The Significance of the Logo for the Twentieth World Youth Day

Cologne, Germany,
August 11th - 21st, 2005

The first thing you will notice about the World Youth Day logo hanging in our church is the colour and life flowing from it. It is very relevant to the gospel of the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord (January 6th) - Matthew 2: 1-12.

Very prominent in the logo is the cross coloured in red. The cross represents our encounter with Christ, a Saviour who has been born to us on Christmas Day. The red represents the love and passion Christ has for us; it represents pain, the pain Christ endured for all of us all over the world. The cross is the symbol of Christian hope and redemption in Jesus Christ, which is greater than any pain we may ever have to go through ourselves.

The star symbolises guidance and gives us a sense of direction which we all need from time to time. We recall that it was a star which led the Wise Men (or Magi) to Jesus Christ. After their encounter with the new born king they returned home changed people.

Connected to the guiding light of the star is the comet's tail: it comes from above, from God. It reached out to the Magi leading them to their encounter with Christ. The comet's tail crosses the limited horizon of our earthly world. Its golden colour is a reminder of God's heavenly light, lighting up the darkness of our world, as we prepare for the next World Youth Day and attempt to reach out to our community.

The spires represent the great cathedral which dominates the city of Cologne, Germany, where the next World Youth Day will be held in August of this year. This cathedral is where the relics of the Magi (Wise Men) have been venerated for centuries. The cathedral's red colouring in the logo shows that the Church is in unity with Christ and that the two are inseparable.

The stylised C in the blue colour stands for Christians all over the world and for the universal communion of the Church. The embracing C represents Christ's abiding presence with us. His embrace is for everyone, irrespective of who they are or where they are at on life’s journey

Beneath the spires the blue arc reminds one of the river Rhine and of a boat: the Church is like a ship which reaches out and picks up stranded people along the way, extending a warm and helping Christian hand. The boat also reminds us of Noah's redeeming ark (Gen 6:5; 7:6-23; Mt 24: 37-44).

Finally the blue of this arc symbolises water or the waters of Baptism, when we began our new life in Christ.

The central theme chosen for this World Youth Day is: "We have come to worship Him", words attributed by Matthew (whose Gospel we are hearing predominantly at Mass on Sundays throughout this Liturgical Year) to the Wise Men from the East (Mt 2: 2). The Wise Men are a standard feature of our Christmas tradition. Surprisingly perhaps, their only appearance in Scripture is in the gospel of Matthew. Even here the details are sparse: no royal robes, no camels, indeed no mention of a threesome of travellers. Based on this single scriptural reference then, what do we actually know about these wise visitors? They are apparently learned and intelligent men, and - judging from the gifts they bring - also wealthy. What is clear is that their journey has been challenging, with its exact length and ultimate destination unknown to them at the outset. They set forth with no map and no clear directions, only their faith in the beckoning light of an unusual star.

At journey's end, they find a scene of poverty and simplicity. Far from being disappointed or discouraged, however, they are overjoyed. The uncertainties and problems of the journey are forgotten as they gaze in awe at the child before them.
Deep within ourselves, we too feel the pull of that star, the call to journey Godward in faith. More often than not, the road ahead is unclear; we may be distracted by detours and difficulties or indeed by the deceitful voices of the Herods in our midst today. Matthew's seekers, travelling together in search of truth, are models for our own journey of faith.

Young people of Knocklyon, your pilgrimage to Cologne next August has already begun. In the months ahead intensify your preparation by letting Christ guide you with his wisdom. Spend time with him in prayer each day. Reflect on his message in the Gospel each Sunday. Worship Him as the Magi did, and let Christ's light be reflected through everything you say and do.

Lord God of the nations, the radiance of your incarnate Word pierces the darkness that covers the earth and signals the dawn of peace and justice. Make radiant the lives of your people with that same brightness, and beckon the nations to walk as one in your light.

– from the Liturgy of January 6th