When I blogged about my participation in World Youth Day ’93, I never mentioned my reaction to hearing our beloved pope in person. I have heard that this phenomenon was common among the faithful—indeed, to the extent that it was a phenomenon!
Basically what happened is that he began to speak, and I began to cry.
And I continued to do so for the entire address and throughout the entire evening.
I know that certain holy people are given charisms, that is, “a power, generally of a spiritual nature, believed to be a freely given gift by the grace of God.” (Wikipedia)
I also know that one of the promises of the Sacred Heart is the ability to touch hearts, even the most hardened.
At the time of my trip to Denver, my heart was no longer hardened. I had been there and had that, however, and when eventually I did “re-convert” to the Truth, it was with a full 180-degree spin of attitude and lifestyle.
Denver for me, then, was a deepening of my faith, not a return to it.
Still, I saw many people who were approaching the Church for the first time that weekend, and it was the magnetic pull of our pope that brought them in. His little lost sheep could not resist him! They continue to enter the safety of his fold to this day. They are looking for him, and you know what? They still find him.
Long live Pope John Paul the Great! His body has left this world but not his presence, and his shower of roses is joining that of his precious Little Flower.
Oh, to see the beauty of this garden in all its splendor! Can you just imagine the depth and the breadth of it?
One day, we won’t have to.
A lovely tribute, Margaret.
What a beautiful writing! I know that part of what helped me to decide to become Catholic was being riveted and full of prayer when Pope John Paul II was so ill. And, I remember the way I sobbed when he finally passed. It made me think for one of the first times, “Why am I not Catholic?”
This is beautiful, Margaret.
This is a beautiful tribute, Margaret.
Crying in the midst of such a holy man can be a sign of inner healing of past hurts, hurts we may not even be aware of.
Our beloved Pope John Paul II had the gift of healing, and as Blessed John Paul II he continues to intercede for Christ on our behalf.
We are so very blessed.
Have a blessed Eastertide.