Man of the Millenium
Holy Father John Paul II will one day be known as John Paul the Great. I don't have to wait until he has passed before realizing his holiness and his greatness. He is the reason that I was motivated to enter the seminary. Unfortunately, his influence and presence were not enough to keep me from leaving the seminary, and that is not a reflection on him.
John Paul is a man's man. The reasons for his manly stature are manifold; he was a mountain climber and skier, he stoutly and vehemently opposed Communism, he took a bullet and forgave, in person, the shooter. He wrote one of his doctoral theses on another man's man, St. John of the Cross. His most outstanding quality as a role model for men is his love for our Blessed Mother.
John Paul is flying in the face of death. He is thumbing his nose to sickness and disease. He is fighting a manly battle against despair, debility, and doubt. His weakness is strength, his pain is powerful, his decline is restitutive. Why? Because one cannot witness his witness, and there are billions the world over who have, without taking something beneficial from his suffering.
I can hear the squeamish now. Well, hasn't he got the most luxurious digs there at the Vatican, wear the finest threads, eat anything his heart desires? Maybe. But, can anyone accuse this man of seeking material comfort while he bears the burden of not just the souls of Roman Catholics, but of every Christian? Can anyone begrudge the Holy Father of his physical comfort when he carries the guilt of 2,000 years of Catholic human weakness in the form of antisemitism to pray for forgiveness at the Wailing Wall? While investing countless overtures and gestures toward the Russian Orthodox seeking reconciliation between the Churches, only to be rebuffed everytime. While the increasing secularization of Western Europe erases its Christian history and tradition? When the sins of the flesh threaten to undermine and deface the Church in the United States, and young boys and girls lives were shattered? When Christians are being persecuted and executed around the world? When the 'Culture of Death' seems to be winning the culture wars in entertainment, media, the academy; where prayer is banished and abortion is precept?
Praise God for our faith, our Church, and the Pope. The Holy Spirit sent the right man for the times 27 years ago, and I shudder to think where the Church would be without JPII having steered the ship during these post-Vatican times. What kind of Church would we be without the Chair of Peter? I could describe it for you but I won't go there...
May the Lord give John Paul continued blessings during his pilgrimage with us.
John Paul is a man's man. The reasons for his manly stature are manifold; he was a mountain climber and skier, he stoutly and vehemently opposed Communism, he took a bullet and forgave, in person, the shooter. He wrote one of his doctoral theses on another man's man, St. John of the Cross. His most outstanding quality as a role model for men is his love for our Blessed Mother.
John Paul is flying in the face of death. He is thumbing his nose to sickness and disease. He is fighting a manly battle against despair, debility, and doubt. His weakness is strength, his pain is powerful, his decline is restitutive. Why? Because one cannot witness his witness, and there are billions the world over who have, without taking something beneficial from his suffering.
I can hear the squeamish now. Well, hasn't he got the most luxurious digs there at the Vatican, wear the finest threads, eat anything his heart desires? Maybe. But, can anyone accuse this man of seeking material comfort while he bears the burden of not just the souls of Roman Catholics, but of every Christian? Can anyone begrudge the Holy Father of his physical comfort when he carries the guilt of 2,000 years of Catholic human weakness in the form of antisemitism to pray for forgiveness at the Wailing Wall? While investing countless overtures and gestures toward the Russian Orthodox seeking reconciliation between the Churches, only to be rebuffed everytime. While the increasing secularization of Western Europe erases its Christian history and tradition? When the sins of the flesh threaten to undermine and deface the Church in the United States, and young boys and girls lives were shattered? When Christians are being persecuted and executed around the world? When the 'Culture of Death' seems to be winning the culture wars in entertainment, media, the academy; where prayer is banished and abortion is precept?
Praise God for our faith, our Church, and the Pope. The Holy Spirit sent the right man for the times 27 years ago, and I shudder to think where the Church would be without JPII having steered the ship during these post-Vatican times. What kind of Church would we be without the Chair of Peter? I could describe it for you but I won't go there...
May the Lord give John Paul continued blessings during his pilgrimage with us.
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