Bring Forth Hope: Pope Francis Speaks to the Youth of the World. Fr Christopher Ryan, MGL; St Maryís Press, Christian Brothers Publications, Winona, MN, USA 2014
Reviewed by Barbara Flynn
THIS recent small book by Fr Chris Ryan invites young people into a guided faith experience developed over 52 weeks using as a focus messages given by Pope Francis to youth of the world.
These messages are derived from homilies, general audiences and addresses at World Youth Day, Brazil 2013.
Some are catechetical in purpose, others offer words of affirmation and encouragement to youth while others invite youth into accepting that each person is loved by God and called into relationship with God particularly within the Church.
In the introduction to his work, Fr Ryan emphasises that readers are to receive the Pope’s messages as if having a personal conversation with each one.
Additionally, the author provides an explanation of the strategies he suggests be used for deepening faith.
Nationally recognised as gifted in reaching the hearts of youth through extensive experiences in youth ministry in parishes and schools and in conducting retreats, Fr Ryan now Missionaries of God’s Love Seminary rector, shows deep understanding of the tensions, concerns, self-doubts, challenges, hopes and aspirations of youth in their walk of faith.
His dialogue with them in the three strategies he has developed for processing the content of the Pope’s messages reveals a psychological appreciation of the complexities of individuals.
He speaks to each person in a conversational persuasive way offering ideas which respect individual differences.
Users of the material first read a brief scripture which is linked in essence to the Pope’s message. The three strategies for processing the content of the Pope’s message in the context of a person’s lived experience are reflect or contemplate; take appropriate action; talk to Jesus in conversational prayer honestly expressing personal feelings or raising issues.
Fr Ryan offers models of prayer encouraging youth to seek relationship with Jesus as friend and confidante and to speak their heart to Him in reality.
The goal is an encounter with Jesus, which affords confidence in God’s unique love and regard for each person.
The reflection, action and prayer guidelines proposed for each week to process the Pope’s 52 messages are developmental across the year. Incrementally, they draw the user into a realisation that God’s love is for all people and that each person, by virtue of their baptism, is called into mission.
Pope Francis frequently reminds young people of their value and urges them to witness by their lives to the “good news of salvation”. They have a call to mission to share the “good news” in the environments of their lives.
Fr Ryan, too, encourages youth to recognise that they have an important role to bring forth renewal in the Church and in society.
Quite subtly built into Fr Ryan’s conversations with youth, in this commendable book, is important catechesis on the sacraments. His material overall, I believe, can be effective in opening the hearts of young people to the Gospel message.
This book offers a holistic approach to youth evangelisation.
Bring Forth Hope is available as an interactive edition on iTunes for iPads and Macs.
The E-book has 52 reflections and 22 video clips.
It is available from St Paul’s Bookstore, Elizabeth St, Brisbane, and the Catholic Bookshop in Canberra, as well as from the Missionaries of God’s Love, 6 Boake Place, Garran ACT 2605.
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