[el_doctor2]

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. Pope John Paul II

One of my favorites

[cvq3842]

Thanks! I will bookmark to read later!

[BMC1]

You forgot one.

"Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it"
Pope Jean John Paul II quotes

That one is for people like Chris Matthews who think the church should be more liberal and conform to their way of thinking.

[dfwgator]

It is so shallow to hear all these people say what a great man Pope John Paul was, without realizing what he really stood for, or even if they did know, just shrugging it off as, "oh that's nice, but it isn't based in reality."

[SittinYonder]

You are our dearly beloved brothers, and in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.

Talking about Jews. Some of these become more significant when context is given.

[Christian4Bush]

PJPII bump

[mission9]

I have a countdown going... Which talking head will be the first to remark, amid the fawning praise of the Holy Vicar of Christ (well deserved) how he was a spiritual man, a humble man, a courageous leader, etc. That Carol W. owed all of those gifts to Christ, and that such would be availble to you if only you, would do as The Pope would have you to do even now, (more than ever) take Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

[ElkGroveDan]

Thanks for finding that.

[pgkdan]

Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. Pope John Paul II

Beautiful!

[Kaslin]

Here is another one

"I have looked for you, now you have come to me. Now I thank you."

Pope John Paul II

[Gal.5:1]

ping for later

[Irontank]

Here are some more from John Paul the Great's 1991 "Centesimus annus":

"To remedy these wrongs (the unjust distribution of wealth and the poverty of the workers), the Socialists encourage the poor man's envy of the rich and strive to do away with private property, contending that individual possessions should become the common property of all...; but their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that, were they carried into effect, the working man himself would be among the first to suffer. They are moreover emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community". The evils caused by the setting up of this type of socialism as a State system — what would later be called "Real Socialism" — could not be better expressed.

"...excesses and abuses, especially in recent years, have provoked very harsh criticisms of the Welfare State, dubbed the "Social Assistance State". Malfunctions and defects in the Social Assistance State are the result of an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper to the State...By intervening directly and depriving society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State leads to a loss of human energies and an inordinate increase of public agencies, which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients, and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending. In fact, it would appear that needs are best understood and satisfied by people who are closest to them and who act as neighbours to those in need."

[Tennessee_Bob]

Bump for later reading.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Good reading. My favorite:

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society. Pope John Paul II

[CitizenM]

Hey...#1 has been my tagline for a long time! I loved this man.

A little tidbit: We all know of Pope John Paul, II's love for the youth, and theirs in return for him. But at events, particularly World Youth Days, where he spoke to them there was this unprecedented- and typical- response every time:

The Pope would appear and the children would start chanting: "JPII, We Love You!" (The children referred to him as "JPII" and also, often "Papa."). The chant would grow louder, and the children would start to do "the Wave" in the stands. "JPII, We Love You!" over and over. He would smile and laugh.

Finally he would raise his hands and lower them to suggest they get quiet. They would immediately stop. Then he would proclam "But I love you more!" They would burst out again, stand and applaud, cry and laugh. It was spectacular!

Then he would talk to them with great love, understanding and provide directives that addressed teen issues. They all listened intently and one could sense their thirst for truth and guidance.

The next WYD is scheduled for August 2005 in Cologne, Germany. I am sure there is a great deal of disappointment among the children that JPII will not be there. But, it will be a great opportunity for the new pope to take up the staff and lead the children who so clearly have demonstrated their need.

Yes, JPII, we all love you. No matter how old we are!

[Gal.5:1]

I have collected these quotes over the last 7 years or so. I find them fascinating.

"Globalization presents the demand for solidarity(unanimous support) particularly the construction of a more human world for all." John Paul ll May 14 2002, Global Forum in Rome.

"It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other, the future of humanity will never be able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war." John Paul ll Sunday remarks from studio window, Feb 23, 2003

"make every effort of avoid new divisions in the world" John Paul ll to Prime Minister Tony Blair at meeting at Vatican Feb 21, 2003


"War must never be allowed to divide world religions" "good inter-religious relations are important at this moment of heightened tension in the entire world community." John Paul ll to visiting Catholic bishops from Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, Mar 29 2003

"The Holy Father explained the Holy Spirit is mysteriously present in the heart of every person. through the practice of what is good in their own religious traditions, and following the dictates of their consciences, members of other religions positively respond to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even though they may not recognize Him as their Savior." Vatican Information Service reporting on what the Pope had to say on the 'Seeds of Truth in Non-Christian Religions', Sep, 1998 (ok it is not a quote but second hand reporting from the Vatican.)


"I also entrust myself once again to you (Mary) and with confident affection I repeat to you: Totus tuus ego sum! I am all yours! " John Paul ll on occasion of World Youth Day 2003

(an appeal) "to all persons who profess a religion so that the spiritual and religious sense may be a source of unity and peace, which never confronts men among themselves." John Paul ll Vatican City, when receiving letters of credence of the new ambassadors to the Vatican of 12 countries, May 15, 2003

"International law has been for some time a law of war and peace. I believe it is called ever more to become exclusively a law of peace conceived as a function of justice and solidarity." (The basic principles behind this conviction, states the communique,) "are the same that inspire the Church's commitment in favor of peace" "equality in dignity for every human person and every human community, the unity of the human family..." "international law is called to be an instrument of justice ...the law therefore has the duty of harmoniously regulating international realities...so that conflicts can be prevented without recourse to arms, but rather through mechanisms and structures able to assure justice, removing the causes of potential conflicts."
John Paul ll in annual address to diplomatic corps accredited to Holy See Jan 13, 1997, quoted July 18, 2003 in theme announcement communique for World Day of Peace ("International Law, a Path for Peace") set for Jan 1, 2004.

"all of the just on Earth, including those who ignore Christ and his Church are called upon to build the kingdom of God." John Paul ll at an audience Dec 8, 2000 Electronic Telegraph, story no longer online

" A serious threat to peace is posed by intolerance, which manifests itself in the denial of free conscience to others." John Paul ll

"May all of you-partners in interreligious dialog- be encouraged and sustained by the knowledge that your endeavors are supported by the Catholic Church and appreciated by her as significant for strengthening the bonds which unite all people..." "in doing so (receiving monks of other religions) you offer a setting wherein a meeting of mind and heart can take place, a meeting characterized by a shared sense of brotherhood in the one human family that opens the way of even deeper spiritual dialog. " John Paul ll in meeting between Zen monks and Benedictine monks..he said that they can learn from each other and about their respective meditative practices and spiritual experiences. Theosophical Digest, Dec 1989

(it is) "clear that the future lies in unity and solidarity" (he called for ) "strengthening of the bond...between Christians and other great religions which flourish here." "May the resources of the church...set unity and love as their supreme goal." John Paul ll to Christians in Amman Jordan at a mass. This was part of his week long pilgrimage to the Holy Land to visit Christians, Muslims and Jews for meetings on peace and interfaith dialogue. July 29, 2003

"I come to you as a pilgrim of peace. My presence among you is a sign that the Catholic Church wants to enter a dialogue with the religions of the world." "religion must not be a pretext for conflict" "the peoples of all faiths must shun the path of isolation and division." John Paul ll in New Dehli India at a mass in which he drew parallels between Djwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The mass was punctuated by English and Hindi hymns, traditional dances from across Asia and prayers (to who?) offered in several languages. the stadium service was adapted for Hindu culture, with priests ringing bells and showering petals in traditional temple rituals. He later met with Hindu, buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, Parsee, Jewish and Baha'i leaders. Nov 7, 1999

" world...will, in fact, be transformed into a world in which the noblest aspirations of the human heart will triumph, a world in which true peace will prevail." John Paul ll quoted by sister Loretto Marie Colwell at Service of World Religions for Peace,at which representatives from 10 faith traditions took part, took placed at Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka. Jan 27, 2002. The service was inspired by a similar gathering that took place Thursday in Assisi, Italy, in which Pope John Paul ll was joined by more than 200 religious leaders from around the world to pray for peace.


Pope encouraged the bishops of Indonesia to "work together as brothers, committed to peace, with your own people and with those of other religious beliefs, all men and women of good will, in order to ensure understanding, cooperation and solidarity." "Authentic religion does not advocate terrorism or violence but seeks in every way the unity and peace of the whole human family." John Paul ll in address to bishops in Indonesia March 29, 2003.

"We wish to have Christians and Muslims come together to proclaim before the world that religion must never be a reason for conflict, hatred and violence." "in this historic moment, humanity needs to see gestures of peace and to hear words of hope." "It is urgent that a common invocation be raised from earth to heaven, to implore the Almighty...the great gift of peace, the necessary condition for any serious endeavor at the service of humanity's real progress." (He entrusted the success of the initiative to the Blessed Virgin Mary.) John Paul ll , Nov 18, 2001, at meeting of world's religious leaders, announcing International prayer meeting to take place in Assisi on Jan 24. (a Day of Prayer for Peace)

"I have always believed that religious leaders have a vital role to play in nurturing that hope of justice and peace without which there will be no future worthy of humanity." Oct 28, 1999 conclusion of Interreligious Assembly: "On the Eve of the Third Millennium: Collaboration among the Diverse Religions"


"If it is imperative for the international community to foster good relations between people belonging to different ethnic and religious traditions, it is all the more urgent for believers (believers=all religions)themselves to foster relations...leading to the common concern for the well being of the whole human family." "believers are obliged to build together a just and harmonious world." "Interreligious dialog will be especially important in establishing a sure basis for peace..." "contact with the followers of other religions is often a source of great joy and encouragement. It leads us to discover how God is at work i the minds and hearts of people and indeed in their rites and customs."
"May Mary,Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church, intercede for you all ...and encourage others to follow the genuine path of dialogue." John Paul ll in address to Council for Interreligious Dialogue Nov 11, 2001

[thackney]

ping

[Gal.5:1]

bump!