Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul’s birthday was May 18th and I began to reflect on some of his writings.  I began to think back to World Youth Day 1993.  I was 17 years old and had traveled from Boston to Denver to join young people from around the world.

As many years have passed since this trip I wanted to again hear the words of Pope John Paul II to us on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.  I re-read the homily he gave that day and a phrase took hold of me “Woe to you if you do not succeed in defending life”. John Paul goes on to say, “The Church needs your energies, your enthusiasm, your youthful ideals, in order to make the Gospel of life penetrate the fabric of society, transforming people's hearts and the structures of society in order to create a civilization of true justice and love. Now more than ever, in a world that is often without light and without the courage of noble ideals, people need the fresh, vital spirituality of the Gospel”.

JPII rosaries in hand landing at World Youth Day 1993

“Do not be afraid to go out on the streets and into public places, like the first Apostles who preached Christ and the Good News of salvation in the squares of cities, towns and villages. This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel, (cf. Rom 1: 16). It is the time to preach it from the rooftops (cf. Mt 10:27). Do not be afraid to break out of comfortable and routine modes of living, in order to take up the challenge of making Christ known in the modem "metropolis". It is you who must "go out into the byroads" (Mt 22:9) and invite everyone you meet to the banquet which God has prepared for his people. The Gospel must not be kept hidden because of fear or indifference. It was never meant to be hidden away in private. It has to be put on a stand so that people may see its fight and give praise to our heavenly Father” (cf. Mt 5:15-16).

In many ways I have felt the intercession of Bl. John Paul II in the work of the children’s rosary.  I have called upon his help reminding him I was one of the young people he commissioned.  As a legacy of his papacy I want to draw attention to his call to young people.  Pope John Paul repeats the words of the great Apostle Paul, "Woe to me if I do not evangelize" (1 Cor 9:16).  It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will take hold of each one of us and in a special way all the members of the Children’s Rosary and give us the courage and strength to evangelize.  Let it be the Spirit of Truth which speaks through us.   By bringing back prayer to our families may we  truly hear to the core of our being the Words, "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10) As the Vicar of Christ on earth Pope John Paul speaks strong words “Woe to you if you do not succeed in defending life”.  Through the children’s rosary Our Lady comes to us as a mother who cares for all of her children and she does not want to see any of us lost.  With her gentle hand on our shoulder may we heed the words of Bl John Paul and assume our role as protector of life and evangelist of the Gospel. Amen.

Prayer of Pope John Paul II

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