Saint Pope John Paul II

Saint John-Paul II, Pope said to be the Most

Recognized Person in the World

NAME:

Karol Józef Wojtyla

BEATIFICATION:

Pope John Paul II was beatified on 1st May 2011 in Rome, during the Sunday of Divine Mercy, the feast which he personally established on the request of the Lord Jesus, the request which was written in the Diary of Saint Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy.  

HISTORY:

Karol Józef Wojtyla was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometers from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. He made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at 18. Upon graduation from Marcin Wadowita High School in Wadowice, he enrolled in Cracow's Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama. The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in the Solvay chemical factory (1940-1944), at the beginning in a quarry and then in a factory in which the soda was purified, to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany. In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine. After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Cracow, once it had re-opened, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University, until his priestly ordination in Cracow on November 1, 1946 and over the next few years he wrote doctrinal texts, pursued a higher level of education, taught Catholicism and encouraged religious freedom. The result was a professorship in Catholic University in Lublin, Poland, a body of work that influenced the reforms of Pope Paul VI and a reputation for promoting and supporting his church in an oppressive Soviet regime. Elevation to auxiliary bishop soon followed, and while contributing to the 'Second Vatican Council' in 1963 he was made archbishop of Krakow. Four years later, in 1967, he was made a cardinal. During the next few years Wojtyla worked ceaselessly in Poland, gaining concessions from the communist government and widespread support from the public, while contributing to Vatican policy. In October 1978 he was elected Pope and took the name John Paul II.

HIS WORK:

Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II has completed 95 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 141 within Italy . As Bishop of Rome he has visited 301 of the 334 parishes . His principal documents include 14 encyclicals , 14 apostolic exhortations , 11 apostolic constitutions and 42 apostolic letters. As Pope he published also five books : „God Created Them as a Man and a Woman. The Redemption of Body and The Sacrament of Marriage” 1986 r., “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” (October 1994) and “Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination” (November 1996) „Roman Triptych” 2003, „Stand up, let’s go” 2004, „Memory and Identity” 2005 r. John Paul II has presided at 131 beatification ceremonies ( 1,282 Blessed persons proclaimed ) and 43 canonization ceremonies (456 Saints) during his pontificate. He has held 8 consistories in which he created 201 cardinals .

MOST TRAVELLED POPE:

Pope John Paul II is the most travelled pope in the history of the papacy. He is also a very popular and political pope. He has travelled to every country that would accept him, and has drawn huge crowds in well over 100 countries. He was a very vocal critic of the communist regimes of East Germany, the Soviet Union and his native Poland. He has also opposed economic sanctions against Cuba, Libya, Iran and Iraq, on the grounds that they hurt the people and are politically ineffective.

POPE WOUNDED:

0n May 13,1981, Mehmet Ali Agca, an escaped murderer from Turkey, raised a pistol above his head in the piazza in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and shot and wounded Pope John Paul 11. The pope spent nearly three months in the hospital. He later visited his attacker in prison.

John Paul II was born in Wadowice - quite near the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. In Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is very beautiful Sanctuary in which the John Paul II prayed.

Please see: http://www.kalwaria.eu/?action=language,ENG

TOTUS TUUS – POPE FULLY DEVOTED TO THE HOLY MOTHER:

1. He started to bear the Carmelite Scapular being 10 years old

2. He belonged to Marian Sodality

3. He belonged to „The Circle of Living Rosary”

4. He was under impression of the book written by Saint Luis Maria Grignion „Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”

5. On the bishop’s emblem he places the letter M – which symbolises the Holy Mother and receives the motto: „Totus Tuus ego sum et omnie mea Tua sunt. Accipio Te In mea omnia. Proebe mihi cor Tuum, Maria”. „I am whole Yours, and everything what is my, belong to You. PI receive You to all what is mine. Give me Your heart, Mary”.

6. On the papal emblem he places the letter M – which symbolises the Holy Mother.

7. He entrusted the Word to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

8. He wrote the encyclical devoted to the Holy Mother:
   Redemptoris Mater (The Mother of Redeemer), subtitle: Blessed MaryVirginin life of the pilgrimaging Church – 25 March 1987.

9. He wrote the apostolic Letter devoted to Rosary prayer:
   Rosarium Virginis Mariae - 16 October 2002.

THE MARIAN SANCTUARIES IN POLAND, ESPECIALLY VISITED BY BLESSED POPE JOHN PAUL II:

Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: http://www.kalwaria.eu/

Sanctuary of the Holy Mother of Jasna Góra (Czestochowa): http://www.jasnagora.pl/

THE VERY SPECIAL SANCTUARY

Sanctuary in Zakopane– The votive offering of the Polish nation for saving life of Pope John Paul II

Beatification: took place in Rome, on 1st May 2011, by Pope Benedict XVI.

Latest news: Pope John Paul II is canonized on April 27, 2014, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis I.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.

Blessed John Paul, pray for us.
Immersed in the Father rich in mercy,
United with Christ, the Redeemer of man,
Full of the Holy Spirit, Lord and Animator,
Completely devoted to Mary,
Friend of Saints and Blesseds,
Successor of St Peter and Servant of Servants of God,
Guardian of the Church teaching truths of the faith,
Father of the Vatican Council and Executor of its teachings,
Consolidating Christian unity and the entire human family,

Fervent Lover of the Eucharist,
Indefatigable Pilgrim of this earth,
Missionary of all nations,
Witness to faith, hope and charity,
Enduring participant of Christ’s suffering,
Apostle of reconciliation and peace,
Promoter of the civilization of love,
Proclaimer of the New Evangelization,
Master appealing for sailing into the depths,
Teacher showing sanctity as the measure of life,
Pope of Divine Mercy,
Priest congregating the Church for sacrifice,
Shepherd leading his flock to heaven,

Brother and Master of priests,
Father of the consecrated,
Patron of Christian families,
Fortification of spouses,
Defender of the unborn,
Guardian of children, orphans and the abandoned,
Friend and Educator of youth,
Good Samaritan for those who suffer,
Solace for the elderly and lonely,
Proclaimer of the truth of human dignity,
Man of prayer immersed in God,
Lover of the liturgy of the Divine Sacrifice celebrated on the world’s altars,
Personification of industriousness,
In love with the Cross of Christ,
Exemplary pursuer of his vocation,
Enduring in suffering,
Model of living and dying for the Lord,

Admonisher of sinners,
Guidepost to those who lost their way,
Forgiver of wrongdoers,
Respecter of opponents and oppressors,
Advocate and Defender of the oppressed,
Supporter of the unemployed,
Concerned about the homeless,
Visitor of prisoners,
Fortifier of the weak,
Teaching everyone solidarity,

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, blessed John Paul,
So that we would proclaim to the world with life and words Christ the Redeemer of man.

Let us pray:

Merciful God, accept our thanksgiving for the gift of the apostolic life and mission of Blessed John Paul II and through his intercession help us grow in our love for You and courageously proclaim the love of Christ to all people. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Litany to the Saint John Paul II

Kyrie eleison, Christ eleison, Kyrie eleison
Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us.
Father of Heaven, God – have mercy on us.
Son, Redeemer of the world, God – have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit – have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God – have mercy on us.
Holy Mary – pray for us.

St. John Paul II – pray for us
Immersed in the Father rich in mercy
United with Christ, the Redeemer of man
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life
Completely devoted to Mary
Friend of the saints and blessed
Successor of Peter and the servant of servants of God
Guardian of the Church, teaching the truths of faith
Father of the Council and Executor of its indications
Supporting the unity of Christians and the whole human family
Zealous Lover of the Eucharist
Tireless Pilgrim of the earth
Missionary of all nations
Witness of faith, hope, and love
Participant persistent in sufferings of Christ
Apostle of reconciliation and peace
Promoter of the civilization of love
Propagator of new evangelization
Master, calling us to sail into the deep
Teacher showing us holiness as a measure of life
Pope of Divine Mercy
High Priest gathering the Church for sacrificing
Shepherd leading the flock to Heaven
Brother and Master of priests
Father of consecrated persons
Patron of Christian families
Strengthening spouses
Defender of the unborn
Protector of children orphans and abandoned
Friend and Teacher of the youth
Good Samaritan for the suffering
Support for the elderly and lonely
Propagator of the truth about the dignity of man
Man of prayer immersed in God
Lover of the liturgy sacrificing at the altars of the world
The personification of hard work
Love in the cross of Christ
Implementing your vocation properly
Patient in suffering
Example of life and death for the Lord
Reprimanding sinners
Showing the way to the misguided
Forgiving wrong-doers
Respecting opponents and persecutors
Spokesman and Defender of the persecuted
Supporting the unemployed
Concerned about the homeless
Visiting prisoners
Supporting the weak
Teaching everybody solidarity

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world – Spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world – Hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world – Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, St. John Paul, so that we would proclaim to the world with life and words
Christ the Redeemer of man.

Let us pray:
Merciful God, accept our thanksgiving
For the gift of St. John Paul’s II apostolic life and mission
And through his intercession, please, help us grow in love for you
And proclaim boldly the love of Christ to all people.
Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer for John Paul II