Cardinal Martini infuses the joy of the gospel in these reflections that urge young people (and all Christians) to turn to sacred reading (lectio divina) and to devotion to Mary as a means to follow Christ.

This volume contains two collections of meditations on the Word of God. The first consists of spiritual exercises developed around the Cana wedding story, with Mary as our instructor in discipleship. The stories of crisis and conversion from the Gospel of St. Mark form the basis of the second collection and mirror our lives as followers of Christ.

The young people of Milan know Cardinal Martini, their archbishop, as an understanding, comforting, and challenging witness to the gospel. With each word Cardinal Martini draws all young people who partake of these reflections nearer to the "joy" of the cross, our salvation.

Translated by: James McGrath