Jubilee meeting in Córdoba: 700 students and teachers proclaim “I am from Christ”

The Diocese of Córdoba (Spain) lived a day of faith and testimony with the celebration of the Jubilee Meeting of Catholic Education, which gathered 700 students and teachers of 15 Catholic schools of the jurisdiction.

The appointment, which took place on February 19, was marked by the presence of the image of St. Pelagio Mártir and the HOMILIAN DEL OBISPO OF CORDOBA, MONS. Demetrio Fernándezin the cathedral.

The event began with a procession from the Calahorra Tower to the Cathedral, with students from the Salesian schools, Jesús Nazareno and San Acisclo and Santa Victoria carrying the image of St. Pelagio.

Once in the temple, the bishop remembered the history of the saint, a young man who died martyr in the 10th century for refusing to renege from Christ: “St. Pelagio was a boy of your age, he could be a fourth of compulsory secondary education ( That), that before reneging of Jesus Christ, he preferred to be killed, ”said Mons. Demetrio.

The Prelate invited young people to ask: “And you, who are you?”, Explain that St. Pelagio, with his example of fidelity to Christ, remains a light for the young people of today.

Look at Christ crucified and answer him with love

During his homily, the bishop stressed the importance of looking at Christ and recognizing his love: “Ah! Jesus Christ has forgiven my sins. Jesus Christ has died of love for me. Jesus Christ still loves me. ”

The young children simply explained the image of the cross: “Jesus on the cross has open arms and is telling you: ‘I love you very much’ (…) And then I ask them: ‘And what do you say?’ All young children respond to me: ‘And I too,’ ”

The call to chastity and true freedom

One of the deepest points of the homily was the call to chastity as a Christian virtue that helps order sexuality and learn to love. Mons. Demetrio Fernández warned about the distortion of sexuality in current culture.

“Today, everyone has access to pornography: with the mobile, with the computer … you begin to think that sexuality is just a source of pleasure: ‘I like it, then I continue’. But St. Pelagio tells us: ‘Hey, that you are from Christ,’ ”he said.

The bishop stressed that chastity is not a simple restriction, but a path of true love: “chastity is the virtue of learning to love and has its full realization in marriage, where the affection and love of the husbands take them to join”.

In this sense, he encouraged young people not to get carried away by what the world offers them without discernment. “We live in a time when it seems that everything does not matter, where many think that one can play with their sexuality as they want and whoever wants. But no, no, no, no. ”

The sacrament of reconciliation: Jesus always awaits us

Mons. Demetrio also urged young people to go to the sacrament of confession with confidence, remembering God’s mercy:

“Jesus Christ forgives us, cleans us and helps us grow in love, service and work of each day.” And he launched a direct question: “How long have you not confirmed?”

He also compared the state of the soul with personal hygiene: “Imagine that a boy or a girl like you spent six months without showering. There would be no one to approach him. Well, if you never confess, who will approach you?

Finally, he encouraged everyone to live their faith, following the testimony of St. Pelagio, and entrusted the young people to the Virgin Mary: “We are going to ask the Virgin, our mother (…). With the desire that, living in a school in the Catholic Church, you can learn the Christian life more easily. ”