John Paul II's Way of the Cross (Puerto Rico Editorial)

El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language editorial) ^ | April 5, 2005 | Editorial

[Ebenezer]

John Paul II firmly believed that suffering was part of man's life on this earth.

Throughout his life, the Holy Father had numerous experiences that, in his case, were part of his Way of the Cross. The Bishop of Rome was born of a Polish family. Unfortunately, before coming of age, he had already lost his mother, his father, and his brother, having no immediate family during his adult life. The beginning of the Holy Father's priesthood coincided with the invasion of his beloved Poland by the armed forces of Nazi Germany, whose objective was not only to conquer the land, but also to exterminate the Jews living in that land. Not only did he witness, as part of his Way of the Cross, the enslavement of his people by Adolf Hitler's hosts, but he also risked his life to protect scores of families of Jewish origin, risking being shot by the invader.

When peace reaches the Western world with the end of the Second World War, and when all people living in the Old World were confident that individual freedom would reign throughout the continent, [John Paul II] saw his country fall under the enslaving boot of Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, who enslaved his country and was succeeded by other dictators until the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century.

Throughout the years, John Paul II rose to new positions within the hierarchy of the Church. From bishop, he became cardinal. In the year 1978, he was elected Supreme Pontiff and Bishop of Rome, thus rising to the papacy.

Karol Wojtyla sees the opportunity from his new position to spiritually lead the anti-communist movement in his country, to the extreme that, to continue his Way of the Cross, a conspiracy from the Soviet dictatorship plans for his assassination in an attempt on May 13, 1981, a date when the Church celebrated the feast of the Virgin of Fatima. The Pope is seriously wounded in the attempt but recovers. However, this aggression leaves its mark that would later be reflected on his health.

At the end of the 1990s, [John Paul II] begins to suffer from Parkinson's Disease, which makes his daily life a true Way of the Cross, until he gives up his soul to the Creator on April 2, 2005.

John Paul II, pastor to over 1 billion Catholics, admired by hundreds of millions of people of other beliefs and respected by contemporary world leaders, had the satisfaction of contributing to the spiritual welfare of his flock, of inspiring a world under spiritual chaos, and of living a life in a way he undoubtedly wished, a Way of the Cross as he walked in this world to reach the Father's reward.

[Ebenezer]

Compare the cleansing effect of suffering as John Paul II saw it to the relentless pursuit of pleasure by modern man. Hedonism has no place in the lives of followers of the Cross.

This is an excellent editorial on how suffering brought holiness to a remarkable man. I pray that the Holy Spirit guide the cardinals to elect a worthy successor.