This month of July is a high point in the summer season for many, much as December, with its Christmas festivities, seems to be the best part of the winter. July, on the other hand, with the celebration of Independence Day, long hours of daylight, and, for many, the opportunity for vacation, epitomizes summer in the Midwest.

July is also an important month for many in the Church. Since the pontificate of Pope St. John Paul II, every three years during July, Catholic youth from all over the world have gathered to celebrate World Youth Day. This year, that celebration will take place in Krakow, Poland from July 25 – 31. The highlight of the gathering will be the presence of Pope Francis with the young people on the last four days.

In keeping with the topic so often discussed by Pope Francis, the theme of the gathering is “Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.” (Mt 5:7). The attending young people will accordingly spend a great deal of time reflecting on the mercy of God offered to them and to the world.

These gatherings of Catholic young people are quite remarkable. Because the actual event is held only once every three years, the intervening two years become a time of preparation. That interim period builds off of the most recent World Youth Day so that the message, the enthusiasm and the graces gained are not lost. At the same time, prayer, spiritual preparations, and probably some fundraising takes place with an eye toward the coming event.

The intended audience for these gatherings is Catholic youth from 16 to 35 years old. Many others, including adults, participate as well. Given the three year cycle, there is a new “crop” of young people constantly emerging to benefit from the event. And others exit the group as they approach adulthood, going forth to live the faith they have experienced.

What is particularly noteworthy is that these gatherings are intended to be a pilgrimage for the young people, often drawing many hundreds of thousands of people.

Typically, young people from all over the world will arrive at either the designated city or a nearby city or diocese at the beginning of the week. They are able to participate in daily catechetical sessions pre-arranged with some of the bishops who have come. Having been at some of those sessions, I have seen the enthusiasm of the young people as they have listened and posed to the bishop their questions about the faith. Those sessions ended with confession, with young people standing in line to await their turn.

Each day there is Mass. The evenings are filled with entertainment and testimonials to witness to the faith of young people and to encourage them. Finally, the Holy Father typically meets with the youth, joins them in the Stations of the Cross and celebrates the concluding Mass.

However, as on any good pilgrimage, the young people are challenged to combine that experience of faith with elements of uncertainty and often discomfort associated with travelling simply. That means that for our young people, the cost of participating is more than money.

The participants are encouraged to be ready to walk miles each day. They may have to stand in long lines for the simple meals that are provided. Sometimes, welcome sleep is provided on the floors of schools or church basements instead of in hotels.

What is perhaps most remarkable is the atmosphere that surrounds World Youth Day. There is a love for the faith and for the Church that is evident. Despite the challenges and the long days, few if any complaints are heard.

Obviously, our young people need to have their faith nurtured and strengthened by the Church and their families over an entire lifetime. We cannot expect that one event, even one as moving as World Youth Day, can sustain faith permanently. Still, many young people who have gone to World Youth Day have found it to be an indelible moment of grace.

All too soon the end of August will come and a new school year will begin. The cold winds will return and summer will be gone. How good it is then that memories of July and World Youth Day will remain.