The saints changed history, the Pope told young French people

 —Caroline de Sury, OSV News

Pope Leo XIV urged 80,000 young people gathered at the Stade de France on September 25 to seek holiness, peace, and a “living relationship with Jesus,” during an evening prayer vigil in Saint Denis, a prelude to the massive Mass in the Place de la Concorde, with more than 800,000 people in Paris.

The joy of the young people at meeting the Pope during this apostolic journey to France was evident at the Prayer Vigil, whose central theme was holiness: from the first witnesses of the Gospel in Gaul to the newly canonized saints.

A theatrical performance about French saints

Their testimonies were presented during the Vigil with a representation of various historical moments related to the lives of the saints, with young actors dressed in costumes from different eras and even with horses. 

In reality, that part of the Vigil was a theatrical performance about saints from French history, including Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, martyred in the 3rd century. The Pope visibly enjoyed the spectacle as hundreds of young performers, dressed in period costumes, gazed at the sky to the rhythm of the fireworks that lit up the sky above the stadium.

Over there saints paraded such as Saint John Eudes, Saint Francis de Sales, Saint John Vianney, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Catherine Labouré, Saint Bernadette and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, to name just a few. 

Chloé, Francois…

Some young people from diverse backgrounds addressed Pope Leo, among them the young Chloé, who shared what she does in her parish to help young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods. 

“There are so many Boy Scouts here!” exclaimed the Pope after hearing the testimony of another young man, Francois. Pope Leo thanked them, spontaneously addressing them in French. “You are the saints of France!” he told them with a broad smile. 

Francois, an agronomy student

François Bigot grew up in the Burgundy countryside, studies agronomy at La Salle University, is a scout leader, and participates in university pastoral care at his school. He asked: Holy Father, how can we discern where the Lord is waiting for us to serve and offer our lives?

The Holy Father stated that it was “a great joy for me to see (the young people) so numerous, animated by the desire to put themselves at the service of peace, which makes us grow as men and women, transforming fears into hope and complaints into responsible commitment.”.

“Today this great mission is more urgent than ever,” he added. “As we advance on this path to holiness, it becomes clear that it is not enough to avoid evil: we must choose good. (...) How can we discern well?”

How to discern good? Prayer, service, worship…

First of all, Pope Leo said, remember that the Word of the Lord is always a lamp for our steps (cf. Salt 119,105). “In the light of the Gospel, spiritual formation takes place through prayer and service; worship and action; silence—that silence so rare and so necessary, far from the noise of the media—and proclamation.”.

“The example of the saints”

Then, he continued, “look at the example of the saints: even in persecution, these brothers and sisters of ours opened paths of peace.”. 

“Look to those priests passionate about Christ, like Saint Eugene de Mazenod and Saint John Vianney; contemplate the mystical beauty of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux; Blessed Pauline Jaricot, fervent in charity and mission; the courage of the fifty martyrs of the apostolate, in times of the Second World War, who served their brothers and sisters to the point of sacrificing their lives.”.

Leo XIV stated that “the saints changed the course of history, causing many to move from suffering to hope, because they first changed their own hearts, transforming them in the light of faith.

Dear young people, as you discern your vocation, be assured that the Lord does not speak to you in a confusing way, but addresses each one of you by name and invites you to follow him because he loves you.”.

The theatrical performance

The Holy See Press Office had previously explained that the presentation would take the form of a show about French youth through the evocation of the saints of France in 10 scenes. 

Each painting would be accompanied by reflections or testimonies from young people today related to the saints evoked.

The first Church (Saints of the origins: Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, Martha, Saturninus, Blandina)

The Revolution of the Cross (Saint Dionysius, Saint Martin)

The vocation of France (Saint Remigius and Saint Clotilde, baptism of Clovis)

The founders (Saint Eloy, Saint Odilia, Saint Bernard, Saint Vincent, Saint Malo, Saint Samson, Saint Brieuc, Saint Tugdual, Saint Pol, Saint Corentin, Saint Paterno)

Humility (Saint Louis)

The value (Saint Joan of Arc)

The great charity (Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Germana de Pibrac, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, Saint John Baptist de la Salle)

Prayer (Saint John Vianney)

Our Mother (Saint Catherine Labouré and Saint Bernadette, as well as the children of Pontmain, La Salette and L'Isle-Bouchard)

The mission (Martin, Saint Teresa of Lisieux and Saint Charles de Foucault, the martyrs of the apostolate).

—————

This information is based on reports from Caroline de Sury (OSV News), Gonzalo Meza (Omnes) and Vatican News.