Memories Of The To Be Blessed Karol Wojtyla

[Lwangaman]

Seeing that we've got a big beatification [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img] coming up on May 1st maybe we can share our favorite memories, anecdotes, quotes, personality aspects, etc. of one of the greatest Popes [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/pope.gif[/img] of the last century that brought the Church into the Second Millennium. I'm following up on a similar initiative in an italian facebook group, I'm new here on phatmass but I thought it might be interesting for everyone, so post away!
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My start is: I remember that one of his favorite hymns is "Pescador de los Hombres", which was also translated into polish as "Barka". It was sung in one of the ceremonies in his last trip to Cracow in 2002. Here's a video of him singing it in El Salvador in 1983:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnmUCBpxwGg"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=JnmUCBpxwGg[/url]
He even sings the second voice!

Here someone did some research on it: [url="http://ampoleagle.com/barka-the-favorite-song-of-john-paul-ii-p4565-131.htm"]http://ampoleagle.co...i-p4565-131.htm[/url]

At the end of the Mass in Cracow in 2002 he said:

[color="#333333"][font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][quote]"I would like to add that this same song of the "Oasis" accompanied me 23 years ago outside of the homeland. I could hear it in my ears when I heard the verdict of the conclave. I have not forgotten this song of the "Oasis" all these years. It was like some kind of a hidden breath of the homeland. It was my guide on the variety of paths of the Church. It was this song that often led me spiritually here, to Blonie of Kraków, to the foot of the Kosciuszko Hill. I thank you, song of the "Oasis". I thank you Blonie of Kraków for the hospitality you have shown so many times, especially today. May God reward you. And I would like to add: See you again. But this is completely in God's hands. I entrust this entirely to the mercy of God." (After more than two million people had sung his favorite song titled "Barka" at the end of the Holy Mass in Blonie Park, Kraków, on August 18 2002.)[/quote][/size][/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] [/font][/color]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"]Wow. This song accompanied him even in his decision to accept the papacy in the conclave. I must say this vocational song is one of my favorites too! I learned it in the minor seminary in both english and spanish and fell in love with it. [/color][/size][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"] [/size][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"]I would also recommend taking a look at these websites:

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[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"][url="http://pope2you.net/index.php?lang=en"]http://pope2you.net/index.php?lang=en[/url] (Vatican promoted website, cared for by don Paolo Padrini)[/color][/size][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"][url="http://www.youtube.com/giovannipaoloii"]http://www.youtube.com/giovannipaoloii[/url] (Vatican youtube channel dedicated to John Paul II, in italian...)[/color][/size][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"][url="http://www.facebook.com/vatican.johnpaul2"]http://www.facebook.com/vatican.johnpaul2[/url] (Vatican facebook page dedicated to John Paul II, in english)[/color][/size][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"][url="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_176537905732465&ap=1"]http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_176537905732465&ap=1[/url] (Facebook share group "Digital Sentinels" (or "Custodians") in preparation to the beatification, cared for by don Paolo Padrini; I help out on the italian group)[/color][/size][/font]
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"][url="http://www.jpiibeatus.org/en/site/generalInformation"]http://www.jpiibeatus.org/en/site/generalInformation[/url] (Information page put up by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi for preparing a pilgrimage to Rome for the beatification)[/color][/size][/font]

Edited April 23, 2011 by Lwangaman

[cmaD2006]

[quote name='Lwangaman' timestamp='1303537793' post='2231320']
[font="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"][color="#333333"]Wow. This song accompanied him even in his decision to accept the papacy in the conclave. I must say this vocational song is one of my favorites too! I learned it in the minor seminary in both english and spanish and fell in love with it.[/color][/size][/font]
[/quote]

Its one of my favorites too .... there's two versions in english and one of the two versions is the one I prefer (Oh Lord, with your eyes set upon me etc.). But when its sung in my beloved Spanish, I'm in high heaven.

I'm thankful for having seen Pope John Paul II in Rome during my first trip in 2000, and for having prayed at his tomb in 2010. I know he's interceding for my intentions.

Edited April 23, 2011 by cmariadiaz

[Cam42]

[mod]Negative criticism of pope. - dUSt[/mod]

[Lwangaman]

[quote name='Cam42' timestamp='1303539333' post='2231327']
This is not a support for his beatification....I have no devotion to him....which is in my right and privy.
[/quote]

Well then I suppose that there's no need to post to this thread is there... You could open up another one.

[Lwangaman]

Here Pope Benedict remembers him in the sixth anniversary of his death:
[center][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekSQF_IC93w&feature=related[/media]
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And here is a great video by Fr. Stan Fortuna on the sixth anniversary of John Paul II's death:

[center][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fv1CJnI5-E&feature=autofb"][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fv1CJnI5-E&feature=autofb[/media][/url][/center]

Edited April 23, 2011 by Lwangaman

[Lwangaman]

Was anyone present in World Youth Day in Denver?
[center][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3qDZF0vvbI[/media]
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[Cam42]

[quote name='Lwangaman' timestamp='1303543320' post='2231335']
Well then I suppose that there's no need to post to this thread is there... You could open up another one.
[/quote]

No thanks...I replied to this thread. This forum is about serious spirituality, and the serious discussion of it without debate; and the concerns that I listed are very serious. Also, this thread is about replying to memories of Pope John Paul II. Those are my memories of him. You asked, and I responded. Not everyone will have memories which are all "unicorns and glitter."

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Lwangaman' timestamp='1303555377' post='2231339']
Was anyone present in World Youth Day in Denver?
[center][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3qDZF0vvbI[/media]
[/center]
[/quote]
ME!!

[kafka]

I love JPII's encyclical Veritatis Splendor.
I love the way he was and is.
I love the fact that I can pray to him and he understands me and the modern world I live in.
I love the fact that he takes care of some of my spiritual needs from heaven.
I love the Divine Mercy devotion he promoted.
I love that someone just a couple of weeks ago, just out of the blue, gave me a special red papal rosary blessed by JPII and touched to Saint Peter's tomb.

[CatherineM]

The bishop I worked for in OKC was Lithuanian, and was at Vatican II with John Paul. They were two of the youngest bishops there, and became good friends. He let me read some of the correspondence that he received from the Pope. He talked several times about being in trouble with his confessor because he had been short with someone who smoked or was overweight. When my husband had a private audience with John Paul in 1996, the Pope scowled at him. The picture is hilarious. It looks like he just ate a lemon. Austin couldn't figure out why the Pope looked so mad. When I told him it was because of his weight, he was relieved. With his illness, he thought maybe the Pope had seen a demon in him, and wanted to do an exorcism.
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/3153985861_e54ae8f369_m.jpg[/img]

[Cam42]

[quote name='Cam42' timestamp='1303539333' post='2231327']
[mod]Negative criticism of pope. - dUSt[/mod]
[/quote]

Nothing in what I said was inaccurate. Would you care to elaborate on how I was inaccurate in my statement, which caused the edit. I wasn't speaking about anything that could have been construed as being above reproach. I didn't speak about any infallible teaching that he put forth in a negative light. No pope is above reproach. Unless you want me to start revising Pope Sixtus VI when I speak of him, or of Julius III? I think not.

Thank you for being sensitive to my memories of John Paul II. He was my pope too and those were the most memorable memories I had of him. You made me very sad.

Thanks for the open discussion of the Church and her history.

[Lisa]

My memory of him is in his last years of life. Even though he was struggling to stand up, after the consecration, he knelt down (as all priests should do- it makes me so sad when they do a little bow). It took people to help him back up, but it was a powerful witness to what respect for the Eucharist really looks like.

[BG45]

I just watched the vid of him singing Pescador de los Hombres, amazing.

Some memories...I wasn't a Catholic when he was Pope, but for some reason he always just kind of intrigued me. Especially towards his final days. Here was a man who was doing exactly what he preached about even has his illness became more pronounced. I remember staying up to watch his funeral Mass live on TV at like 4am EST and being amazed at how diverse a crowd had gathered and how large.

I found it interesting that he went to Confession daily, because he was the Pope. I had no clue at the time that the Pope had to go to Confession too, I thought it was something the clergy made the laity do.

[CatherineM]

There's a line in "Shoes of the Fisherman" where they talk about the number of absolutions the Pope requires after death because as a greater man, his sins would have been greater as well.

[BG45]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1303602026' post='2231566']
There's a line in "Shoes of the Fisherman" where they talk about the number of absolutions the Pope requires after death because as a greater man, his sins would have been greater as well.
[/quote]

I believe it. o.o