The Saint We All Knew

There are not many people who hear the name John Paul II who do not know he was our pope. We all grew up with his presence in our lives regardless of our faith.  He gave us so much as pope, however, his humble beginnings are worth learning about and all his amazing life.

Feast Day:  October 22
Birth: 1920
Death: 2005
Born in Poland as Karol Josef Wojtyla
Patron of World Youth Day

Karol was born into a world of upheaval and war.  His childhood would be marked with sadness as his mother died when he was only nine years old and his older brother would die just a few years later.  Then his father died when Karol was 21 years old.  He was truly left with no family but by this time he has fully heard his call to the service of God in the priesthood.

This might have been an easy choice in a peaceful time, however, he lived during a time of Nazi occupation.  He had been attending university in Krakow; however, he was sent work in the mines when the university was shut down.  He continued to study on his own and entered into a secret seminary designed to ordain priests during the war.

When Karol was ordained, he was sent to Rome to complete his education leading to a doctorate in Theology.  He returned to Poland to teach philosophy as well as take on the position of student chaplain.  This role would always be dear to his heart as he truly cared for the youth.

In 1958, he was appointed the auxiliary bishop of Krakow.  This would place him in a position to attend all four sessions of the Vatican II Council.  He would play a key role in the writings of the council.  By 1968 he would become the archbishop of Krakow and be elected as cardinal.

He was chosen as pope in 1978, opening his heart to the world with the words, "Do not be afraid."  He took on the name of his predecessor, John Paul II, in order to show reverence and continuity.

He would become the first pope to travel extensively throughout the world.  He would make 104 apostolic trips to 124 different countries.  His 1979 visit to Poland encouraged the growth of the Solidarity movement there and the collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe 10 years later. He began World Youth Day and traveled to several countries for those celebrations. He very much wanted to visit China and the Soviet Union but the governments in those countries prevented that.

He would have an attempt on his life in 1981, but immediately forgave his attacker.  He would even speak to him personally after the assault in 1983.

In his 27 years of papal ministry, John Paul II wrote 14 encyclicals and five books, canonized 482 saints and beatified 1,338 people.

In the last years of his life, he suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was forced to cut back on some of his activities.  He died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday.  This was a feast day he established after the vision of St .Faustina.  John Paul II had many connections to Mary as well and this article
explains in great detail his dedication and "coincidences" that are associated with this devotion.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then dean of the College of Cardinals and later Pope Benedict XVI, presided at the funeral Mass and concluded his homily by saying: “None of us can ever forget how, in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing urbi et orbi [‘to the city and to the world’].

“We can be sure that our beloved pope is standing today at the window of the Father’s house, that sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

There are so many stories of his life that could be told; I hope we all can learn from his example.

Tonight we honored Pope John Paul II with a Polish meal of Kotlet Mielony, latkeys, cucumber salad, followed by a simple milk cake for dessert.

St. Pope John Paul II, pray for us!