Fr. Matthew and St. Isidore youth traveled to Rome last summer to immerse themselves in holy places, become friends with the saints, and grow deeper in faith alongside a million young Catholics from around the world.
While in Rome, we visited Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, the church that holds a piece of wood from the actual crucifix. When I saw the cross and other relics behind the glass, I tried praying, but there were so many people around that I wasn’t in a prayerful state. I was hot, sweaty, and distracted, focusing on everything around me.
It wasn’t until I had to leave that I realized what I was walking away from. The actual wood from the cross! The crown of thorns that Jesus actually had worn on his head for me! These were the real things! Jesus actually carried this cross, and the nails actually pierced His skin!
I wanted to return, but it was too crowded, so I found a spot in the main part of the church to pray. I sat there beside myself. Sometimes the Passion can seem like a story that never happened. But it did!
Jesus did that for me because He loves me and wanted to save me! Even if I were the only person left on earth, He still would’ve carried the cross! I had a profound experience thanking God for allowing me to feel His never-ending love.
For the rest of the trip, I was able to stop worrying about the heat and outside distractions and just go with the flow; to just be happy about what was happening and to see the beauty in everything — planned or not.
Another powerful moment from the trip was going to confession in St. Mary Major, one of the four Papal Basilicas in Rome. We had to stand in a very crowded line for over two hours to get inside the church. When we finally made it inside, I went to confession, where I was able to be fully honest with myself and with God.
Just as the priest was giving me absolution, there was a sudden hush in the crowded church. The noisy bustling of tourists and pilgrims suddenly became silent. In a similar way, my soul had been congested and full of unnecessary noise and distractions, but when I was forgiven, my soul was able to breathe. I took a deep breath and thanked God for allowing me to be open to go to confession and for cleansing me from my sins and things I had been holding onto for a long time.
I think God called me to the Jubilee of Young People to let me know how much He loves me. The term “Jesus loves you” is used so much that it often becomes watered down. However, once you experience His love in a genuine and authentic level, there is a much deeper understanding to the phrase. So many young people often struggle to feel truly known and loved, and I believe God called me to Rome to fully experience His outpouring of love so that I can bring it back home and share it.
While in Rome, I learned to be still and be fully present to the graces God has to offer, because there are so many of them. I had deep encounters with Him in the silence. It was only when living in the moment that I could find God. Not in any amazing speech or big event, but in the little moments and in the stillness of life.
God called me to Rome to experience joy even when things do not go as expected or planned. He is present in every moment, good and bad, so it is necessary to live in them with joy and an open heart and mind to whatever the Lord has planned.
Jesus did that for me because He loves me and wanted to save me!
—Antonia, high school junior