What is your favorite thing about Pope John Paul II?

[jeanne71350]

Hi everyone,

What is your favorite thing about Pope John Paul II?


-Jeanne

[Simon X]

I ll start with a few of accomplishments that I thought were important in this Papacy. My list, not neccessarily in this order..

World Youth Day - Also being the most Travelled Pope ever! Going among the people.

Canonizing and Beautifying hundreds of men and women from many countries and walks of life.

Helping break down Communisim and taking a strong stand for People's Human Rights.

Taking a strong stand for Pro Life issues.

Making it cool to be a Catholic.

[jeanne71350]

Originally Posted by Simon X

I ll start with a few of accomplishments that I thought were important in this Papacy. My list, not neccessarily in this order..

World Youth Day - Also being the most Travelled Pope ever! Going among the people.

Canonizing and Beautifying hundreds of men and women from many countries and walks of life.

Helping break down Communisim and taking a strong stand for People's Human Rights.

Taking a strong stand for Pro Life issues.

Making it cool to be a Catholic.

Yes! JP II didn't just stay in his throne on the Vatican all day and night. He went out, like the apostles did, and spread the message of Christ.

One of my favorite things about Pope John Paul was whenever he was shot, he went to the jail and forgave the man. Most people in his position would have had him killed, but he went and forgave him. It takes quite a human being to do that.

At my school, there are these posters from the diocese promoting vocations with pictures JP II and Mother Theresa. The caption simply reads "Their lives changed the world. Will yours?" Most popes just changed the Church. JP II actually changed the world.

-Jeanne

[Simon X]

Thought of two more favorite things I like about JPII.


Reinstituting the Divine Mercy Devotion along with naming the 1st Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.


Giving us the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.

[Irish Kathy]

Along with everything else, because we could probably go on for a long time if we thought hard enough. I think Pope John Paul The Great just appreciated and enjoyed meeting and interacting with other people. He was one of us. He was just an ordinary man who happened to be Pope. As a result, he was someone everyone could easily relate to.

[Simon X]

One of the most touching pictures I've even seen of JPII, was when he was a young priest and took some young students (college or High School) on a skiing trip. How cool was that? He dearly love the young men and women and had a way of inspiring them. Peace

[Irish Kathy]

He was very, very clearly pro-life, without reservations!!!

[Sicilian]

Pope John Paul II has been, and remains, a guiding-light for me, he changed my view of the Catholic Church many years ago; in that he is TRULY a man of God.

J.D. Di Giusto

[tbuck5]

For me, I think it was his general holiness. He was the best ambassador for Catholicism. Upon his death, so many non-Catholics expressed their sympathies at our loss. My non-Catholic friends did not understand our prayers for the repose of his soul. They don't believe in the infallibility of the pope, yet they assumed that this great man was already in Heaven, so clearly was his life entirely about the work of God.

[MBoniface]

Pope John Paul II once blessed me, personally, unexpectedly. I'll never forget those ice-blue eyes looking into mine. I have never seen such eyes before or since.

It was September 14, 1984 in Toronto, the first-ever papal visit to Canada. I lived inside the security area roped off for his visit so I, my wife and younger brother were free to walk about inside the barricaded areas. We sat down on the grass across the street from 100,000 well-behaved people waiting patiently but excitedly behind a police barricade.

All of a sudden, we heard the motorcade and after a succession of security vehicles and motorcycles, there came the white "popemobile" with its precious passenger inside its plastic dome, standing, ready to greet and bless his Canadian people.

Across the street were thronging tens of thousands, and on our side, just we three little sheep. What did he do? First, he blessed us, who were separated from the big flock by the police barricade. One at a time, each of us.

Then and only then, did he turn his attention to the massive crowds lining the road all the way down to Lake Ontario.

May the fruit of that blessing remain ahead of me.

[vardaquinn]

Originally Posted by MBoniface

Pope John Paul II once blessed me, personally, unexpectedly. I'll never forget those ice-blue eyes looking into mine. I have never seen such eyes before or since.

It was September 14, 1984 in Toronto, the first-ever papal visit to Canada. I lived inside the security area roped off for his visit so I, my wife and younger brother were free to walk about inside the barricaded areas. We sat down on the grass across the street from 100,000 well-behaved people waiting patiently but excitedly behind a police barricade.

All of a sudden, we heard the motorcade and after a succession of security vehicles and motorcycles, there came the white "popemobile" with its precious passenger inside its plastic dome, standing, ready to greet and bless his Canadian people.

Across the street were thronging tens of thousands, and on our side, just we three little sheep. What did he do? First, he blessed us, who were separated from the big flock by the police barricade. One at a time, each of us.

Then and only then, did he turn his attention to the massive crowds lining the road all the way down to Lake Ontario.

May the fruit of that blessing remain ahead of me.

That is so beautiful... What a wondrous gift.

I don't even know my favorite thing about him... I could go on and on.

[Irish Kathy]

Originally Posted by vardaquinn

That is so beautiful... What a wondrous gift.

I don't even know my favorite thing about him... I could go on and on.

WOW!!! What a wonderful memory. And I thought I was blessed by having a rosary blessed by him. I'm sure your blessing will stay with you till the day you die.

[ETEXAS]

HI! New here, new to this group. I admire SO much about JP2! I am a convert from Anglicanism, he was gentle , he set in motion for me to become Catholic. He called on Catholics not to be lazy (intellectually) to read and know Scripture. His ability to engage and refresh, when in the USA, I recall even his last, it was like a "Rock Star" and you know it was amazing, this, Godly Humble man, and it is like just the sight of him....had this effect I thought wow, he grabs a crowd like a Rolling Stones concert,it is hard to pinpoint , he had this special Grace, just this electricity... I am just a Texas Land man, so, my words don't come close to doing justice, I am not a poet like he was, but. my little "Tribute" weak as it is! Pax Et Bonum!

[thequeen]

His decication to the prolife cause and to our youth and especially his wilingness to forgive the man who tried to take his life.

[Sara Migers]

I recommend "He liked Tuesdays best" - a story about everyday life of the Blessed John Paul II.

See at http://jp2books.com

I highly recommend it!