On the First Anniversary of Pope John Paul II's Death

You probably don't recognize this man. It was taken a long time ago, during the Nazi occupation of Poland. It's a picture of a poet, playwrite, athlete and actor. His mind was a brilliant one, his heart large enough to embrace the world. He had a special place in it for young people. I guess that is one of the reasons why many, many years later God saw it fit to choose him to be the next leader of the largest Christian Church in the world.

The man in the picture is Karol Wojtyla, most famously known as John Paul II. Today is the first anniversary of his death.

I still cry when I see programs about him on the television. Although I never met His Holiness, I loved and still love him deeply. He was my Papa. All of my life he was the only Pope I have known. Don't get me wrong, I dearly love His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, but Papa John Paul will forever hold a very special place in my heart. He loved young people. He touched so many lives and did so much to point people to Jesus. He talked the talk and he walked the walk to his very dying breath. When the world focussed on the fact that his health was failing and called for his resignation, he refused. He was not going to stop until God called him home. And that is what he did.

Thank You, Lord for Papa John Paul. He helped us to love ourselves and showed all of us that we all have inherent dignity and worth. In this age that degrades human beings, especially women, he pointed to the Blessed Mother as an example of what women should be like. We do not need to sacrifice our God-given femininity to be strong. The Blessed Mother is a pinnacle of strength because she relied totally on God's Grace.

Just like Papa John Paul did. Totus Tuus.

Please pray for us and watch over us Papa John Paul, while the world rejoices over your life, we still mourn our loss of you. You were and are a great light in the darkness pointing to the Cross of our salvation.

Vive Il Papa!!

Pax Christi,
KaraLynn