This Sunday, May 1, the late Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) is going to be beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. I am particularly excited about this event, as I've always regarded him as one of my favourite history-makers of the last century.
My admiration for JP2 goes back to the mid-1980s, long before I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. His ability to draw people from all walks of life I find inspirational, including young people, the religious and even the non-religious. He presented himself as warm, loving and a man of peace. (He even bore an uncanny resemblance to my late grandfather!)
My earliest memory of him was when he visited Toronto in 1984. Around that same time I had a comic book which summarized his life story and the key events in his life. This included his early years in Poland, his first travels as a seminarian and a priest, right up to his election as pope in 1978 to the assassination attempt made on his life in 1981.
To me, Pope John Paul II was a fearless man who was filled with love, life in the spirit, wisdom and perseverance. He was also a man who encouraged Christian unity. The fact that he was able to deliver the gospel in the face of several adversities tells me that I can get through almost any situation as long as I have faith. I believe that his positive example helped to plant seeds in me.
Today I continue to meditate on the things he did during his incredible life, and I'm also getting myself acquainted with some of his writings. "Be not afraid" has become a mantra for my life. His life was truly blessed.
I'm sure it won't be long before he is canonized as a saint.
My admiration for JP2 goes back to the mid-1980s, long before I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. His ability to draw people from all walks of life I find inspirational, including young people, the religious and even the non-religious. He presented himself as warm, loving and a man of peace. (He even bore an uncanny resemblance to my late grandfather!)
My earliest memory of him was when he visited Toronto in 1984. Around that same time I had a comic book which summarized his life story and the key events in his life. This included his early years in Poland, his first travels as a seminarian and a priest, right up to his election as pope in 1978 to the assassination attempt made on his life in 1981.
To me, Pope John Paul II was a fearless man who was filled with love, life in the spirit, wisdom and perseverance. He was also a man who encouraged Christian unity. The fact that he was able to deliver the gospel in the face of several adversities tells me that I can get through almost any situation as long as I have faith. I believe that his positive example helped to plant seeds in me.
Today I continue to meditate on the things he did during his incredible life, and I'm also getting myself acquainted with some of his writings. "Be not afraid" has become a mantra for my life. His life was truly blessed.
I'm sure it won't be long before he is canonized as a saint.
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