John Paul II, we love you!

What a beautiful day! The Feast of Divine Mercy AND the beatification of the Late Pope John Paul II! I woke up at 2:30am this morning and watched (most) of the beatification Mass with a friend. It was a very moving Mass, and I felt myself once again welling up with emotion and gratitude for this loving shepherd, JPII, who lived the message of mercy. EWTN showed various clippings of John Paul II, and it evoked the memory of how even through his appearances on television in far away places, the people of God could feel like he was speaking directly to you. JPII truly exuded the love and tenderness of Christ to the world; how blessed we are to have had such holy pontiff as he.

"Inner peace comes from knowing that one is loved by God and from the desire to respond to his love."
~ JPII, "Women: Teachers of Peace," 1995.


"Do not be afraid! Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure. He alone can give full meaning to life, he alone is the center of history. Live by him!"
~ JPII, "Mass with Youth, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, 1997.


"Christ responds neither directly nor abstractly to human questioning about the meaning of suffering. Human beings come to know his saving response in so far as they share in the sufferings of Christ. The response which comes from this sharing is before all else a call. It is a vocation. Christ does not explain in some abstract way the reasons for suffering, but says first of all: "Follow me," "Come," with your suffering share in this work of salvation of the world, which is realized through my suffering, by means of my Cross."
~ JPII, Salvifici Doloris


"The search and discovery of God's will for you is a deep and fascinating endeavor. It requires of you the attitude of trust expressed in the words of the Psalm..."you will show me the path to life, fullness of joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever" (16:11). Every vocation, every path to which Christ calls us, ultimately leads to fulfillment and happiness, because it leads to God, sharing in God's own life." ~ JPII, Message to Youth.

Blessed John Paul II, Pray for us!!