What's Your Fondest Memory Of Pope John Paul Ii?

[Margaret Mary]

In light of his upcoming canonization:  what's your fondest memory of Pope John Paul II?

 

My spiritual director received his priestly vocation from JPII.  Before he entered seminary he traveled to see the pope.  At the very end of Mass, JPII stopped and looked directly at him....and ever since then he knew he was called to be a priest!

 

Please share your stories, pictures, resources, etc!  FYI: Pope John Paul II

[blazeingstar]

It was pouring at WYD Toranto, we were knee deep in mud and the porapotties stunk to high heaven.  So did the Europeans. Our cardboard box homes from the week were a soggy mess.

 

Then he came out and the sky split open along his popemobile route, through the crowd, almost near my feet and he rode through on a glittering band of light.  When he celebrated the Eucharist at the moment of consecration a light wind blew through and there was not a cloud in the sky.

[CrossCuT]

It was pouring at WYD Toranto, we were knee deep in mud and the porapotties stunk to high heaven.  So did the Europeans. Our cardboard box homes from the week were a soggy mess.

 

Then he came out and the sky split open along his popemobile route, through the crowd, almost near my feet and he rode through on a glittering band of light.  When he celebrated the Eucharist at the moment of consecration a light wind blew through and there was not a cloud in the sky.

 

Aka JPII was a boss.

[CatherineM]

Seeing him in Mexico on his first trip. He was young and full of energy. When he spoke in fluent Spanish, the crowd went insane.

[littlesister]

A dense crowd of us standing in the street in Chicago for eight hours during his first trip to the U.S., singing and praying together.  Then joining in a resounding "Alleluia" when he finally appeared at the side entrance of the Cathedral, laughing and telling us, "You must go sleep!"

[mortify ii]

In all honesty I have mixed feelings about the Church canonizing John Paul II. Despite his great humanitarian efforts, which truly need to be commended, some of his actions as Vicar were just strange in my opinion. One image I have ingrained in my mind was when he was blessed by a Native American shaman. Can you image the Holy Father receiving blessings from a man invoking demons and then the Pope says the Church was enriched by the blessing? Just very very strange, I'm not sure what the Holy Father was thinking at that moment, and there are numerous other cases like this unfortunately. 

[PhuturePriest]

In all honesty I have mixed feelings about the Church canonizing John Paul II. Despite his great humanitarian efforts, which truly need to be commended, some of his actions as Vicar were just strange in my opinion. One image I have ingrained in my mind was when he was blessed by a Native American shaman. Can you image the Holy Father receiving blessings from a man invoking demons and then the Pope says the Church was enriched by the blessing? Just very very strange, I'm not sure what the Holy Father was thinking at that moment, and there are numerous other cases like this unfortunately. 

 

You have mixed feelings? Nobody is canonized without the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If you have mixed feelings, take it up with God, not the Church.

 

Read Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves by Jason Evert. It's 2 dollars and a wonderful read. You can't read it without falling totally in love with Saint John Paul the Great. He was nothing less than a mystic, and he was an incredibly holy person.

[Spem in alium]

I was a young'un when he died, so don't remember much of him. But I do remember the Jubilee 2000 celebrations, particularly when he opened the Holy Door. 

[AugustineA]

I was a kid in a raving evangelical household. But I do remember seeing a picture of him with his breviary, which he loved. That still inspires me to spend time with mine everyday. And of course the iconic image of him clinging to the crucifix. And finally, seeing him when he was young vs when he was old, I cannot begin to communicate the love and adoration I have for someone so sincere to the Church, regardless of theological orientation or Whatever!

God hold him close.

[cartermia]

I was five when he died so I don't remember much and never saw him in person, but when ever he came on to EWTN I would run up to the TV saying "Papa" and give him a "kiss". Also I chose him (I think it was the other way around, he chose me) to be my Confirmation saint.

[Winchester]

We crashed a wedding party, danced with all the women, and then breakdance fought the groomsmen.

[mortify ii]

NM

Edited April 19, 2014 by mortify ii

[AugustineA]

Lol mortifying I bet I know where you were going there. :P

[Seven77]

I have several fond memories of our soon-to-be saint Pope John Paul II. Just want share a few real quick.

 

When I was a kid, I loved reading the Marvel Comics' edition about his life. I saw him on the news and in pictures but never really knew about his deep spirituality. Later, in my teens, I was indifferent towards the Pope, even denying that I looked up to him. In the year 2000 I  really started paying attention to Pope JPII. I was really moved by seeing him in the Holy Land, on TV, visiting the places where Our Lord walked. He was an old man but he had the strength of David going against Goliath. I was taken by his view of redemptive suffering in his apostolic letter on the meaning of suffering. Towards the end of his life, I was sorry to see him on a tracheostomy and unable to speak. It was his witness of suffering that always gave me hope in the midst of my suffering. Little did I know that I too would have to have a tracheostomy and start using a ventilator. I think I got through it thanks to the intercession of Pope JPII, and I can speak clearly.  Thanks to his example I also made the Total Consecration to Our Lady.

 

 There's a lot more I can say but that's it for now. I think one of the best documentaries to watch about him is Witness to Hope, based on  the biography by George Weigel. The best movie I think is Karol: the Man who became Pope, based on the book Stories of Karol.

[mysisterisalittlesister]

I was five when he died so I don't remember much and never saw him in person, but when ever he came on to EWTN I would run up to the TV saying "Papa" and give him a "kiss". Also I chose him (I think it was the other way around, he chose me) to be my Confirmation saint.

 

Sweet, so am I! That's awesome!