St. Rafael Arnaiz (1911-1938), one of the patron saints of this year’s World Youth Day, and Blessed John Paul II (1920-2005), the founder of World Youth Day, both lived in the 20th century.

A brilliant student

Rafael Arnaiz was born a hundred years ago, April 9, 1911, in Burgos, Spain. He received his first Communion in 1919, and in 1922, after a serious illness, his father consecrated him to Our Lady of Pilar.

Rafael studied architecture in Madrid. He was a brilliant, friendly, and pious young man. Despite the intensity of his studies, Rafael found time to pray in church, and spent time in adoration at night.

In Madrid, Rafael was in contact with the Trappist Monastery of St. Isidro de Duenas. He felt strongly attracted to the monastic life, and he was admitted to the monastery Jan. 16, 1934.

Trustful in sufferings

As a monk, Brother Rafael suffered from diabetes mellitus. His sickness forced him to leave the monastery three times, but on each occasion he trusted in God and returned to the monastery.

In the midst of his suffering, Brother Rafael was faithful to the monastic life and maintained a sense of humour.

Brother Rafael always focused on the love of God. Before his death he prayed, “Take me, and give Yourself to the world.” He died at dawn on April 26, 1938.

The one dominant passion of Brother Rafael was to seek God. He would express this by saying, “God alone!”

For Brother Rafael, the monastic life was a life of seeking God. The love of God was everything for Brother Rafael, and his only ambition was to live to love. He was purified by love and by pain before his entrance into eternity at the young age of 27.

Sons of Mary

Brother Rafael had a strong devotion to Our Lady, who occupied a prominent place on his journey to God.

The founder of World Youth Day, Blessed John Paul II, was also deeply devoted to Our Lady. His motto was “Totus Tuus” (“Totally Yours”), which he borrowed from the Marian consecration prayer of St. Louis de Montfort. Pope John Paul II loved to pray the Rosary, and he added the five Mysteries of Light.

Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) was born May 18, 1920. At 8 years old he lost his mother, and then at 12 he lost his elder brother. At 20 his father died. Reflected on these painful times, Pope John Paul II said, “At 20 I had already lost all the people I loved.”

After the death of his father, Karol started to think seriously about a vocation to the priesthood. He entered the clandestine underground seminary run by the Archbishop of Krak¢w. He was ordained a priest Nov. 1, 1946.

Love for the young

As a young priest, Father Wojtyla taught ethics in university. While teaching, he gathered a group of about 20 young people to meet for prayer, philosophical discussion, and helping the sick and blind. This group eventually grew to about 200 participants, and their activities expanded to include skiing and kayaking.

It was during a kayaking trip in July 1958 that Father Wojtyla was summoned to Cardinal Wyszynski, who informed him of his appointment as bishop.

As Pope, John Paul II initiated World Youth Day, a great meeting of young people gathered around the Pope.

John Paul II had great concern for young people. He said, “Young people are threatened … by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire.”

On his deathbed, hearing young people singing in St. Peter’s Square, John Paul II said, “I sought you out, and now you come to me. Thank you.”

今年「世界青年日」其中一位主保聖萊福.厄納玆 (1911-1938) 和創辦「世界青年日」的教宗真福若望. 保祿二世 (1920-2005)，都屬於二十世紀的現代聖人。

傑出的學生

萊福.厄納玆在一九一一年四月九日出生於西班牙的波格，一九一九年初領聖體；一九二二年大病愈後，父親把萊福獻給「披樂聖母」。

聖萊福在馬德里攻讀建築系時，是一位傑出、友善和熱心的青年，不管功課多麼繁重，他總會抽空到聖堂祈禱及夜間朝拜聖體。

在馬德里，聖萊福因接觸熙篤會的聖希道隱修會，隱修之意油燃而生，遂在一九三四年一月十六日，進入該隱修院。

苦痛中的堅信

萊福修士患有嚴重的糖尿病，亦因此曾三次被迫離開隱修院，每次都在信賴天主中，而得重返修院。不過，無論病情如何，萊福隱修士都能忠於隱修的生活，專心愛慕天主，且經常保持幽默。

一心尋求天主，是萊福修士隱修生命的全部，他活著就是為了找得天主、去愛天主。他嘗道：「我只要天主！」他被愛及苦痛所淨化。同時，他亦熱心恭敬聖母；而事實上，聖母在他走向天主的生命歷程中，佔了不可或缺的地位。

一九三八年四月二十六日凌晨，萊福.厄納玆溘然長逝，年僅二十七；死前向天主祈禱道：「把我拿走，但把祢自己賜給世界。」

聖母的愛兒

故教宗真福若望.保祿二世創辦了每年一度的「世界青年日」。他熱愛聖母，借用了聖類斯.蒙福的一句話，把自己交給聖母：「我全屬於妳！」在牧期間，向普世指引，在「玫瑰經」中，增加了「光明」五端奧蹟。

嘉祿.胡哲諾神父（亦即後來的教宗若望.保祿二世）出生於一九二零年五月十八日。八歲時失去了母親，十二歲時長兄去世，父親在他二十歲時病逝。他回憶那段悲傷的日子，嘉祿神父寫著：「二十歲時，我失去了全部我所愛的人。」

父親死後，嘉祿認真考慮天主的聖召，加入了當時波蘭格肋各總主教秘密主辦的修院，一九四六年十一月一日晉鐸。

愛護青年

年輕的嘉祿神父在大學教授倫理道德課時，曾召集約二十位年青人，聚在一起祈禱，討論哲理，幫助病弱和失明人士。後來這小組參與人數，竟達二百人，增加了滑雪和划獨木舟的戶外活動。一九五八年七月，嘉祿神父在玩獨木舟時，匆忙應韋斯奇樞機的召叫，得悉被晉昇為主教的消息。

教宗若望.保祿二世擔心，認為他們是「被威脅的一群」：人們「妄用宣傳技術來許諾對慾望的即時滿足，以剌激[年青人]本性的傾向去逃避勞苦的工作。」

彌留時，教宗聽得大批年青人，在聖伯多祿廣場為他唱歌，甚為感動。他低聲道：「我曾外出找你們，如今，你們來找我。謝謝你們。」