Pope Benedict XVI's prayer intentions for September 2011 remind us of the 26th Annual World Youth Day, held just a couple of weeks earlier in Madrid, Spain. The Holy Father's unflagging message at World Youth Day was that Christ is the Truth, and only by knowing Him—and making Him known to others—can we live our lives in truth. And that truth brings with it beauty and joy.
Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for September 2011 is "That all teachers may know how to communicate love of the truth and instill authentic moral and spiritual values." The flipside, of course, is that students should be open to the truth, and to that end, they might make use of this Prayer for Students, addressed to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of both students and teachers.
The Holy Father's mission prayer intention for September 2011 is "That the Christian communities of Asia may proclaim the Gospel with fervor, witnessing to its beauty with the joy of faith." There were many Catholic youth in Madrid from Asia, and as they return to their home countries, they may become an example for others. While Asia, of course, is composed of many countries beyond China, those Chinese youth who took part in World Youth Day (as well as those of us who wish to unite our intentions to Pope Benedict's intentions in September) might find this Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, written by Pope Benedict himself in 2008, quite useful.
