Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Candle-bearer holds prayers in her heart during canonization
cna ^ | April 27, 2014 | Kerri Lenartowick

Posted on 04/27/2014 1:45:18 PM PDT by NYer

Julia Marie Desilets participates in the canonization Mass of John Paul II and John XXIII on April 27, 2014. Credit: Stephen Driscroll/CNA.

Julia Marie Desilets participates in the canonization Mass of John Paul II and John XXIII on April 27, 2014. Credit: Stephen Driscroll/CNA.

Vatican City, Apr 27, 2014 / 02:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- One young woman's participation in today's canonization liturgy offered a special opportunity for intercessory prayer.

Julia Marie Desilets, who was a candle-bearer in the procession of John Paul II's relics, reflected, “I felt like I was carrying more than a candle. It was like carrying many of the devoted to the altar with their intentions, gratitude and love for these popes.”

“I felt like I was placing the prayers of all those millions of faithful there before the relics,” she told CNA on April 27.

Desilets is in her early thirties and describes herself as a “JPII generation child.”

“It was JPII whom I 'knew' as 'my' Pope,” she reflected. “Early on when I had first moved to Rome, I remember vividly the Holy Thursday chrism Mass and vigil afterwards that moved me.”

“It must have been one of his last celebrations of that event. He suffered so much that it moved me to tears and I remember truly believing that he carried the pain of humanity on his shoulders.”

The doctoral student at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome was also in the city when John Paul II died.

“It felt like the earth had been struck silent,” she recalled. “But there was a silent joy from the crowds today...as I sat up by the altar, I thought to myself how amazingly quiet a few million people could be!”

Desilets said the “unexpected role” of candle-bearer at the canonization mass “really came as a surprise!”

Many years ago she began volunteering as a translator in office responsible for postulating the cause of John Paul II's sainthood, primarily helping with articles for the English edition of the magazine, Totus Tuus. Although the publication was discontinued, Desilets was recently asked to help with the preparation of the official website and app.

“I thought I'd get a ticket but didn't expect a role to play!” she exclaimed. “I was very honored and felt like it was truly a gift from JPII!”

Although she regards the role as an honor, Desilets noted, “I was also very blessed to be present at (John Paul II’s) funeral and beatification in the midst of the tumultuous and energy-charged crowds - which in many ways is more moving than being 'above' it all.”

The young woman went on to note that she was also grateful for the witness of John XXIII, who was canonized alongside John Paul II today.

“I realize how much my generation and many others would have lived the experience of the Church so much differently had it not been for John XXIII's courageous step to open the Second Vatican Council,” she said.

“Every Pope from John XXIII through Pope Francis has been a leader of a different kind and has been the right inspiration for the times.”


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Prayer
KEYWORDS: canonization

1 posted on 04/27/2014 1:45:18 PM PDT by NYer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 04/27/2014 1:45:40 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Oh, how cool.


3 posted on 04/27/2014 1:59:56 PM PDT by RichInOC (...your newest purveyor of wit, laughter and the Popish creed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Very nice story.


4 posted on 04/27/2014 2:01:11 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I'd forgotten how much fun it is having a dog.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC; Tax-chick

Floribeth Mora Diaz, accompanied by her husband, Edwin, carries the relic of St. John Paul II during the canonization Mass for Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter's Square April 27. Mora Diaz's cure from an aneurysm in 2011 was the second miracle in the sainthood cause of St. John Paul. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Floribeth is the woman whose aneurism was miraculously cured through the intercession of St. JPII.

5 posted on 04/27/2014 2:06:12 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Cool. Those reliquaries are outstanding work.


6 posted on 04/27/2014 2:08:07 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I'd forgotten how much fun it is having a dog.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: NYer

What a tender-hearted testimony. God bless her.


7 posted on 04/27/2014 3:25:03 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Even cooler. It’s hard to beat having somebody at a beatification or canonization Mass who can say “I had a medical condition that was going to kill me, and I’m cured and I’m here today because I asked Pope John Paul to pray for me and God said ‘yes’.” Well, maybe the little guy in the Sheen case. “I was born dead and I’m here today because Mommy and Daddy asked Archbishop Sheen to pray for me, and God said ‘yes’.”
8 posted on 04/28/2014 12:32:24 PM PDT by RichInOC (...your newest purveyor of wit, laughter and the Popish creed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson