Today marks the Twentieth Anniversary of the Passing of Pope John Paul II. Now Saint John Paul the second was born in 1920, in Poland. It was there he would be ordained, and would become a bishop. He would serve as a bishop during the Second Vatican Council. Before he was a priest he often worked in acting. As a priest he wrote a play called The Jewlers Shop, which was a reflection on marriage. This would eventually be turned into a movie. I have not seen the movie, but I have read pits of the play (not fully), but check it out if you want. In the lat Seventies after Vatican II, he would be elected priest following the passing of Pope John Paul I. He would take the name John Paul II, after his predecesor.
As Pope, he would be one of the most traveled popes. He would be the first pope to be elected from outside Italy, from many years (and the First Polish Pope). Pope John Paul wrote many writings, including overseeing writing of the New Cathecism. He would also work on the allowance of the Latin Mass, inluding the fouding of the FSSP. He would also work on improving the ties between other Christian Communities.
Saint Pope John Paul II, is the saint I picked for my Confirmation Name. Pope John Paul II has a very nice story, he was very much just another person. Above all, he did live in a rough period of time. He lived during Nazi and Soviet Control of Poland. But he lived a great live that we can learn from. He is an ordinary person, and ordinary man, whose example of extraordinary Pastoral care, and example of faith, can teach us all. You can find plenty of photos of him on vacations. I've seen several of these. A photo where he is out of his cassock, even as a priest, bishop, and pope.
"Totus tuus" was his motto. "Totally yours", directed towards Mary and God. This motto of surrender is an example to us, to give our lives in service of God. God who is our creator and who cares for us.
JPII even in the face of the great suffering at the end of his life, never stepped or back down. You can find footage of his last Christmas mass. And he celebrated mass sitting. He looked very sick. But even in the great suffering and shaking in his end, he never backed down.
And when he was shot by an assailant in the Vatican, after being in the hosptial, forgave and met the man who shot him. I can think of no greater example of faith and forgiveness, that this by the Pope Saint.
Let us remember the witness of faith of Pope Saint John Paul II, a great witness of faith, and example for us. Pope Saint John Paul II, a great shepherd and leader of the Church, and an example for us, of living out our faith.
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