St John Bosco, known as the patron saint for youth, is one of the patron saints of Youth 2000.  He was a Salesian priest famous for his work with young impoverished boys in Turin in the 1800s.  He exemplified the great love of God to these young boys.  The three ‘pillars’ of Youth 2000 are based on his vision:

"In the midst of this endless sea, two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky. One is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin, at whose feet a large inscription reads:" 'Auxilium Christianorum' ('Help of Christians'). The other, far loftier and sturdier, supports a Host of proportionate size, and bears beneath it the inscription: 'Salus credentium' ('Salvation of believers').  "The flagship commander - the Roman Pontiff- standing at the helm, strains every muscle to steer his ship between the two columns, from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains. The entire enemy fleet closes in to intercept and sink the flagship at all costs. They bombard it with everything they have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs, firearms, cannons. The battle rages ever more furious. Beaked prows ram the flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it keeps on it course. At times, a formidable ram splinters a gaping hole in its hull, but immediately, a breeze from the two columns instantly seals the gash.   "Meanwhile, enemy cannons blow up; firearms and beaks fall to pieces; ships crack up and sink to the bottom. In blind fury, the enemy takes to hand-to-hand combat, cursing and blaspheming. Suddenly the Pope falls, seriously wounded. He is instantly helped up, but struck a second time, dies. A shout of victory rises from the enemy, and wild rejoicing seeps their ships. But no sooner is the Pope dead than another takes his place. The captains of the auxiliary ships elected him so quickly that the news of the Pope's death coincides with that of his successor's election. The enemy's self-assurance wanes.

"Breaking through all resistance, the new Pope steers his ship safely between the two columns; first, to the one surmounted by the Host, and then the other, topped by the statue of the Virgin. At this point, something unexpected happens. The enemy ships panic and disperse, colliding with and scuttling each other.  Some auxiliary ships, which had gallantly fought alongside their flagship, are the first to tie up at the two columns. Many others, which had fearfully kept far away from the fight, stand still, cautiously waiting until the wrecked enemy ships vanish under the waves. Then they too head for the two columns, tie up at the swinging hooks and ride safe and tranquil beside their flagship. A great calm now covers the sea."[1]

In this vision we see that as a Church, represented in this vision by the ship, our ‘anchors’ in the storms of life are Devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Devotion to Our Blessed Mother through the Rosary.  “They bombard it with everything they have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs, firearms, cannons”.  To protect us against the enemy’s attacks on our minds we fill our minds with Sacred Scripture and inform ourselves of Church Teaching.

“St John Bosco revealed that the only safe passage for the ship during the storm was to pass between the two columns, and that this should also be the model for the Church in the twentieth century.  We pray that, like St John Bosco, we may steer the ship of our lives between these two columns of our faith.”[2]

1. Memoirs, Vol. VII. Pages 107-108

2. Hutchings, Gina; “Youth 2000:  New Movements and communities in the life of the Church”, CTS 2001, pg 24