Dear friends, A proverb says “Instead of cursing the darkness, light a lamp!” This could sum up our attitude in these uncertain times. Rather than complaining or endlessly denouncing the evils that overwhelm us, let us be witnesses of Hope in a world that needs to be told again that it is loved and that all is not in vain. Light that we welcomed at Christmas and that continues to shine in our deepest nights. “The light shone in the darkness and the darkness did not stop it” exclaimed Saint John (Jn 1, 5). Light of the candles that we light 40 days after Christmas, on February 2, on the feast of Candlemas. This feast recalls the welcome at the Temple by the old man Simeon of Jesus “light of the nations”. Light that is the consecrated life in the Church, reminding every Christian of the joy of following Jesus chaste, poor and obedient, and that we celebrate on this occasion. Light that Benedict XVI was by his teaching and his humility and that the recent death has brought back to the heart of the news. During his pontificate, there were many references to the Heart of Jesus. We offer you below his beautiful prayer of consecration of young people to the Heart of Jesus read during WYD 2011 in Madrid.

Father Etienne Kern Rector of the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart

Prayer of consecration of young people to the Heart of Jesus

Lord Jesus Christ, Brother, Friend and Redeemer of man, look with love at the young people gathered here,
and open for them the eternal source of your mercy
that springs from your open Heart on the Cross.
Docile to your call, they have come to be with you and worship you.
In ardent prayer, I consecrate them to your Heart, so that, rooted and founded in you, they may always be yours,
in life as in death.
May they never move away from you!
Give them a heart like yours, meek and humble so that they may always listen to your voice and your commandments, that they may do your will, and that they may be in the midst of the world a praise to your glory,
so that men, seeing their works, may give glory to the Father, with whom you live in eternal bliss, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
for centuries of centuries,Amen
.