Youth Apostles Online
Newsletter for Catholic Teens : October 2003
Contents:
Who's Your Role Model
Mother Teresa to Young People
Mother Teresa and the Pope: Role Models for Youth
Who's Your Role Model
Dear Friends,
Who are your heroes? Who do you idolize? Who do you strive to imitate? Who's words resonate in your mind and guide your choices? Is it some "hottie" movie star? Is it the most popular person in your school? Is it a successful athlete? Be honest. Who do you spend the most time thinking about? Who do you find yourself trying to be like?
My junior year in high school I was assigned an art project that required me to chose someone from the current century that I considered a hero--someone I admired--so that I could paint her self-portrait. I remember some of my peers chose people like JFK, Marilyn Monroe, and popular celebrities at the time. My choice stuck out like a sore thumb against theirs. I chose Mother Teresa.
I admired her for her courage and strength. She was not afraid to live a life of radical poverty and service and to dare the world to do the same. Leaders of countries, prestigious universities and organizations received uncompromised challenges from her on issues of human dignity, chastity, respect for the unborn and the impoverished. She knew there was nothing lasting about the material possessions that we strive for and cling to (clothes, cars, houses). And she was quick to point out that some of the richest nations in the world, are the most spiritually poor. She, more than anyone else, inspired me to make feeding the "spiritually hungry" my life's mission. She practiced what she preached. And most of the time she didn't even need to "preach" with words. Her example was loud and clear.
This Sunday, October 19, 2003, Pope John Paul II will Beatify Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Take some time to reflect on her life and to seriously think about who you choose as your role models. Pick someone worthy of imitation and let their life and witness inspire yours. Read about them. Ask Jesus to help you become more like them. Post their words on your mirror or put them on a school notebook. Speaking of words, make sure you check out Mother Teresa's words to young people on pure love below.
Until next time, I remain...
Your Eucharist loving, Blessed Mother petitioning, rockin' Catholic Church obeying, Pope John Paul II devotee and fellow sinner in need of God's grace and mercy,
Michele TePas
Youth Apostles Online
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Mother Teresa to Young People
You are the future of family life.
You are the future of the joy of loving.
You are the future of making your life
something beautiful for God...a pure love.
That you love a girl
Or that you love a boy
Is beautiful,
But don't spoil it,
Don't destroy it.
Keep it pure.
Keep your heart virgin.
Keep your love virgin,
So that on the day of your marriage
You can give something beautiful to each other...
The joy of a pure love.
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa and the Pope: Role Models for Youth
A survey of young people in Italy found their heroes are not pop stars or footballers but Mother Teresa and the Pope. A quarter of 12 to 24-year-olds surveyed said that Mother Teresa of Calcutta was their role model. The missionary nun, who devoted all of her life to helping the poor in India, narrowly beat Pope John Paul II. They were easily the most popular role models in the survey... A spokeswoman... who carried out the research said: ''Many people said they voted for Mother Teresa and the Pope because they admired their courage, honesty and devotion to charity. "These sort of qualities are what young people look for most in their role model of today."
- Taken from http://www.cathnews.com/news/304/127.php
