Catholic Teens Attracted to Ancient Religious Practices: Juventutem Contingent to World Youth Day 2005 is Devoted to the Latin Mass

Juventutem" is an international delegation of traditional Catholic youth attending World Youth Day 2005 in Germany. These young Catholics are devoted to the traditional Latin Mass, a 1500 year-old rite which has the approval of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

(PRWEB) April 28, 2005 -- Vespers? Benediction? Mass ... in Latin? Many Catholics have never even heard of these things, much less ever participated in them. But for the Juventutem crowd, such ancient Roman Catholic devotions are a typical part of their ordinary day.

Juventutem" is an international delegation of traditional Catholic youth attending World Youth Day 2005 in Germany. The delegation is named Juventutem" after a quote from the prayers at the foot of the altar in the 1962 Roman Missal for Mass: Introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum Qui laetificat juventutem meam." Translated from the Latin, this phrase means I will go up to the altar of the Lord, to God who gives joy to my youth."

Prior to the 1960s, all Catholic Masses were in Latin and were celebrated according to a rite dating back to the 5th century. In 1988, Pope John Paul II called on all bishops throughout the world to grant generous access once again to the traditional Latin Mass in their dioceses, in a papal letter entitled Ecclesia Dei." Pope Benedict XVI has also supports the traditional Latin Mass, noting in his 1997 book Salt of the Earth": "I am of the opinion that the old rite should be granted much more generously to all those who desire it." The ancient Latin Mass is attracting increasing numbers of young Catholics, a phenomenon surprising to many who associate teens with a lack of interest in religion.

Indira Sweeny, secretary for Juventutem U.S.A. explains, Juventutem means 'youth -- but not what you usually think of as youth in the modern sense of looking young and fit... we are talking about true youth. The youth that comes from divine grace, youth of the spirit that flows from the love of God."

Juventutem is for young Catholics ages 16-30, and is organized into two phases: Phase 1 (August 10-15) will be a religious retreat in Bavaria, attended exclusively by the Juventutem youth. Phase II (August 16-21) will be at World Youth Day 2005, when the Juventutem delegation will meet with the rest of the Catholics attending World Youth Day in Cologne. Daily traditional Latin Mass, vespers, and benediction will be available, as well as lectures and traditional catechesis.

Three cardinals and six bishops will be part of Juventutem: Cardinal Francis George, Cardinal Francis Arinze, and Cardinal George Pell have agreed to either lead rosaries with the group or pray vespers and benediction. Bishops Fernando Arêas Rifan, George Alencherry, and André-Mutien Léonard; and Archbishops Wolfgang Haas, Georg Eder, and Raymond Burke will also participate.

Please see www.juventutem.com for more details.

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