There is no life span other than youth that has been well defined and more criticized in humanity. Where youth is respected and accepted, where their creative and artistic abilities of youth are utilized for the good of mankind, there the nation, society and the Church will attain development. Where the youth and their abilities are neglected there happens the degradation of the nation, society and the Church.
The society that could understand the special nature of youth is able to channeled out the innate disposition of the youth for good. Young men and women are the pioneers of new a generation and epoch makers. They have to act as agents of reformation and renewal in the church and society. They have to reform society anew basing on justice. The message of the Second Vatican Council initiated the reawakening of youth-activities. There are three reasons behind this revival and they became the background for the birth of the MCYM. They are historical, social and doctrinal.
HISTORICAL
After the Second World War, there evolved a reawakening among the youth, especially from 1950 onwards. The entire world was divided into two mighty powers, on the one side America and on the other Russia. They heaped up weapons and began continuous conflict among themselves. They accumulated immense wealth by selling weapons. As a revolt against these conflicts of the two nations there emerged a youth-awakening in America called Hippism; men wandering disinterestedly growing long hair and beard to demonstrate their protest against the existing customs and traditions. It was a protest for justice.
SOCIAL
When we think of the social background of Kerala, there was a protest for liberation in 1957. The church stood against the communist government to safeguard her rights. But in the College Riot of 1952, the congress party opposed the stand of Church. These two incidents were an eye opener to the authorities of the Church and faithful. It paved the path for starting a youth movement. Thus the catholic youth movements originated to protect the rights of the Church.
DOCTRINAL
Jesus is the inspiration for youth-reawakening and youth movement. The life, teaching and the modus operanti of Jesus are the sum and substance of all youth movements. The divinely inspired openness of the Church after the Second Vatican Council (11 October 1962 to 8 December 1965) provided the basic vision and inspiration to all laity and youth movements. The council invited the heads of the dioceses to start youth movements. In this respect the Pastoral Constitution, the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes) and the decree on the Apostolate of Lay People (Apostolicum Actuositatem) are more relevant, for they pinpoint the responsibilities of the youth.
