Gone to his Father's House

I received several e-mails about the Pope over the last weekend - thought I would sum up and share the best of these as well as a link to the website. Oddly enough I received a present on Saturday and was listening to the Pope recite the joyful mysteries on the rosary in Latin, just hours after his passing.

Just reminds me that each of us can make a difference if we are doing what we are called to do. And I can picture in my mind's eye the Lord with his hands upon his shoulders, no longer stooped from physical pain - saying "Well done my good and faithful servant".

The Pope was a boy who lost both his mother and brother at an early age, he lived in poor conditions with his father and played soccer with a ball of rags. He chose his path.

The Scottish paper bore the headlines: "Gone to his Father's house" - summed it up quite well.

Time magazine has a beautiful photo essay - shame on them for making you register before you can see the potential candidates for the papacy - that depicts years of coverage on the pope as well as a great article about how Pope John Paul II changed the Catholic Church.

Little known fact was that he took forgiveness and healing to a whole other level. Did you know that he issued an apology to the Muslims for the Crusades, denouncing war and violence as a means of conversion? Did you know he acknowledged that the Church did not handle things as well during the Holocaust - asking forgiveness from those effected? Did you know that he eliminated purposefully the language in Church documents that pointed toward the Jews as murderers of Christ and pushed the idea that every Christian whose sins were forgiven helped hammer in the nails (where did you think Mel Gibson got the idea)? Did you know that he sent notes to political prisoners, hidden in the robes of the priests who were allowed to bring them communion, and reminded Poles of their inherent human rights during his first trip to Poland as Pope - and is credited for the change of heart that helped eliminate Communism. ( actually, I remember in high school praying for the change of heart of those in power in Communist countries) . Did you know that he went to see the man who shot him - many times, offering forgiveness and then was responsible for his acceptance of Christ?


Well done - to Camilla Parker and the Prince for postponing their wedding out of respect - very classy gesture.

Do not forget that true love sets no conditions; it does not calculate or complain, but simply loves. - Pope John Paul II

Here is a link that will take you to a spot for condolences or reflection or curiosity.

Thank you, Pope John Paul II, for being the kind of man Catholics could be proud of.