Not Just Stories

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.

I had many profound experiences during the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. Learning about the people and places that make up the history of the Church, meeting countless people my age from different countries and backgrounds who share our faith in Jesus, and walking through the very streets where some of the Church’s greatest saints walked was a humbling and eye opening experience.

While exploring the beautiful churches, we had a recurring conversation that sounded like this: “Man, how long do you think it took to make that?” The amount of time, dedication, and pure artistry put into every detail was astonishing. This was something that could only be understood by visiting these places.

Assisi was my favorite part of the pilgrimage. Visiting the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis and the relics of St. Francis were very grounding experiences, like, “Wow, these were real people like you or me, not just stories.”

I vividly remember one moment at a church with St. Francis relics. As I looked at the rock that St. Francis used as a pillow for years, something clicked in my head: St. Francis was hard core. This guy was the real deal. He used a rock as a pillow. With this simple realization, St. Francis became one of my favorite saints.

Some things can’t be understood, at least for me, without seeing them, but Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe.”

These were real people like you or me, not just stories.

—Gabe, high school junior