Posted on 04/07/2005 8:55:52 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper
The following is an English translation of the official Vatican Italian translation of the text of Pope John Paul II's last will and testament, which was originally written in Polish with successive additions. Dates have been written according to European convention, which makes "6.3.1979" represent March 6, 1979.
The document begins with a Latin phrase that reads, "I am completely in Your hands," and follows with a citation from the New Testament.
The testament of 6.3.1979
Totus Tuus ego sum
In the Name of the Holiest Trinity. Amen.
"Keep watch, because you do not know which day when the Lord will come" - These words remind me of the final call, which will come the moment that the Lord will choose. I desire to follow Him and desire that all that is part of my earthly life shall prepare me for this moment. I do not know when it will come, but, like all else, this moment too I place into the hands of the Mother of My Master: Totus Tuus. In the same maternal hands I place All those with whom my life and vocation are bound. Into these Hands I leave above all the Church, and also my Nation and all humanity. I thank everyone. To everyone I ask forgiveness. I also ask prayers, so that the Mercy of God will loom greater than my weakness and unworthiness.
During spiritual exercises I reflected upon the testament of the Holy Father Paul VI. This study has led me to write the present testament.
I do not leave behind me any property which necessitates disposal. Regarding those items of daily use of which I made use, I ask that they be distributed as may appear opportune. My personal notes are to be burned. I ask that Don Stanislaw oversees this and thank him for the collaboration and help so prolonged over the years and so comprehensive. All other thanks, instead, I leave in my heart before God Himself, because it is difficult to express them.
Regarding the funeral, I repeat the same disposition given by the Holy Father Paul VI: Burial in the bare earth, not in a tomb, 13.3.92.
Apud Dominum misericordia et copiosa apud Eum redemptio
John Paul pp.II
Rome 6.3.1979
Following my death I ask for Holy Masses and prayers
5.3.1990
---
I express the deepest faith that, despite all my weakness, the Lord will accord me every necessary grace to face, according to His will, whatever task, trial and suffering that will be demanded of His servant, during the course of my life. I also have faith that never will it be permitted that, through my behavior: by words, actions or omissions, I betray my obligations in this holy seat of Peter.
---
24.II-1.III.1980
Also during these spiritual exercises I have reflected upon the truth of the Priesthood of Christ in the perspective of that Crossing which is for each one of us the moment of death. In taking leave of this world - to be born into the other, the future world, eloquent sign is for us the Resurrection of Christ.
I therefore read the copy of my testament of the last year, it also made during spiritual exercises - I compared it with the testament of my great Predecessor and Father Paul VI, with that sublime witness to the death of a Christian and of a pope - and I renewed in myself consciousness of the questions, to which refers the copy of 6.III.1979, prepared by me (in a rather provisional way).
Today I desire to add to it only this, that each one of us must keep in mind the prospect of death. And must be ready to present himself before the Lord and Judge - and contemporaneously Redeemer and Father. Then I too can take this into consideration continuously, entrusting that decisive moment to the Mother of Christ and of the Church - to the Mother of my hope.
The times in which we live are indescribably difficult and troubled. Difficult and tense has become the life of the Church as well, characteristic trial of these times - as much for the Faithful, as much as for the Pastors. In some Countries (as, e.g. in that one about which I was reading during the spiritual exercises), the Church finds itself in a period of persecution that is not inferior to those of the first centuries; on the contrary, the degree of cruelty and hatred is greater still. Sanguis martyrum - semen christianorum (Eds: Latin for "Blood of the martyrs - seeds of Christians"). And beyond this - so many people disappear innocently, even in this Country, in which we live...
I desire once more to entrust myself totally to the mercy of the Lord. He himself will decide when and how I must finish my earthly life and pastoral ministry. In life and in death Totus Tuus through the Immaculate. Accepting this death already, I hope that Christ will give me grace for my final passage, which is Easter. I hope too that it shall be made useful also for this important cause in which I am trying to serve: the salvation of men, the safeguarding of the human family and of all the nations and the peoples (among these I refer in particular to my earthly Country), useful for the persons who in a special way have entrusted to me for the questions of the Church, for the glory of God himself.
I do not desire to add anything to that which I wrote a year ago - only express this readiness and at the same time this faith, to which the present spiritual exercises prepared me.
Pound sand dear.
This thread is about the Pope's last will and testament.
Take your shots at Catholicism elsewhere.
Have you no decency?
Catholics read passages from the bible twice during every mass.. And them the Priest breaks down what was just read.
I understand that many Catholics see Mary as an example of faith, but I have also met Catholics who think she is the "Queen of Heaven" and even the "wife of God."
Jesus told us how to pray in the Lord's prayer--we're to pray to the Father.
Yes, I believe I already said it was not repeated, only made present to us on earth.
"once for all"
By contrast to Jewish sacrifice, which had to be repeated and usually only was efficacious for one person.
"priests...offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins"
Referring to Jewish temple ritual, not anything else.
"a single sacrifice"
Yes, indeed. No repeated sacrifice. If you find John Calvin in heaven, you can commiserate with him about the lies he told concerning Catholic belief on that point.
Now, why don't you quote the passages in Hebrews which point out that Jesus has entered the Holy of Holies to offer his own blood to the Father, and how he will (FUTURE TENSE!) appear again on the Last Day -- exactly as the Jewish High Priest appeared again after entering the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur.
Better yet, why don't you explain why Hebrews 13:10 says, "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.". An altar is a table for sacrifice, "those who serve the tabernacle" is the Jewish priesthood, saying that they have "no right to eat" implies quite clearly that Christians do have a right to eat of that sacrifice offered on that Christian altar.
Psychobabble. I'm not even Catholic, but are you familiar with the Rosary?
You're right
I better move on from here.
There are people who truly believe this. I once dated a girl who believed that Catholics could not achieve salvation.
"I am not reviling anyone. I'm just trying to show what the Holy Scripture say about biblical doctrine."
Daisy,
Think about this, please: Are you competent to discuss these issues? Are you a full-time Biblical scholar? I'd be very careful not to put yourself in a position you can't defend.
As someone who has read the entire Bible half a dozen times cover to cover, and much of it many more times, I would not even begin to call myself a Biblical scholar. I can quote passages around the clock, but that does not make me a Biblical scholar, either.
I suspect that what you are doing here is regurgitating what someone else has told you, rather than passing on information based on your own scholarship.
My advice is that you worship your deity in your own way, or as you have been taught, and that you not advise others in how they should worship. You may not be competent to do that.
She is the Queen of Heaven..
Well with the press you never know
TROLL ALERT!!
Pound sand dear.
This thread is about the Pope's last will and testament.
Take your shots at Catholicism elsewhere.
Have you no decency?
If you get Satanic chills reading "I place into the hands of the Mother of My Master: Totus Tuus", you need to get into a church right now, or get down on your knees son.
The bottom line, however, is that what we now know as the New Testament, was assembled by the Roman Catholic Church. A few books here and there have been discarded by the Protestant denominations, but none have been added.
Thanks for your imput.
Much appreciated.
And if you were a Catholic, you would be called a blasphemer for doing that. Here. On this thread. By people who have already posted.
A catholic can only have one master: God, the Holy Trinity.
Riddle me this: which of the saints in heaven can will anything contrary to the will of God?
Or riddle me this: Mary gave one command in Scripture, only one. If I follow her command perfectly, whom will I be obeying, Mary, or Jesus?
"Catholics read passages from the bible twice during every mass.. And them the Priest breaks down what was just read.
"
Yes, and many Catholics read their Bible on their own on a regular basis, too.
What you're hearing here is coming from people who don't really know what they're talking about. They're just parroting stuff they've heard from those they consider their religious leaders. That's obvious when they don't know much about the Bible themselves. They have their 100 verses or some such, but no real knowledge.
Phooey!
One of the driving motivations of the enemy of God and man is the desire to subborn the worship that is due to God alone. Whenever I see any other entity being advocated as Lord and Redeemer, legitimate recipient of devotions, worship, adoration, and petition, my "spider sense" begins to howl. As a pentecostal presbyterian, a charismatic calvinist, I have sufficient insight and sensitivity to interact with spiritual entities. God I adore. His rivals, I deplore. Even if they come disguiesed as an angel of light, or a sweet human lady who folks say got herself deified into being the fourth member of the Trinity. If you have ever read marian devotional materials, we're talkin' worship, not respect.
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.