Saturday, April 02, 2005
The pope has died.
My initial reaction was of relief - there is no suffering in heaven.
Then, when the bells started tolling, sadness came over me. I will miss this man. I saw him on two different occasions - in World Youth Day, and in Rome this past December - and he was a wonderful beacon of hope and light each time. The first time I ever saw him I thought "How can this man be loved so universally? How can he be an inspiration to people on every continent? And how can he be so hopeful and joyful all the time?!". Perhaps I was juvenile, but I remember it was also at World Youth Day that he invited all of us youth to consider the great calling which we have been given to be saints. We are all called to give our all, and he told us to "Be not afraid!" and to "Put out into the deep". And, it was, at this time, that I realized my vocation to religious life. I had been denying it for a few years, but in watching this man's hope, this man's joy, this man's love and holiness and faith...how could I say no? I owe my courage to this man.
The second time I encountered him, I was reliving the experience mentioned above. I was joyful, hopeful, and excited to be able to see the man whom I had grown to love with a profound love over the course of the past 2 years. His presence called people to rejoice, to sing, to dance, to be proud of being who they are as Catholics, and to dedicate their lives to God, seeking to become saints. I just watched the pope, in his ailing condition, as he fed on the energy, joy, and love of all the people at both the audience and the vespers service, and I was moved by the fact that he TRULY LOVED us, and we TRULY LOVED him.
Which is why I now have mixed feelings. Which I guess is only normal.
I will miss him terribly. No one will ever be who he was to so many people. Nearly everyone who loved him felt they had a personal connection with him (whether they had met him, seen him, or just witnessed him on the television!). He was a motivational figure for us youth - calling us his "dear young friends", and being more real and genuine with us than we have ever witnessed. He was unrelenting in calling us to be who God calls to be. He was like we have never known before and will never see again. How can our hearts not be moved when we see him kissing babies and hugging children and smiling and laughing and...oh, he truly was amazing.
However, I cannot imagine what joy he is experiencing in heaven. He is suffering no longer. He is with his mother, father, and brother who he hasn't seen in YEARS. And I have no doubt that Mary is cradling him in her arms. What jubilation amongst the saints and angels. How amazing for him - and for us.
For this reason, I am peaceful in facing his death - as an Easter people, we must believe in the power of the Resurrection, and be witnesses of hope, joy and love to the world.
What have I to say now? Bring on the canonization.
Requiescat in pace, John Paul II. We love you.
Pax et veritas.
My initial reaction was of relief - there is no suffering in heaven.
Then, when the bells started tolling, sadness came over me. I will miss this man. I saw him on two different occasions - in World Youth Day, and in Rome this past December - and he was a wonderful beacon of hope and light each time. The first time I ever saw him I thought "How can this man be loved so universally? How can he be an inspiration to people on every continent? And how can he be so hopeful and joyful all the time?!". Perhaps I was juvenile, but I remember it was also at World Youth Day that he invited all of us youth to consider the great calling which we have been given to be saints. We are all called to give our all, and he told us to "Be not afraid!" and to "Put out into the deep". And, it was, at this time, that I realized my vocation to religious life. I had been denying it for a few years, but in watching this man's hope, this man's joy, this man's love and holiness and faith...how could I say no? I owe my courage to this man.
The second time I encountered him, I was reliving the experience mentioned above. I was joyful, hopeful, and excited to be able to see the man whom I had grown to love with a profound love over the course of the past 2 years. His presence called people to rejoice, to sing, to dance, to be proud of being who they are as Catholics, and to dedicate their lives to God, seeking to become saints. I just watched the pope, in his ailing condition, as he fed on the energy, joy, and love of all the people at both the audience and the vespers service, and I was moved by the fact that he TRULY LOVED us, and we TRULY LOVED him.
Which is why I now have mixed feelings. Which I guess is only normal.
I will miss him terribly. No one will ever be who he was to so many people. Nearly everyone who loved him felt they had a personal connection with him (whether they had met him, seen him, or just witnessed him on the television!). He was a motivational figure for us youth - calling us his "dear young friends", and being more real and genuine with us than we have ever witnessed. He was unrelenting in calling us to be who God calls to be. He was like we have never known before and will never see again. How can our hearts not be moved when we see him kissing babies and hugging children and smiling and laughing and...oh, he truly was amazing.
However, I cannot imagine what joy he is experiencing in heaven. He is suffering no longer. He is with his mother, father, and brother who he hasn't seen in YEARS. And I have no doubt that Mary is cradling him in her arms. What jubilation amongst the saints and angels. How amazing for him - and for us.
For this reason, I am peaceful in facing his death - as an Easter people, we must believe in the power of the Resurrection, and be witnesses of hope, joy and love to the world.
What have I to say now? Bring on the canonization.
Requiescat in pace, John Paul II. We love you.
Pax et veritas.
