Just an amusing beach anecdote from World Youth Day: I met one of our seminarians who has just got back from Rio. They had a fantastic time with the Westminster group. I said to him, ‘Where were you staying’? And he said, ‘On the beach’. So I said, ‘I know you were all on the beach, but where were you staying for the other days?’ And he said, ‘On the beach!’ It seems that the Westminster crowd, instead of slumming it in the suburbs, were in a hotel right there on the beach itself, and they slept out on the beach for the vigil not because they needed to but just to get the vibe.
Anyway, that’s not my beach quote. Apparently the pilgrims got chatting to an atheist at the airport on the flight out to Rio. It was a friendly conversation, but they spooked him when they said that there was a big Catholic festival in Rio and that lots of young Catholics were flying out to participate. His response: ‘Oh well, I’ll just avoid them by staying on the beach the whole time’.
That’s my beach quote!
A netted fish :O)
Brilliant, just brilliant! I hope he found something which will help him towards the faith.
Sounds like they had a much better time than a seminarian I spoke to. The first thing he said was “We had one hour of Adoration and I spent it queueing for the toilet!” He did add that since he got back he’s thanked God every time he’s needed the bathroom and there’s been one right there, no queue!
I love your beach quote.