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EMarshallBuckles
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 669 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 03:50 pm |
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This day I respectfully and fondly remember, before you, Pope John Paul II ("The Great" as I think of him). My wife Sandra and I had just been married in May of 1978 and were living in Wise, Virginia in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. Pope Paul VI was the Pope at the time. Suddenly, late that summer, Pope Paul VI went on to be with the Lord. Have an ecumenical interest and outlook, as I have long had, I prayerfully followed with fascination the events surrounding the selection of a new Pope in Rome. I followed with interest the first of the Papacy of Pope John Paul I and was interested in the name that he took since he was the first John Paul. Then, suddenly, there was a great shock! While Pope Paul VI had been getting on in years, and Pope John Paul I was not young, himself, I was nevertheless greatly surprised that Pope John Paul I was suddenly found to have passed away, during the night, in his private quarters at the Vatican. Initially there was an inaccurate suspicion that he might have been poisoned or otherwise murdered, however, it was subsequently learned that Pope John Paul I had some health problems and that he had not been looking after himself as well as he should have, may God rest his precious soul! Sometimes I have wondered if perhaps God may have allowed him the great honor of becoming Pope before taking him on to heaven shortly thereafter. I was sorry to learn of his passing, after so brief a time, and amazed and interested in this historic situation where the Cardinals had to come back to Rome, fairly shortly after having just prayerfully selected a Pope, to select a new Pope.
Pope John Paul I, like his immediate predecessors, had been Italian so I assumed that his successor would likewise be an Italian. I was pleased and surprised to learn that the new Pope would NOT be an Italian but, instead, would be from Poland! Back in the early '70s, while a student at East Tennessee State University, one evening I had gone to see a movie, at the campus theater, called "Shoes of the Fisherman" in which, so the fictional story went, a Slavic man was elected Pope. I had enjoyed the movie, was intrigued by the idea of a non-Italian Pope, and subsquently read the book by author Morris West on which the movie was based (I recommend them both, great movie, great book). Even so, I had never imagined that a non-Italian Pope would likely be elected in my lifetime. So, here was reality, outdoing fiction, with the election of Pope John Paul II. I would have to go on way too long to recite the events of Pope John Paul II's Papacy which inspired and amazed me, however, even though a Protestant, I felt as if he was MY Pope too and he became one of my heroes! I was horrified when Pope John Paul II was shot by a would be assasin and prayed fervently for his survival and healing! I was delighted when he recovered and deeply touched when he sat with the man who had tried to kill him and prayed with him, forgiving him! It moves me still as I remember it! I had respected and admired Pope John Paul II before that, however, I came to love him too at that time! He was just one awesome servant of Christ!
On this day, in April of 2005, I sat prayerfully following events as Pope John Paul II was about to go on to be with the Lord. He showed me a wonderful way to live serving God and he showed me how to die. When the announcement came that Pope John Paul II had gone on to be with God, I cried, mourning his loss to our world yet knowing, without doubt, that Jesus had welcomed him into His arms! My wife, daughter and I drove up to Washington, DC, the next day, where we attended Mass (we could not receive but we sat there and prayed along) in memory of of Pope John Paul II at the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception where he had once been. I was pleased and amazed at all the flowers and the many Priests, Monks and Nuns and our many Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ who were there. And, remarkably, we easily found a nice parking spot - it was almost as if God reserved a place for us knowing that we would be there and wanting us to be there! During that time, I remember seeing a TV show about the life of Pope John Paul II and hearing, from a previous TV show involving one of the trips the good Pope had taken to the United States, a woman, accompanied by guitars, singing a song with the refrain, "We love you, John Paul II!!" I would repeat that refrain singing, "We loved you, John Paul II!!"
To anyone reading this, I hope that you will consider writing to the appropriate authorities asking that Pope John Paul II be given the "Blessed" status. In my mind and hear, he is already "Blessed Pope John Paul II" and I would add to that "The GREAT"! I did not get to meet him in person here upon earth, however, in heaven someday, I look forward to meeting Pope John Paul II and humbly thanking him for his service to our Lord Jesus Christ whose dedicated servant he was!
Attachment: PopeJohnPaulII.jpg (Downloaded 29 times)
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1540 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 04:56 pm |
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Marshall, thank you for the tribute to John Paul the Great. He must have influenced countless people during his lifetime. I was only vaguely aware of him during his early years as pope, as I had no real interest in the catholic church at that time! However, by the time he was advancing in years I was somehow being drawn to the church, through Mary. I still don't know how it started, she was very subtle! But I remember seeing him on TV during a mass, maybe it was Easter or Christmas, and he had his eyes closed and his face leaning on the crozier he walked with, and I knew he was in prayer. He looked so holy. It inspired me to learn more about him, and when he died I followed it all on TV, for so many hours that my family thinks that's what caused me to become catholic.
There is a wonderful movie about the life of John Paul II, starring John Voight and Cary Elwes, that shows the hardships and determination of his early days. I hope EWTN will show it sometime during the anniversary of his death. Certainly he is a saint now! 
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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 05:48 pm |
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John Paul II was “a sign and witness of the Resurrection of Christ,” says Pope
Vatican City, Apr 2, 2008 / 10:41 am (CNA).- Recalling with emotion the passing of Pope John Paul II three years ago today, Pope Benedict said April 2 will remain imprinted on the mind of the Church as the day when the Servant of God departed from this world.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for a memorial Mass in honor of the beloved pope, whose abiding memory continues to draw thousands of visitors every day to his tomb inside St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Benedict said that the life and pontificate, was as a whole and in many specific moments, "a sign and witness of the Resurrection of Christ."
John Paul II died on the eve of the second Sunday of Easter, the fulfillment of the "day that the Lord has made."
The Holy Father said, "Like three years ago, today we are not far from Easter. The heart of the Church is still deeply immersed in the mystery of the Resurrection of the Lord. Indeed, we can read the entire life of my beloved predecessor, in particular his Petrine ministry, as a sign of the Risen Christ.”
Recalling how today is the day John Paul II died, Benedict XVI said, "His agony was beheld by all this "day," in this space-time that is the new ' "eighth day," desired by the Holy Trinity through the work of the Incarnate Word, dead and risen.
"In this spiritual dimension,” the Holy Father said that “Pope John Paul II repeatedly demonstrated that he was some way immersed in this mystery during his life, especially in carrying out the mission of the Supreme Pontiff."
Since childhood, Karol Wojtyla experienced the truth of St. Paul's words, 'if we die with him, we shall also live with him. If we persevere with him, we also reign with him" (2 Tim 2,11-12), the Pope said.
The Holy Father then walked through the life of Karol Wojtyla, narrating his way of the cross.
He encountered these words in facing his way of the cross, that of his family and his people. He soon decided carry his cross together with Jesus, following in his footsteps. He wanted to be his faithful servant, to accept the call to the priesthood, and to commit his entire life as a gift. He did all of this through the unique mediation of Mary, Mother of the Church, Mother of the Redeemer and effectively intimately associated with the saving mystery of his death and resurrection, Pope Benedict reflected.
Speaking of the evening of Saturday, April 2, 2005 when news of John Paul II's death reached the crowds in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict said, "For several days the Vatican Basilica and the square were really the heart of the world. A river of pilgrims made uninterrupted tribute to the venerable body of the Pope and his funeral marked a further testimony of the affection and esteem, which he had won in the souls of many believers and people from every part of the world."
Speaking of John Paul II's legacy and final witness, the Pontiff said, "He had an extraordinary faith in Christ, and with Him entertained an intimate conversation, unique and unbroken. Among his many human qualities and supernatural gifts, [John Paul II] also had an exceptional spiritual and mystical sensitivity. It was enough observe when he prayed: he was literally immersed in God, and it seemed that everything else in those moments was extraneous.
In addition, daily mass was for John Paul II a "living and holy" reality that was the center of each day, and that gave him the spiritual energy necessary to guide the People of God in the unfolding of history, Pope Benedict noted.
To observe him during liturgical celebrations was to be present to the mystery in act; he had an ability to capture the eloquence of the Word of God in the future of history, at the depths of God's plan," the Pope said.
Pope Benedict also turned to John Paul II’s constant encouragement "'Do not be afraid!' and tied it to the suffering he endured. “He always delivered with uncompromising firmness, first brandishing the pastoral staff culminating in the cross and then, when his physical energies were waning, almost clinging to it, until the last Good Friday when he participated in the Way of the Cross in his private Chapel, clinging to the cross.”
"We can not forget that in his last silent witness of love for Jesus. Even the eloquent scene of human suffering and faith on that last Good Friday, showed believers and the world the secret of the whole Christian life. His "Do not be afraid" was not based on human strength, or about successes, but only on the Word of God on the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ.”
Pope John Paul II’s conformity to Christ lasted until the end of his life, Benedict explained.
"Gradually, he was stripped of everything, down to those last words, his trust in Christ appeared with growing evidence. As it happened to Jesus, it happened with John Paul II to the very end when the words took place of the final sacrifice, the gift of self. And death was the seal of the whole existence given to Christ. [John Paul II] conformed himself to Christ even physically in the case of suffering and the complete confident abandonment in the arms of the Heavenly Father. According to a witness who was nearby, "Let's go to the Father", were his last words to fulfill a life of total striving to know and contemplate the face of the Lord."
The above article is reposted with permission from the Catholic News Agency.
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Didi
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 10:37 pm |
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I had returned fervently into the Church only about 6 years before John Paul II died. It sort of saddened me that I hadn't been as aware of all he had done before that time, like I "missed" much of his papacy.
For me, his obvious reverence in prayer, his infectious smile, and his tender ways really epitomized what our "Papa" should be.
I often looked to him (and continue to do so) as I deal with chronic health problems. I think of him as he was so active earlier in life, skiing, hiking, etc., only later to have his body become inactive. I think of him as his speech slowly slurred and then went away all together, he who was so eloquent with words. But he never gave up; he never said it was too hard or he wasn't fit to be pope -- he continued on as God's servant (even when many had pushed for him to step down). His example gives me hope that even when I can't do much physically or mentally, God can still use me and I can still serve Him.
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 02:32 am |
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One of my favorite papal quotes: About the time you came back to practicing, Didi, John Paul II was asked point blank by someone why, given his incurable condition, he didn’t resign as pope and let somebody more capable take over. His reply: “Christ didn’t come down from the cross.”
David
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EMarshallBuckles
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 669 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 08:44 pm |
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David W. Emery wrote: One of my favorite papal quotes: About the time you came back to practicing, Didi, John Paul II was asked point blank by someone why, given his incurable condition, he didn’t resign as pope and let somebody more capable take over. His reply: “Christ didn’t come down from the cross.”
David I hadn't heard that one before! That's wonderful! One of my favorite pictures, of his Papcy, was when Pope John Paul II had just gotten off the airplane, at a South American airport, I believe it was, and walked over to where his welcoming committee was. Among those present was a Priest who had been pushing so called "Liberation Theology". Pope John Paul II just "lit into him", as we say here in the south, strongly admonishing him for his teachings! Great picture! Pope John Paul II THE GREAT!!
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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 08:51 pm |
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EMarshallBuckles wrote: Pope John Paul II just "lit into him", as we say here in the south
They don't say that up north??? MAN, they talk funny! 
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