John Paul II

5 Things That Make Saint Pope John Paul II, Well—Great!

/ chicoinematt
Catholics enjoy the opportunity to look to holy men and women as role models and guides in fulfilling our true purpose in life. The more I read and learn about the saints, the more profoundly I experience fellowship. Saints lived through suffering experiences with patience and reliance on God’s help.Perhaps no other 20th century figure, and this includes a legendary list, provided a better example of following the golden rule and forgiving others as St. Pope John Paul II. Being my personal hero, I was overwhelmed with joy upon his canonization a mere five years after his death! While countless reasons exist for why I love and admire John Paul II, here are five facts that make the great Polish pope, well, great.

JPII MORE THAN GOOD GREAT

A lifetime of tragedies

Born in 1920 Karol Wojtyla, who became John Paul II, grew up during one of the most tumultuous eras in Polish history—Nazi occupation and later during the reign of Communism. Before he turned 22, Karol lost all of his immediate family members (his mother passed away during childbirth, his sister died before Karol was born, and his brother and father stated reason/manner). As if losing a family was not enough suffering to last a few lifetimes for anyone, in the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul was shot in a failed assassination.

The leader of the Catholic Church united himself so much to the suffering of Christ on the Cross. According to Jason Evert author of Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves, “When someone mentioned the impending suffering that would be required by one of his surgeries, [the pope] replied, ‘The Church needs suffering.’”

Marian devotion

John Paul II and Mary

The Polish pope’s famous motto was Totus Tuus. This Latin phrase translates as “Totally Yours” and was a reference to Mary’s total obedience to the Father’s will.

Among the defining events of the sainted pontiff’s life, the assassination attempt on May 13th, 1981 certainly had to be a monumental turning point. Already possessing a strong piety to the Blessed Virgin, this only increased after the bullet missed hitting vital organs by mere millimeters. He quipped, “It was a mother’s hand that guided the bullet’s path.” Totally trusting in the mediation of Mary in his life, John Paul II provides a good example for other Catholics to rely on the Mother of God to be a good protector and guide towards Christ.

Jason Evert in his biography talks of the pope’s admiration to Mary in this way, “In True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort wrote, ‘the most faithful servants of the Blessed Virgin, being her greatest favorites, receive from her the best graces and favors from heaven, which are crosses.’ If suffering is a sign of predilection, then John Paul II must have been one of our Lady’s favorites!” Of the importance of the rosary John Paul II declared, “[The rosary is] our daily meeting which neither I nor the Blessed Virgin Mary neglect.”

Recently, my family started praying a decade of the Rosary each night before putting the kids to bed. My outlook on life and graces for patience have never been higher. I am thankful for John Paul the Great’s great witness to Marian devotion!

A people’s pope

John Paul II and World Youth Day

Thousands of young people cheer Pope John Paul II during the 1992 World Youth Day in Czestochowa, Poland.

John Paul II instituted World Youth Day, a worldwide gathering of Catholic youth every four years. He saw the importance of youth, especially teens as being the future of the Church. The excitement that revolves around this event continues even in the years after his death. The Polish pope traveled extensively across the globe administering to all God’s people and showing the love of Christ. His long tenure afforded the opportunities for a generation to grow up under his papacy and enjoy stability of leadership for the Catholic Church.

Lover of confession

Pope John Paul II quote on confession

Although John Paul II lived a remarkable life and endured his sufferings of Parkinson’s disease to the end, the most impressive feat of his papacy (and priesthood) was his daily reception of the Sacrament of Confession. He declared,

“It would be an illusion to seek after holiness, according to the vocation one has received from God, without partaking frequently of this sacrament of conversion and reconciliation. Those who go to Confession frequently, and do so with the desire to make progress, will notice the strides that they make in their spiritual lives.”

I feel out of whack spiritually when I fail to go to the proverbial “Medicine Box” for over a month. His near mastery of virtue—through the aid offered by the Holy Spirit in the confessional—is evident by his encounter with all he met and his quick canonization less than half a decade after his death.

Heroic herald of truth

Along with John Paul II’s ability to forgive others, such as the man who attempted to murder him, the Polish pope safeguarded and articulated the Catholic Church’s teaching boldly and clearly. Intrepidly standing up to the evils of Communism, the sainted pope never watered down truth for the sake of diplomacy.

St. John Paul II stated, “Remember that you are never alone, Christ is with you on your journey every day of your lives!” Truly God gifted the world with the holiness of Karol Wojtyla. St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote, “You cannot be half a saint. You must be a whole saint or no saint at all.” Following in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II will not be an easy feat, but it is a surefire and joyful path toward closer union with God.

Thank you Lord for the life of this wonderful saint, John Paul II!

Related Links

St. John Paul II & the Eucharist

St. Pope John Paul II

Here’s why John Paul II said “Do not be afraid”

Analysis of JPII’s The Splendor of Truth

On Polish Horseshoes, Karol Wojtyla, Accordions, and Other Possibly Polish Things

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Totally Yours: What Totus Tuus Teaches Us About Evangelization

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Sponsored: This article is made possible by Totus Tuus Co., supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

The Heart of Evangelization: Totally Yours

Evangelization can sound intimidating. We imagine missionaries in distant lands, theological debates, or complicated catechetical lessons. But at its core, evangelization simply means handing ourselves over to Christ so that He may work through us. In other words, we say to Him what Mary said at the Annunciation: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

That spirit is beautifully summed up in two small Latin words that shaped the life and papacy of Saint John Paul II: Totus Tuus — Totally Yours.

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The Assumption of Mary: Our Mother’s Triumph and Our Future Hope

/ chicoinematt

Every year on August 15, Catholics around the world celebrate one of the Church’s most beautiful feasts: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Alongside the feasts of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Mary, Mother of God (January 1), this is a Holy Day of Obligation, a day when we gather for Mass to honor the Mother of God.

And let’s be clear — we venerate Mary, we do not worship her. All true Marian devotion leads us closer to Jesus. The Church teaches that the mysteries of Mary’s life inseparably connect to the mystery of Christ.

The Assumption celebrates that, at the end of her earthly life, God took Mary up body and soul into heavenly glory. This is not simply a personal privilege for her: it is a sign of what God desires for all of us. The Catechism describes it beautifully: Continue reading →

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Transfiguring Humanity—Reflections on the Transfiguration of Christ

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Post originally published on August 9, 2018.

Among the most bizarre, mysterious, and interesting accounts in the New Testament is the event of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The dictionary defines the word transfiguration as “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state. Common synonyms for transfiguration include: metamorphosis, changeover, transformation, development, adjustment, and even mutation!! Growing up Catholic I have listened to the Gospel telling of this mysterious events many times.

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of Jesus. After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

Foretaste of Heavenly Reality

The primary purpose of the glory of Jesus shown [shone] to Peter, James, and John was meant as a means to prepare them for the glorification of God after the Resurrection and to hint at the beauty of transfigured humanity. According to Saint Pope Saint John Paul II in his 1999 homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration, “In the event of the Transfiguration we contemplate the mysterious encounter between history, which is being built every day, and the blessed inheritance that awaits us in heaven in full union with Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

Humanity’s Home in Heaven

Similar to the previous point is that fact that man is on a pilgrim journey, a sojourner on Earth—whose ultimate destination is union with God in Heaven. John Paul II echoed this truth as well,

“We, pilgrims on earth, are granted to rejoice in the company of the transfigured Lord when we immerse ourselves in the things of above through prayer and the celebration of the divine mysteries. But, like the disciples, we too must descend from Tabor into daily life where human events challenge our faith. On the mountain we saw; on the paths of life we are asked tirelessly to proclaim the Gospel which illuminates the steps of believers.”

I imagine the incredible letdown the Apostles must have felt in the moments after the dazzling and inexplicable event of the Transfiguration. Going back to following Jesus in an ordinary way, traveling from town to town, learning from him, and assisting the poor certainly did not compare to the splendor they witnessed on Mount Tabor. It definitely would have been challenging to transition back into that routine! Heck, Peter even desired to stay in the holy place when he declared, “If you wish, I will make three tents* here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter camping Transfiguration meme

Let the Holy Spirit Transfigure Your Life

Coming out of Sunday liturgy, I leave with a similar wonder and awe as the inner circle of Jesus received on that original Transfiguration event. Housing the Real Presence of Lord after reception of the Eucharist provides me incredible peace and patient strength. In a way, we all undergo a momentary transfiguration—a foretaste of Heavenly reality in the Mass. Going back to our worldly affairs, we quickly lose sight and memory of our close encounter with God. May we continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us with clarity and strength on our pilgrimage toward Heaven!

Related Links

The Transfiguration of Christ- Catholic Answers

The Transfiguration and Our Lives

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What Is True Freedom? A Catholic Reflection

/ chicoinematt / 2 Comments

Each year on July 4th, Americans pause to celebrate a powerful ideal: freedom. Enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution are the freedoms of religion, speech, press, and peaceful assembly. These are no small matters; they’re essential to any flourishing civil society.

But beyond fireworks and parades, deeper questions remain. What exactly is freedom? Is it merely the right to do what we want? Or is there something more? What does freedom mean from a Christian perspective, and how do we live it in our daily lives?

Freedom To vs. Freedom From

Our culture often confuses two very different ideas of freedom. The first is freedom to do whatever we want—to chase every desire, express every opinion, follow every urge. Let’s call that negative freedom: the removal of restrictions. But there’s another kind of freedom: positive freedom, which is the ability to choose the good. Not just to act, but to act rightly.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it like this:

“Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one’s own life.” (CCC 1731)

Put simply: freedom is not about license. It’s about love.

The Wound of Sin and the Hope of Redemption

Of course, we all know that our freedom is wounded. The Catechism puts it bluntly:

“Man’s freedom is limited and fallible. In fact, man failed. He freely sinned. By refusing God’s plan of love, he deceived himself and became a slave to sin.” (CCC 1739)

Sin tricks us. It whispers, You’re free when you follow your impulses. But we know where that leads: addiction, broken relationships, pride, despair. Yet even in that brokenness, God does not abandon us.

In Christ, we discover what true freedom looks like:

“In him we have communion with the ‘truth that makes us free.’” (CCC 1741)

And Jesus doesn’t mince words:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Freedom

John Paul II: Freedom Anchored in Truth

Saint Pope John Paul II, in Redemptor Hominis and Redemptoris Missio, tackled this very issue. He reminds us that the Cross is the fullest expression of divine love. The redemption Christ won for us is the restoration of freedom—not freedom from suffering or sacrifice, but freedom for love and truth.

“He and he alone also satisfied that fatherhood of God and that love which man in a way rejected by breaking the first Covenant…” (Redemptor Hominis, 9)

Freedom is a gift, but it must be received rightly:

“Freedom is only a gift if one knows how to use it for everything that is true good.” (Redemptor Hominis, 21)

In short: Freedom finds its fulfillment not in self-expression but in self-gift.

Wrestling with Freedom in Daily Life

I don’t write these reflections as someone who’s mastered the art of holy freedom. Quite the opposite. I wrestle daily with control, pride, and anxiety. My OCD has often convinced me that peace lies in organizing my inbox or cleaning the kitchen to perfection. And for a brief moment, that illusion holds. But inevitably, my self-made “freedom” crashes against reality. Usually, it’s in the form of a diaper blowout or a child needing my attention.

When my comfort is disrupted, I’m forced to choose again. Will I insist on my version of freedom? Or will I surrender?

Confession has been a powerful reset for me. So has the Eucharist. Grace doesn’t magically remove my tendencies, but it does remind me that I’m not alone. And that I don’t need to save myself.

Discernment: Choosing What God Wants

Living in a culture of endless options can leave us paralyzed. Sometimes freedom feels like a burden. Too many roads. Too many doors. But Catholic spirituality gives us a compass: discernment.

Discernment, as St. Ignatius of Loyola taught, is about listening. Clarifying, not inventing, what God is already inviting us into. His Spiritual Exercises culminate in a radical prayer of surrender called the Suscipe:

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will…

It’s not a sentimental gesture. It’s a battle cry against the tyranny of self-will. It’s the only sane response to the insane love of God who gave us everything, including the freedom to reject Him.

As Amy Welborn explains, Ignatius believed love is better shown in deeds than in words. True love involves a mutual exchange of gifts. The Suscipe is a prayer of detachment from anything that would keep us from living in total communion with God. And this detachment isn’t just for monks and nuns. It’s for every soul God made—parents, teachers, artists, mechanics, children.

When we pray this way, we’re not forfeiting freedom. We’re finally using it well.

Mary: Model of Free Surrender

One of the most beautiful images of holy freedom is the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation. When the angel Gabriel presented God’s plan to her, she paused, asked a clarifying question, and then said the most earth-shattering “yes” in human history:

“Be it done unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38)

St. Josemaría Escrivá reflected on this moment, writing:

“This is the fruit of the best freedom of all, the freedom of deciding in favor of God.”

Mary didn’t choose ease. She chose love. She shows us that the highest use of freedom is surrender, not in defeat but in trust.

True Freedom Begins with Christ

There are two extremes we must avoid. One is the belief that we can save ourselves by sheer effort—Pelagianism. The other is presumption, the belief that Christ will save us no matter what and our choices don’t matter. Both are lies.

The truth is that we are free. And Christ, in love, respects our freedom enough to invite, not coerce. As John Paul II said:

“Faith demands a free adherence on the part of man, but at the same time faith must also be offered to him.” (Redemptoris Missio, 8)

That means each moment, each decision, each act of love or resistance to sin becomes an opportunity to use our freedom well.

It also means that freedom isn’t found in escaping our limits. It’s found in choosing the good, even when it’s hard. Even when it costs.

A Prayer for the Journey

So what do we do with our freedom? We offer it back to the One who gave it. As St. Ignatius prayed:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
 my memory, my understanding, and my entire will,
 all that I have and possess.
 You have given all to me.
 To you, O Lord, I return it.
 All is yours; dispose of it wholly according to your will.
 Give me your love and your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
 – St. Ignatius of Loyola

This is not a prayer of defeat. It is a declaration of trust, hope, and love—the freedom that only Christ can give.

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Why Christian Anthropology is the Key to Modern Identity Crisis

/ chicoinematt

Sponsored: This article is made possible by Image & Gift Ministries LLC, supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

In a world where identity has become increasingly fragmented and fluid, what if the most profound answers about who we truly are have been waiting for us since the beginning of creation? The modern man has an identity crisis and the solution is Christian anthropology. This might sound like advanced terminology, leaving you wondering: what does this actually mean?

In simplest terms, Christian anthropology is understanding human persons as God created them. Ultimately what is at stake is human identity. As our culture moves farther away from the true understanding of the nature and purpose of the human person, the need for education in Christian anthropology is more necessary than ever before in our experience.

The Christian understanding of the human person was once taken for granted in our culture as the standard by which all understood themselves and others. Today this is not the case. We see evidence of identity confusion all around us or even within ourselves. Just do a Google search of “define identity” and one can see the confusion that surrounds the idea.

The Fundamental Questions of Human Existence

Christian anthropology seeks to answer the deepest and most universal questions every person must wrestle with in some seasons of our lives: Who/what am I? What is my purpose? What is the point of my existence? Why are humans embodied? Are humans really created only male and female? What is the relationship between the body and soul?

Saint John Paul II begins his meditation on the Christian understanding of the human person by referring to the beginning. From this perspective he paints an amazing picture of what God intended for humans when He created them.

In his fifth speech of Theology of the Body, which he subtitled, “Man in Search of His Essence,”1 Saint John Paul II, regarding the creation of man, says, “…man is the object of the creative action of God-Yahweh, who at the same time, as Legislator, sets the conditions for the first covenant with man.”

Three Foundational Truths About Human Nature

In this one half-sentence Saint John Paul II articulates three foundational truths about the nature of the human person from the Christian perspective. Imagine it, God breathes His Spirit into the nostrils of the creature, which scripture says is the moment, “the man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7) and as he comes into consciousness for the first time, he finds himself in relationship with his Creator. This is the first foundational and most important aspect Christian anthropology teaches us about human nature. To be the “object of the creative action of God,” is to say God created the human person. God is the creator. We are creatures. We do not create ourselves. Our nature, our humanity, our existence is a gift from a Creator who gave His own breath to give us life. This is the foundation of our humanity.

In this same sentence, Saint John Paul II uses a capital “L” for the word “Legislator.” Why? Or, a better question is, “who”? Obviously, he is referring to the Father – but, why “Legislator”? Identifying the Father in this way introduces the second foundational truth about the nature of the human person namely, God is the one who makes the rules. Humans do not decide for themselves what is good or evil. That’s the Creator’s job.

The Covenant Relationship with God

The third foundational truth of human nature as God reveals it and Saint John Paul II articulates it, is revealed by the word, “covenant.” The human person enters a unique relationship with God the Father and Creator. This relationship differs from a common contract that either party can dissolve at any time. A covenant is meant to be permanent. It is entering into a relationship, a communion of persons. Contracts are about things or services the parties will exchange. Covenant is about persons, contracts are about things. What does this tell us about the nature of the human person? We are not things to God. We are persons who are set into a relationship of communion with God.

These three foundational characteristics of human nature or identity is just the beginning of what the Christian anthropology Saint John Paul II articulates in Theology of the Body. Imagine how much more there is to say about human nature if we can understand all that in just one half-sentence from Theology of the Body!

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Finding the Creative Spirit of God in Play!

/ chicoinematt
playing

Editor’s Note: Post originally published on May 5, 2017.

According to G.K. Chesterton, “It might reasonably be maintained that the true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground” (From the essay Oxford from Without).

This quote packs so much theology.

What stands out most to me in Chesterton’s thought is the word true. I think that while earthly life consists of toil and repeated work, God planted the seeds for true life to flourish in our earthly lives and hopefully culminating in the heavenly playground if we achieve sainthood. Let me explain.

The Sabbath is Made for Man

The opening chapter in Genesis charts out the creation of the world by God. Creation occurred in six days [periods of time] and God rested on the seventh day. Why does God need rest? Is he not outside of time and space—thus He would never tire? The real purpose of the institution of the Sabbath rest on Sunday is because God knows that humanity needs time for rest and recreation! True joy and creativity oftentimes comes from our resting and recreational activities. Last summer I read a biography about St. John Paul II and it talked at length about the saint’s love of skiing. The late pope encountered God and recharged himself to continue his papal duties through this playful activity.

jpii skiing

Finding Fulfillment on Sunday

God’s creative genius established the holiness of resting on the Sabbath. In Catholicism, the Mass represents the ultimate fulfillment of the Jewish Sabbath. According to retired Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Spirit of the Liturgy, the liturgy is a “playful thing” where people are in the presence of God, playing like children without aiming to achieve an end. Playing games with loved ones can generate a similar joy to that experienced during a Catholic liturgy, where the Eucharist is received weekly. Board games, lawn games, basketball, football, or soccer are all irrelevant as the creative activity of play itself is what brings joy.

Work and toil certainly has its place in our earthly lives. It can even serve as a means to holiness. Yet, we should not forget the importance of play as a means to holiness. Chesterton’s words are like a theological medicine that thaws my impatient heart, especially since I tend to be more serious. This week my challenge to myself is to look for God’s creative Holy Spirit in playing with my young children!

Related Links

3 Ways I Encountered God on a Playful Thursday!
3 Ways You Can Actually Get Rest through Play
The Importance Of The Theology Of Play For Adults
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