On the Saturday morning of the Vigil, my brother and I packed all our belongings and took the train to Central. With the 10km walk to Copacabana beach, there was an added two hour line-up for food and one hour line-up for washrooms. It was a total seven hours before getting to the beach. With a week of fighting crowds, eating little, and walking lots-this was just the final hurdle of our pilgrimage.
After receiving our food boxes-energy bars, crackers, juice, chips, and three cans of tuna-we returned to the road. Colourful crowds paraded through the laneways and cultural songs blended into the distinct monotone of the Rosary, which was drowned out by honking horns and sudden outbursts of, “We are the youth of the pope!”
Our small group arrived at the beach early enough to stake out a territory. We spread out a big blue tarp and worried about the large waves drenching our belongings. Others, more desperate than us, moved in even closer to the water. They hurriedly built barricades and ditches like others along the shoreline.
Quickly and organically, pilgrims devised a makeshift favela. We joked that we lived in the suburbs: small lanes appeared with neat borders along the claimed territories waving their flags. The unfortunate, that is, those nearest to the street, were quickly trampled by the continuous inflow of pilgrims trying to find even the smallest amount of space. pilgrims vigil
Though we were camped at the last TV screen from the stage, another kilometre or so of pilgrims densely packed in behind us. Others peopled the sidewalks, and still others slept on the streets.
Perhaps there hadn’t been enough time to transport all the port-a-potties from the original Campus Fidei (turned a mud pool from the rain and now hosting five crocodiles), but in the morning the washroom situation remained the most unpleasant detail of the weekend.
How impressive that so many still came and stayed despite poor conditions for both sleep and hygiene.
Albeit the drone of the helicopters and the crashing of the waves, there was ultimate silence as Pope Francis addressed the crowds. He preached dedication to prayer, the sacraments, and to helping others. He spoke of a “Revolution of Love.”
His example perhaps more than his words struck us most: a deep affection for all those who came to greet him, a simple poverty of spirit, a humble manner, an enthusiasm for the hope that Christ promises.
Earlier, my brother and I had considered how difficult it is to believe that anything could be done about the overwhelming problems of our society. We wondered whether it would be fair to bring up children in a world that seems destined only for further destruction and greater suffering.
I took in the crowds that Vigil evening as they kneeled and adored the Blessed Sacrament. And later, I heard the words of Pope Francis-build a better world.
Why not believe; I feel the responsibility of our hope.
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This post was submitted by Jocelyn Kilpatrick, a pilgrim from the Toronto area.
(photo J.Kilpatrick)