Fœderatio Internationalis Juventutem

Telling of a dream which has become famous, the patron saint of Catholic youth, St John Bosco, described as «three whitenesses» the three fundamental elements of help to Christians: the Holy Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Father. The young members of Juventutem profess a great love for these «three whitenesses». 

After their faith and devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist, described above, the young members of Juventutem have a special love for the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. They know that, as God did choose Mary to come to us, we can find no surer path to return to Him. They will offer up at all times to the Most Blessed Virgin, their Mother in Heaven, all their troubles and all their joys, all their failings and all their successes. They will thank her for all her intercessions in their favour to God and for every grace she has obtained for them from her Divine Son. They will seek to imitate her in everything, so that she may bring them into ever more perfect union with their Eldest Brother and Lord, the Divine Redeemer Jesus Christ.

The young members of Juventutem are profoundly united to the visible Head of the Church, the Pope, successor of St Peter. They have for him a keen and fervent love, like that of St Catherine of Siena, advocate of the Roman Pontiff, whom she called «Sweet Christ on Earth, » a love as faithful as that of St Antony-Mary Claret, who promoted papal infallibility at the First Vatican Council.

The expression «three whitenesses» shows the intimate and providential link between Our Lord Jesus Christ, really present in the Holy Eucharist, His Most Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Virgin, and His infallible Vicar, the legitimate successor of the Apostle St Peter. This conjunction of the «three whitenesses» is so essential to the Catholic faith that the young members of Juventutem are sure to be on the right path when they embrace all three together in their hearts.