Dear friends
God with you!
After our international EYM Congress in Argentina in 2012, there were several tasks on the list of the international office. We have been able to establish a day (EYM World day) and a model of a cross for the international EYM as symbols to unify our Movement. We must now choose our Patron Saint. We have been doing consultations that have shown us how difficult it is to find a saint that pleases everyone. Opinions are very divided. We do not want to impose a saint that would find difficulty in being accepted. At a certain point, the Jesuit Father General expressed his desire that the EYM patron saint may be someone young, to inspire the youth.
In our last EYM Council meeting, counting with Fr. Frédéric Fornos’ presence (successor to F. Claudio, the present Director Delegate), a new proposal came out: let us not appoint specific EYM saints, but rather let us take in and announce as our EYM saints the same two saints that are officially declared patron saints of the Apostleship of Prayer, namely, St Francis Xavier and St Therese of the Child Jesus. Therese was herself a member of the AP when she was 12 years old, which has a direct connection with the EYM. Xavier as a zealous missionary speaks to us of the Apostle number 13.
So this would be our proposal, which does not mean that each country could have a local patron saint: Patron Saints for the EYM could be St Francis Xavier and St Therese of the Child Jesus, leaving the possibility for each country to name a local patron saint.
Have us know you opinion – ATTENTION: this email is not the official announcement; it is just a survey to have us know your opinion. If there are no reactions against this, we could announce it officially the first days of April.
Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.
In His Eucharistic Heart, wishing you a holy Lent season.