By Deacon Stephen Bowling, Director of Family Ministries
Below are some of my observations from the first day at the World Meeting of Families here in Philadelphia. God is indeed good.
I must admit there's no rock star who can compete with Bishop Robert Barron in sheer love as expressed by a crowd.
Hall D/E at the World Meeting of Families was indeed rocking hard when the recently elevated auxiliary of Los Angeles ascended the stage on Tuesday, following the standing-room only opening ceremonies presided upon by Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia and Archbishop Paglia of the Pontifical Council for the Family and with a superb welcome for all by the mayor of Philadelphia.
But it was Bishop Barron who commanded the day. His keynote was masterful in clarity, and I heard people afterwards commenting how effortlessly he could make an infinitely deep subject seem so simple, relatable, and exciting. His subject was the concept of imago dei, how humanity is created not just IN the image and likeness of God but TO BE the image and likeness of God . . . And the responsibility we have as bearers of that image.
He spoke of the creation of Adam as priest, prophet, and king, and how it is in this manner we are to act as well. Priestly, so as to praise God, prophetically to order the world according to God's holy intention, and kingly as we are compelled to go forth as on mission, to bring Christ's message to the world.
I must admit, I was particularly awestruck. To be told that the family was the basic cell of this concept of imago dei was indeed enlightening and energizing as well (as all good rock star-coordinated keynote addresses should be of course.)
The desire to go forth and teach all nations was never stronger than it was in that room for certain...
Below are some of my observations from the first day at the World Meeting of Families here in Philadelphia. God is indeed good.
I must admit there's no rock star who can compete with Bishop Robert Barron in sheer love as expressed by a crowd.
Hall D/E at the World Meeting of Families was indeed rocking hard when the recently elevated auxiliary of Los Angeles ascended the stage on Tuesday, following the standing-room only opening ceremonies presided upon by Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia and Archbishop Paglia of the Pontifical Council for the Family and with a superb welcome for all by the mayor of Philadelphia.
But it was Bishop Barron who commanded the day. His keynote was masterful in clarity, and I heard people afterwards commenting how effortlessly he could make an infinitely deep subject seem so simple, relatable, and exciting. His subject was the concept of imago dei, how humanity is created not just IN the image and likeness of God but TO BE the image and likeness of God . . . And the responsibility we have as bearers of that image.
He spoke of the creation of Adam as priest, prophet, and king, and how it is in this manner we are to act as well. Priestly, so as to praise God, prophetically to order the world according to God's holy intention, and kingly as we are compelled to go forth as on mission, to bring Christ's message to the world.
I must admit, I was particularly awestruck. To be told that the family was the basic cell of this concept of imago dei was indeed enlightening and energizing as well (as all good rock star-coordinated keynote addresses should be of course.)
The desire to go forth and teach all nations was never stronger than it was in that room for certain...