JPII We Love You!

When the husband suggested (last minute) to make the drive to Toronto to see the Pope I was a bit hesitant. We have a little one at home, taking him was totally out of the question knowing we would be sleeping on an airport tarmac. At the time, Pope John Paul II was already suffering the effects of Parkinson's. My husband pointed out that this was most likely our last opportunity to see him in the flesh. That was all the convincing I needed. After making arrangements for childcare (thanks to my sister-in-law Katie and family!) we packed our car and drove to Columbus from Cincinnati to pick-up my brother-in-law.  We were all past the age of what would be considered youth (this was the World Youth Day event we were going to) but off we went to see our Holy Father anyway.  As an aside, my husband was at the Denver World Youth Day and he lived to tell about it ;-)

I have some lasting memories of the Toronto WYD trip, including how it rained and rained and the wind blew like crazy as we slept on a hard, wet, tarmac. I also remember how the skies parted, the wind calmed down, and the weather was amazingly pleasant as soon as the Pope entered the stage for the beginning of Mass.  

One of the most unforgettable part was when he finally addressed the clergy sexual abuse issue in his closing homily, (prior to this the Vatican has been largely silent) - 

"If you love Jesus, love the Church, Do not be discouraged by the sins and failings of some of her members. The harm done by some priests and religious to the young and vulnerable fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame. But think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests and religious whose only wish is to serve and do good." 
 
“There are many priests, seminarians and consecrated persons here today; be close to them and support them! And if, in the depths of your hearts, you feel the same call to the priesthood or consecrated life, do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the Cross!” 

After hearing this you can feel the collective sigh of relief and a renewed sense of fidelity to the Church especially among the youth present there. So many vocations came about from this so-called JPII generation and they are some of the holiest, most orthodox priests and sisters.  We will never fully know in this lifetime all the good that came out of Pope John Paul II's pontificate but we are surely reaping some of this good now.

We will all be reminiscing about him on this eve of the feast of our beloved Holy Father.

JPII, we love you!

JPII on the jumbotron - so close yet so far

this large balloon lanterns were blown away by the wicked wind that came

 

love pictures of him in deep prayer, this one is on my laptop wallpaper