"Be Not Afraid"

After last week’s canonizations, this week had a lot to live up to. Thankfully we have so many things to celebrate in the Catholic Church! For instance, this past Monday we celebrated the feast of Saint John Paul II. What a day that was! For me the day couldn’t have been any better. It was a beautiful day start to finish, but especially the finish.

Monday evening I was praying in adoration up until reposition (the closing of adoration). I stuck around longer to pray some more and as I sat there reflecting on the day and my future, my campus chaplain walked over to me and handed me a little picture card of John Paul II that had a relic. I was so honored and blessed. It was such a gift and reminded me of his intercession. When I was little I used to wear a bracelet that said John Paul II “Be not afraid” which reminded me to have faith in God. So too this relic was a reminder to continue to trust in God and not be afraid.

Prayer Card with relic I received

So many other people were impacted in some way by JPII during his life and long papacy, and even to this day. He had a real capacity to love and it was obvious that he was a saint. My siblings, parents, grandparents, and friends all have a love for him as person with great faith especially in a time of such need. There are countless stories to tell about him as he faced many trials: the death of family members at a young age, the Nazis, and an attempted assassination on his life to name a few. He also was an exciting and engaging person as he was active skiing, playing sports, and ministering to people in that way while being a real light in times of darkness. He knew how impactful communication can be around sports and activities.

Not only did he possess and experience those trials and joys, he ultimately strived wholeheartedly for holiness. The many first hand stories I have heard of people encountering him have described the great love they felt as he merely gazed upon them and smiled. I get so excited talking about him and especially seeing how all types of people light up when they hear his name. It makes me wonder what was so different about him and how we can imitate him as he imitated Christ. Although most of it is a mystery that can be explained simply by grace, I know we can learn a couple of things from him.

One, John Paul II loved the Eucharist. He loved it with his whole being because he knew that it was Jesus’ body and blood, truly and most fully. JPII would find any hidden tabernacle. One story that illustrates this is from his visit to the US. His schedulers describe this encounter at the seminary in Baltimore as the doors of the chapel were closed and there was nothing to make anyone think there was a chapel yet JPII knew exactly where the Eucharist was and opened the door to adore the Lord. He immediately entered deep prayer as every encounter with Christ he treasured. Thus he threw off the schedule in typical "Wojtyla" fashion (his birth name was Karol Wojtyla)!

Two, he loved his mother Mary. He relied on her throughout his life as he lost his earthly mother at a young age, yet on May 13, 1981. On the anniversary of the Marian apparition at Fatima, JPII was shot in an attempted assassination. Surely the bullet should have killed him from the angle and distance, but miraculously it didn’t. John Paul II professed, “One hand fired the shot. Another guided it”  in reference to Mary’s intervention. From that point, John Paul II surrendered all, even his papacy to Mary and showed the whole Church to do likewise.

Thus be not afraid of following Jesus wholeheartedly by devotion to the Eucharist through the intercession of Mary.