Sacro Monte: the joyful five thousand

It was both a spiritual walk and a big concert, both a meeting and a vigil. “Effatà”, the annual meeting of the fourteen-year-olds of the diocese of Milan, was a great event, which for the first time was celebrated by the cardinal Angelo Scola.

It was a walk through the 14 chapels of the Sacro Monte of Varese for more than 5,000 young people. It ended in the great vigil at the last chapel, where monsignor Scola, archbishop of Milan, spoke to the young people, urging them to use the neologism “Babelism” to describe the communicative confusion that world now lives in, a confusion from which we are going away, looking for the truth. He also talked about the story of the place where they were: that Sacro Monte with a thousand-year-old life, that has a precise meaning for them in this experience.

But it was not just a moment to reflect, that that took place at the top of Santa Maria del Monte. It has been also a moment of celebration, of animation and of fun for everybody. From “Ai seu te pego” to Emma Marrone, from rock music to new religious songs, animated with choreography. A party prepared also thanks to an impeccable organisation, made all by young people. The “gang leader” with a blue sweatshirt, is a boy who comes from Gallarate. His name is Luca, a true “camp animator”, ready to lead thousands of people, making them dance, move and try choreographies, all for a good reason. It was a party which ended a bit hurriedly, because of the sudden worsening of the weather, but for the young participants the memory will be permanent.