16 October 1978....a day to be thankful for!
Today I had to go to the Vatican Post office to buy some stamps (side note--MAN those things are expensive!! 2€ =$2.70 EACH!!!!)...when it occurred to me that 35 years ago today, in the same square I was standing in, were thousands of people, waiting rather anxiously to hear these words: "Anuntio Vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!"
That was the night that the Holy Spirit, through the College of Cardinals gave the Church and the world Pope John Paul II.
This Polish bishop became one of the most influential people of the second half of the XX Century...I can't tell you how many people I know are named "John Paul" in honor of this man. For most of my life, he was the only Holy Father I had ever known. I was almost 20 years old, when he died, and it became so odd to not hear at every Mass I attended "together with John Paul, our Pope..."
My fondest memory of JPII has to be when I was 17. I went with Stoughton Life Teen to World Youth Day in Toronto, CA...and I remember being feet away from him as he passed by in the PopeMobile...and there being THOUSANDS of teenagers screaming out "Giovanni Paolo :::clap clap clap clap clap:::" over and over. Some were so overjoyed at seeing the Vicar of Christ that they wept tears of joy, others just jumped up and down with smiles from ear to ear at being able to be that close to Christ's representative on Earth. I remember thinking "WOW! This isn't a BSB concert--no reason to cry." Then I caught a glimpse of him...he just radiated holiness and the love of Jesus Christ! And then, I cried.
On the Vigil of the WYD Mass, we had a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations during which the Holy Father gave a talk---I honestly can't tell you anything he said, but we (the crowd) were cheering "JP2, WE LOVE YOU!" on repeat. Finally, he stopped what he was saying and said "JP2 loves you too!". My heart melted. I knew he wasn't just saying it. I knew that this 82 year old man from Poland, who is the spiritual father of over one billion souls meant it. He really loved the youth of the Church. He desired so much for the youth of the world to know that they are loved and needed by the Church. He wanted us to know that Jesus Christ loves us and wants us to love Him and be willing to live our lives for Him.
The last thing I remember from WYD was that it POURED all Saturday night into the WYD Mass on Sunday. When the Pope's helicopter approached the field the rain clouds parted and the sun began to shine! After the Holy Father's helicopter departed after the Mass was over--yep you guessed it--it began to pour again... These are just some of my WYD Memories. I could go on, but I want you to actually read, and not skim, the post :-)
To not give JPII any credit in my vocation story would be a grave mistake. He had a huge impact on my teen years. Though we never had any personal encounters or conversations, in my heart I know that he prayed for me. I know that he loved me. I know that he wanted me to realize that true happiness comes in drawing closer to God and giving my life over to Him, and asking Him to reveal to me His will for my life. From drawing closer is where I heard God inviting me to follow him in a deeper way by entering the seminary. My time in seminary, thus far, has done nothing but confirm in my heart a desire to lay down my life in service to Christ and His Church, and to serve my brothers and sisters out of a genuine love for them because of my love for Christ.
I have a hard time describing in words the feeling I got in St. Peter's Square today---knowing that in that very square 35 years ago today the Papacy of John Paul II began. Knowing that just this past Sunday I was in the Square for Mass with the current Holy Father and was blessed to be close enough to him to get this picture:
That was the night that the Holy Spirit, through the College of Cardinals gave the Church and the world Pope John Paul II.
This Polish bishop became one of the most influential people of the second half of the XX Century...I can't tell you how many people I know are named "John Paul" in honor of this man. For most of my life, he was the only Holy Father I had ever known. I was almost 20 years old, when he died, and it became so odd to not hear at every Mass I attended "together with John Paul, our Pope..."
My fondest memory of JPII has to be when I was 17. I went with Stoughton Life Teen to World Youth Day in Toronto, CA...and I remember being feet away from him as he passed by in the PopeMobile...and there being THOUSANDS of teenagers screaming out "Giovanni Paolo :::clap clap clap clap clap:::" over and over. Some were so overjoyed at seeing the Vicar of Christ that they wept tears of joy, others just jumped up and down with smiles from ear to ear at being able to be that close to Christ's representative on Earth. I remember thinking "WOW! This isn't a BSB concert--no reason to cry." Then I caught a glimpse of him...he just radiated holiness and the love of Jesus Christ! And then, I cried.
On the Vigil of the WYD Mass, we had a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations during which the Holy Father gave a talk---I honestly can't tell you anything he said, but we (the crowd) were cheering "JP2, WE LOVE YOU!" on repeat. Finally, he stopped what he was saying and said "JP2 loves you too!". My heart melted. I knew he wasn't just saying it. I knew that this 82 year old man from Poland, who is the spiritual father of over one billion souls meant it. He really loved the youth of the Church. He desired so much for the youth of the world to know that they are loved and needed by the Church. He wanted us to know that Jesus Christ loves us and wants us to love Him and be willing to live our lives for Him.
The last thing I remember from WYD was that it POURED all Saturday night into the WYD Mass on Sunday. When the Pope's helicopter approached the field the rain clouds parted and the sun began to shine! After the Holy Father's helicopter departed after the Mass was over--yep you guessed it--it began to pour again... These are just some of my WYD Memories. I could go on, but I want you to actually read, and not skim, the post :-)
To not give JPII any credit in my vocation story would be a grave mistake. He had a huge impact on my teen years. Though we never had any personal encounters or conversations, in my heart I know that he prayed for me. I know that he loved me. I know that he wanted me to realize that true happiness comes in drawing closer to God and giving my life over to Him, and asking Him to reveal to me His will for my life. From drawing closer is where I heard God inviting me to follow him in a deeper way by entering the seminary. My time in seminary, thus far, has done nothing but confirm in my heart a desire to lay down my life in service to Christ and His Church, and to serve my brothers and sisters out of a genuine love for them because of my love for Christ.
I have a hard time describing in words the feeling I got in St. Peter's Square today---knowing that in that very square 35 years ago today the Papacy of John Paul II began. Knowing that just this past Sunday I was in the Square for Mass with the current Holy Father and was blessed to be close enough to him to get this picture:
How Awesome is that?!? The rector of the NAC told us in August when we arrived for regular orientation that we should never grow weary of standing in amazement at St. Peter's...we should always be grateful for the opportunity we were given by our bishops to be in this richly historic, Catholic city.
And he's right. Though I am having a hard transition, I realize the blessing I've been afforded to be in the Eternal City. And despite whatever feelings of homesickness I may be experiencing, whatever difficulties I may be having with transitioning to Rome I must come to believe with my heart the wise words of the Saint we celebrated yesterday: "Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be"- St. Teresa of Jesus
Blessed JPII, ora pro nobis...
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, ora pro nobis...
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
--KPL
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