Vidal: Youth should find meaning like Calungsod

ARCHBISHOP Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal told participants of the 27th Local World Youth Day Sunday dawn to enjoy their youth especially their youthful physical appearance.

Noting that youth and physical appearance is skin-deep, the 81-year-old prelate who amused the crowd gathered at the open field of the University of San Jose-Recoletos Basak Campus quickly added: “after knowing yourself, seek your purpose in life,” Vidal said.

“Once you discover and accept who and what you are, you must then ask: What am I here for? Life is lived most willingfully when you live it for others. That is what Blessed Pedro did with his life,” he said.

“Teenagers are very self-conscious. I ask you how long do you spend time before  the mirror? You like to take pictures of yourselves to be uploaded on your Youtube or Facebook so that everybody knows that you exist. You like to be admired especially by the opposite sex,” Vidal told around 3,500 youngsters.

“That is why a young man feels so much affirmation to his manhood if a girl gives him a special attention. A young girl is in cloud nine if a young man winks at her. If you act this way, don’t worry you are normal,” he added.

Among those present during the event was Msgr. Arturo Navales, chairman of the Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Cebu, as well as young delegates from Maasin, Naval, Talibon, Calbayog, Cotabato, Butuan and Benguet.

Purpose-driven life

“You cannot be this way forever. After having discovered that looks are only skin-deep, and that your being does not really depend on your external appearance, you must move up to the level of purpose. You must seek why you are here and what is your purpose in life,” he added.

As an example of living a purpose-driven life, Vidal cited Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a Visayan martyr who will be canonized on Oct. 21, 2012.

Calungsod, a young missionary helper of a Jesuit priest, was killed in Guam in 1672.

Once canonized, Calungsod will become the second Filipino saint after Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila.

“Every self-giving is an act of love because love gives nothing less than the self. Anything less is counterfeit,” Vidal said.

“I want an iPod because it will give me enjoyment. I want to be rich because I want to get whatever I want. I want to marry a beautiful girl because she will satisfy all my desires. I want to have many kids because I want to see my face replicated and multiplied,” Vidal echoed the sentiments of young people.

“Being rooted in Christ means we have to fight our source and meaning and purpose in Jesus,” Vidal said.

This year’s LWYD carried theme “Stand firm in the faith. Do all your works in Love.”

Vidal said he was happy to be reunited with several young people after he retired as archbishop of the Cebu archdiocese last year.

“I miss the voice of young people very much. You make me feel younger,” he said. /Ador Vincent Mayol