YOUTH, Father Claudio Martinez/mda. Almost 200 youths will unite Argentina and Chile in a 400 kilometers’ course along the Andes Range throughout fifteen days. On January 16th, members from seven countries will begin a new version of this crusade whose meaning is to be a sign of international unity and of personal renewal and of faith – within the context of Pope Francis’ message.
They call it “Mary’s Crusade”. It is an initiative of approximately 200 youths from eight countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Mexico, Ecuador, Germany and Chile, who will travel 400 kilometers, over fifteen days, crossing the Andes’ mountain range by way of Los Libertadores, following the the route of the Freedom Army. They will depart on January 16th, from Mendoza, Argentina, to arrive in Santiago, Chile on February 1st, passing through such emblematic places as Christ Redeemer on the border between Chile and Argentina, the Shrine of Saint Teresa of the Andes and the Votive Temple of Maipú.
What seems like a sports adventure is so much more for the participants. It is a pilgrimage, it is a march of the young and enthusiastic faithful, a madness of love for God and for life, without fear of the effort, as a sign of international unity, integrating the heart with joy, seeking a personal encounter with God in the midst of the mountains and generating important personal changes. In former editions of the Crusade, during these days of the walk, many youths have decided their vocation, and they have been encouraged to work more strongly for the good of their respective countries.
Gift from Europe: Torch of faith
The first time that this pilgrimage was carried out was in 1999. This sixth version hopes to be better attended, and it is carried out within the backdrop of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement, whose Boys’ Youth is the protagonist of this “Mary’s Crusade.” Among the symbols that they will take with them as a sign of their international unity and their commitment are national flags, a pilgrimage cross, pictures of the Virgin, and this time they have a torch— a gift from the European youths, who in October will travel with torches from Pompeii in Italy to Schoenstatt in Germany in the same spirit of taking the “fire of faith” through the streets of the world.
Protagonists of change
Every day of the journey begins at 4:00 a.m.: they have breakfast, they pray and they prepare to depart before dawn, walking an average of seven hours, with rest stops of ten to fifteen minutes every hour.
The first hour of the walk is in silence,then they sing songs and the Rosary is prayed. The conversations among the youths from the different countries forge friendships that last.
They sleep beneath bridges, on hillsides, on the edges of streams, many times outdoors, or in regimental barracks and schools. The every day lunch is simple: a hard boiled egg, a tomato, a cooked potato, bread and fruit. Then they have an afternoon rest. The most enthusiastic ones play soccer or they have subject related meetings. Before supper they celebrate Mass, and the meal is a plate of spagetti, kidney beans or lentils that give energy. The day’s journey ends with night prayer, and then they go to sleep beneath the starry sky of the mountain range.
The youths who cross the mountain range have the support and the prayers of hundreds of people who feel impelled by the daring of these boys’ showing their “joy in the Gospel”, as Pope Francis would say, and who has called the youths to be “protagonists of change” by their helping to build “a more beautiful church and a better world.”
Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA
