- "A Fearless Champion
of Life, Human Dignity and Justice"
—Homily by Rev. Gerry Creedon
- I remember walking into St. Peter's Square about four years ago on
a hot Sunday afternoon. I wasn't expecting to see our Holy Father because
he usually made his visits to the public on Wednesdays. I remember swerving
through the loud, cheering crowds that day to see what was happening.
And in front of a crowd of thoursands, our Holy Father was speaking
in about four languages and beatifying seven soon-to-be saints.
Looking back now, I had no idea what that experience would end up meaning
to me for the rest of my life. He was a testimony to the love and mercy
and Truth of God in this world plagued by doubt, slavery and death.
"Be not afraid," he said on the day he took his place as our
Church shepherd. I am sure he was refering to Jesus' own words in the
Gospels to his disciples and Jesus' own sign of triumph over death.
Pope John Paul II indeed loved until the end, because he knew it wasn't
the end, only the beginning. Christ is truly risen and we must celebrate
how our Holy Father is truly risen with his Loved One.
Just as he continuously was, we must also be witnesses to the love,
hope and grace of God in this world. Let us hold his thoughts, prayers
and love of God and our Lady close to our hearts as we pray for our
Church and all the cardinals in Rome. May God's will continuously be
done.
—Gabriela Castaneda
- ...there would likely have been three great mothers awaiting the pope
in heaven. First, would have been John Paul II’s mother, who died
when the pope was 9 years old; second would have been the Blessed Mother,
who raised him after his own mother went to heaven; and third would
have been a 4’9" missionary, Mother Teresa, who was his great
friend in this life. "Who had a greater devotion to the Blessed
Mother than the Holy Father?" Father O’Hara asked rhetorically.
—Fr. Jack O'Hara at the 6 PM Mass, as quoted
in the Catholic Herald
- My husband and I were most fortunate to see John Paul the last time
he was "actively" present at his window in Rome -- when he was trying
to release the doves from the window. In the piazza with us that day
were thousands of young people, chanting and cheering, "John Paul Two,
We Love You." The waves of love pulsating back and forth between the
piazza and the Pope at his window were palpable and almost unbearably
sweet. I am devastated at his passing. Although I know his death is
only a departure, I feel an almost unbearable sense of loss. He informed
my Catholicism in undefinable ways and was the voice of Christ who called
me. I can't imagine how tomorrow will be without his leadership, his
example, and his guidance.
—Trudy Dervan
- I recently tried as best I could to explain to my wife the wonder
of the trip I made to St. Louis in 1999 with Jen Cole and five kids
from WAY. How very blessed I am, and will forever be, that she convinced
me to go. I remember sitting in the Kiel Center - the noise louder even
than Springsteen's crowds. I remember the tears that streamed down Elina
Reyes' cheek as she watched him enter the arena. I remember the tears
that streamed down my own cheek as I listened to his encouragement to
fight the darkness by being children of light. I remember these in particular:
"You may feel the darkness of loneliness and isolation. Your anxieties
may come from questions about your future, or regrets about past choices."
And then he hesitated, and nodded with bottomless compassion and understanding
as he repeated, "past choices." And I remember the grace that
I felt he was bestowing on young people—especially to some of the
young women that we had ministered to and their sisters in regret across
our country. And grace bestowed also upon me. It was in listening to
those words that I recognized the majesty of the man—to lead 1
billion people over the entire world and at the same time penetrate
the heart of one of his flock. My life changed for the better over those
couple days. And as I watched the news (such a great moment for Catholics
to rediscover the greatness of their faith!!), I couldn't help but feel
very sad at his passing, but so joyful that a tired son is returning
home to his Father after so much good work; and also so blessed that
i had the opportunity to personally experience his love.
—Larry Henry
- October 2, 1979: When I was 12 years old, my younger brother Brian
and I attended a papal Mass at that mighty Basilica in the Bronx: Yankee
Stadium. I remember climbing the ramps to Section 33 - upper deck, behind
the right-field foul post, perhaps as far away from the field as possible.
Down below, a massive altar platform had been constructed atop 2nd base.
It covered most of the infield. A full orchestra prepared the music.
All of the commercial billboards were respectfully covered with black
tarp. The electronic scoreboard featured the papal crest. The pope’s
homily challenged us with a compelling message of social justice: "The
poor of the United States and of the world are your brothers and sisters
in Christ. You must never be content to leave them just the crumbs from
the feast. You must take of your substance, and not just of your abundance,
in order to help them. And you must treat them like guests at your family
table." With the passing of John Paul II, these childhood memories
have come rushing back. Though I attended a papal audience in Rome years
later, nothing will compare with the great joy of that evening –
partaking of the liturgy on such a grand scale, led by such a remarkable
shepherd. Though it was still early in his pontificate, it was clear
to all that this man would change the world.
—Michael McMahon
- I was lucky enough to arrive at Rome when he was elected; I changed
my itinerary to stay for his coronation. I give thanks to God for it
was truly a historical moment. His last book -Memoria and Identidad-
is a towering and brilliant work [two European editions in two months],
profound and amazingly clear. It will have a place in history, as much
as the rest of his papacy.
—J. Dominguez-Urosa
- I am moved by how he not only accepted suffering—he embraced
it. Here we had what was once an athletic man known as the skiing pope.
How hard it must have been to have his physical body start to fail him.
Yet he didn't merely accept his physical decline piously with a graceful
retreat from the global spotlight. Instead, he courageously thrust his
frailty in our face so that we could not possibly miss his message:
every life at every stage has inherent dignity. Our dignity isn't measured
by what we can do physically, but simply because we are created in God's
image.
—Mark D. Alves
- What particularly impressed me about the Pope over these years was
his visible experience of prayer. I always had a sense he was listening
to God while listening to others. He was a faithful intercessor for
the suffering of the world, for those on the margins of life. It inspired
me and deepened my own call to intercessory prayer.
In 1979 when he came to the United States, I had the opportunity
to be in the White House gardens for a reception for the Pope.
I looked around carefully, wondering where he would be coming from,
standing etc. I saw a lady in a wheel chair who had the suffering
of life on her face. I went and stood behind her chair. Of course,
he came to her, laid hands on her and prayed the prayer of Christ
for her. His presence was clear, open, receptive.
I felt like I had joined that prayer with him, with Jesus, for the
woman. We are the church! We are the instruments of Christ.
—Jean Sweeney
- "John Paul the Great" —Fr. Mullins in his 4/3/2005
homily
- I am very saddened about the death of Pope Paul John II, as I made
a special stop in Rome two months after he was elected, for the famous
Wednesday Blessing, and then he came to Washington, D.C. in October
when I attended his Mass on the Mall. The last time I was in Rome, it
was with a special group of pilgrims returning from the Holy Land led
by the late Bishop Wm. Gomes, of Poona, India; retired in Arizona, and
who fortunately was a seminarian in Rome, and had met the Pope a few
times. We stopped for a week in Rome and had a special audience with
him.
We will miss the Holy Father's piety and intellect in a Church leader.
He was an example for us to PRAY.
—Delia d'Albuquerque
- I went up to Baltimore in 1995 and saw him go by in the Popemobile
less than 20 feet away from me. I saw him in there waving. Even from
that distance, I could feel his presence. I was able to take two very
good pictures. It will be very difficult for his successor to fill his
shoes. He was a wonderful example of how to be a leader not only to
religious and spiritual leaders; but also to the secular and political
leaders. He showed that it is possible to reach out and include different
people without compromising who one is and what one believes in.
—Becky Geiger
- Saturday, April 2, 2005 – 2:53pm – Rome
...When I went back out this morning, my friend and I realized we were
just in time for the early morning Masses at the various altars of St.
Peter’s. It is probably the most beautiful time to be in the Basilica.
The light streams softly in through the colored glass and quite abounds
as there are only a relative handful of pilgrims inside the immense—yet
intimate—church. Multiple Masses are quietly being said for small
groups in all the worlds languages. In the upper Basilica and in the
crypt below, you hear soft chants, amens and alleluias.
My friend and I "happened" upon Mass in English at the
first altar on the left after entering St. Peter’s. After the
celebration of Mass, which I (and others) wept through, we slowly
passed by the great statues and intricate mosaics to the main altar
under which the bones of St. Peter are encased. A few moments in prayer
there, naturally led us down to the crypt to be closer to his relics.
I’ve done this many times before, but it took on special meaning
today. We walked among the tombs of other Popes...as if there could
have ever been or could ever be a Pope other than John Paul II. Did
they do as much for the Church? Did they profoundly and personally
impact lives of simple people like me? Were they as loved? Hard to
believe it could be true, and yet I know it must be. I found myself
completely overwhelmed by the history and tradition and richness of
our Church. Struggling for gasps of air between my quiet sobs, I could
only utter prayers of thanksgiving for being fortunate enough to be
part of this Church, this city and this moment in time. I am so very
grateful.
—Jen Cole
Read more of Jen's notes from Rome
- Parish youth describe seeing the
pope
(from their 1999 trip)
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From US Bishops' Site
From the Diocese of Arlington
From AmericanCatholic.org
From the Vatican
From Parishioner Jen Cole's email journal from Rome
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Pope
John Paul II Remembered