Light in the Night: ‘A powerful experience that rekindled my faith… an unexpected, surprising evening… Jesus spoke to me… a small light in the darkness of the night, my heart filled with joy and gratitude…’
The students staying at the Santa Felicita University Residence share their testimonies of this unforgettable, deeply moving and unexpected experience in their journey of life and faith, and surprising for the positive reactions it elicited in other students in the university city of Urbino, who were in the square for the Freshers’ Party.
SARA: ‘I am the light of the world:
whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (Jn 8:12).
With these words, last night, Jesus spoke to my heart. I could not find a better way to describe what I experienced.
It was my first time at ‘Light in the Night,’ and I can say with certainty that it is an experience I will not easily forget.
I felt a living, real presence: Jesus was there with us! I decided to go out and evangelise because I felt in my heart that the Lord was asking me to make Him known to as many young people as possible. At that moment, I understood that God’s love cannot remain closed within us: it is a light that must be shared, because only then does it truly shine.
The thing that moved me the most was seeing how many young people responded enthusiastically to our invitation to enter the church and stand before Jesus. It seemed as if they were just waiting for someone to take them by the hand and lead them to Him. While all this was happening, our silent prayers accompanied them, and I am sure that Jesus touched their hearts. Watching those young people enter, I was reminded of the words of St. John Paul II: ‘Young people, do not be afraid: open, indeed, open wide the doors to Christ!’
And that is exactly what happened last night. Not only physically (because the doors of the church were indeed wide open to welcome anyone who wanted to come closer to Jesus) but above all spiritually.
Perhaps many of those young people did not fully understand what they were experiencing at that moment, but Jesus did: He spoke to their hearts. I am sure that the little seed of light they received yesterday will bear much fruit of love in their lives.
I can only be grateful to the Lord for choosing me as his instrument and for allowing me to experience the profound joy that comes from sharing his love with others.
Sara C., student at Santa Felicita Residence
MARIA ANNA: Rediscovery…
Last night, for the first time, I experienced something like this. It was important for me. Lately, I had strayed from my faith, but last night I got closer to it again, and the activities led me to reflect on why I had strayed, since I actually felt good and enjoyed what I heard and did. It wasan excellent experience to rekindle my faith.
Maria Anna R., student at Santa Felicita REsidence
GIULIA: That thread that unites us…
The freshers’ party: asuper event for all students at the University of Urbino, but also aspecial opportunity to experience an unexpected, surprising evening, different from the usual.
It all started with a poster I saw with some friends on the Instagram page of the student residence where we live as out-of-town students, entitled Light in the Night. I was immediately intrigued and thought: after all, who wouldn’t like to be able to bring a little light into the darkness, shine in the night, feel their heart full of joy and gratitude? That’s exactly what I felt when I had this experience.
Together with other young people, I experienced a particularly emotional moment full of hugs, strictly free of charge!
At first, I was afraid that I would not be able to open my arms and my heart to so many completely unknown boys and girls, that I would be awkward and ashamed; instead, I had to really change my mind and what I felt left an indelible mark on me.
Our little “mission” was to give a hug, a smile and a chat to our peers, with the aim of involving them, in freedom and with respect for everyone’s sensibilities, in a brief moment of prayer, reflection on their own lives or simply to feel loved for who we are and to discover together the immense greatness of encountering Jesus.
Contrary to what I would have expected, many participated enthusiastically in our proposal and everyone thanked us, even for the simple, authentic and never taken for granted gesture of hugging each other.
So, I found myself amazed at how everyone needs a caress that is good for the soul, sincere affection, beauty, Light and, above all, how our lives can intertwine like threads in a wonderful canvas thanks to the one who first loved us to death: Jesus.
I truly believe that the final outcome of this evening could not have been better: it did my heart good, from every point of view!
Giulia D., student at Santa Felicita
CATERINA: Thank you!
I am grateful for the evening before the Blessed Sacrament, which made me feel His presence, and I saw how beautiful the smiles of the young people were as they entered the church and found Someone who was ready to love them just as they are.
This filled my heart, and I give thanks for His presence in my life.
Praying before Him for a long time gave me the opportunity to stop and look inside myself to “take stock” of how I am in my life. The answer to my fatigue was the presence of new friendships with whom I wish to share these years here in Urbino.
Caterina P., student at Santa Felicita Residence
