The Sisters drove into the city of Madrid in the morning of August 16th. Some assisted at the Love and Life Center for English speaking Youth. Australian youth were ushered in by the Sisters who welcome them to the day’s events. Sisters from the various communities took the opportunity for prayer in the ancient churches of Madrid. Confessions were offered in the Parque de Retiro. Hundreds of pilgrims participated.
On the same day the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart and the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles boarded a train for Toledo where they spent visiting the Carmelite Monasteries. Father Tito lead the Sisters in a guided tour through the Monasterio de Los Carmelitas Descalzos where they spent time of prayer in the chapel where the remains of 16 Carmelite Martyrs are reserved and venerated. From their they walked to the Carmelite Cloister where they received a gracious reception from Mother prioress and the Sisters. The nuns brought out various relics of St. Teresa and even shared with them the original Toledo manuscript of the “Way of Perfection” which bears St. Teresa’s hand written edits and corrections. The Sisters were permitted to hold the precious work and to touch various religious articles to it.
In the evening all of the Sisters gathered with thousands of pilgrims for the World Youth Day 2011 Opening Mass celebrated by Madrid’s Archbishop Roco Varela in the company of numerous priests and bishops. The Archbishop called the youth to live their faith fearlessly in the spirit of John Paul II. He welcomed them to Madrid and proclaimed that during these days Madrid was the capital of the world’s youth.
Click here for a slideshow of pictures taken at World Youth Day
