo May the light of the Lord which shines on the earth fill my soul and remain with us. Qué a luz Senhor que vem sobre a terra inunde o meu ser e permanence em nós. A Brazilian welcome, from the community of Divinéla, São Paulo The groups stands in a circle holding hands. The visitors stand in the middle of the circle. Everyone steps forward into the circle and says we welcome you. Everyone steps backwards and says we give you space. Then everyone walks round in a circle and says we walk together.
Poem: Can I count on you I want the right to be a child, and to be the hope of a better world I want to grow up like other people I want a different world I want somewhere I can play I want a school where I can study I want the right to have my home I want the right to have my bread I want a smile from someone who knows how to love I want a hand to show me the way I want a world that is fairer and friendly I want happiness that is born from peace I want life, I just want to love I want to live happily all day I want to hear children singing I want young people to live in hope I want my steps to mark this earth I want countries and communities to join hands I want to change my world