“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”
Karol Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his 1978 election to papacy, was born in Wadowice on May 18th, 1920. He was the 2nd of 2 sons and his mother died when he was 9. His parents were faithful Catholics who rejected the growing anti-Semitism of the time and practiced their faith at home.
He had his heart set on an acting career in theatre but Nazi occupation closed his Drama University in 1939 and he had to work in a quarry and then a chemical factory to prevent being deported to Germany. He had a call to priesthood and because of his impressive skills as a speaker, he was soon sent to Rome and worked under the guidance of a French Dominican. He returned to Poland as vicar of various parishes.
“I was convinced that Christ was saying to me what he had said to thousands before me: ‘Come, follow me’. A clear sense that what I heard in my heart was no human voice, nor was it an idea of my own.”
As Bishop, he joined others from around the world for the Second Vatican Council, contributing significantly and being deeply formed by the experience. After welcoming a position as office Cardinal, he was chosen by the Pope to be his representative to the International Eucharistic Congress held in the United States in July of 1976. The beginning of a deep and enduring friendship with the American people.
He chose the name John Paul II as his first teaching act, sending a signal of continuity, a “Vicar of Christ” living what he boldly proclaimed with great courage. “Communism, atheism, secularism, false humanisms… have now all been exposed in both their empty promises and the horrors that they unleashed.” His 9-day pilgrimage to Poland in 1979 allowed people to see that there were souls who weren’t conquered by Marxism and it sparked solidarity in culture and spirituality and not politics to finally defeat communism.
On May 13, 1981, he was shot 4 times as he greeted crowds in St. Peter’s Square by a Turkish man with the intention of his assassination under the orders of the Turkish mafia. Just 4-days later, he asked his followers to pray for his attacker whom he had forgiven. Although his attacker had been sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned by the Pope. The Pope visited him in Turkey and they developed and unusual friendship where he also visited his family in later years.
He died on April 2nd, 2005 due to a progressive urinary tract infection.
He is the patron saint of Borgo Mantovano, Rivignano and Trecastelli, Italy, Swidnica City, Poland, The Archdiocese of Krakow, the country of Poland, Families, World Youth Day, and young Catholics.
His feast day is October 22.
For God’s Glory.
