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
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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.
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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.
Yes. Graciously accepted. Thanks.
No where in my posts did I question the pope's salvation, only his doctrine. I think he was a very good man, and I pray he is in heaven.
Thanks again.
I'm certain he is.
Not even any photo albums? Your high school class ring?
Nonsense. Jesus didn't have a womb, Mary did. The Holy Trinity is "The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost"
Yeah and so what? The reason he broke away from the church was of the corruption that existed. (Now don't tell me there is no corruption in the the other churches or religions)
The reformation period was the most confused, inventive period of history, both religious and secular.
More stuff was deleted, invented or obscured then than at any other time.
Without instant communications and multiple permanently written references, there is no way to sort it all out.
Artful it wasn't.
Isn't the Eucharist supposedly the transubstantiated body of Christ being sacrificed again? and again? and again?
I don't think so... My friend joined and took nothing.. ofcourse the church paid off his bills (O;
Here's another oddity. The Gospel of John says that Jesus, as a child, "made himself subject to" Mary and Joseph. Was the Bible lying? Was He doing a bad thing? (But it also says He never sinned!)
Just curious, and meaning no disrespect,
What do you think will happen to you when you die? As a Catholic I believe I will join the communion of saints until the resurrection (i.e. I will continue to live on). Do you as a Protestant feel that this will not happen, or that you will sleep until the resurrection? Once again just trying to see where you are coming from. Also do you have the scripture verse? Thanks.
Cheers,
CSG
In memory as a symbolic rememberance - not as an actual repeating sacrifice.
LOL! Just trying to distract people a little bit.
What parts of it?
Oh, you mean the stuff about helping the poor? Yeah, that's a horrible thing to teach. We all know that the poor are poor because they aren't the "elect".
It is the spiritual immaturity on here that is astounding. Jesus would have us love one another as Christians as opposed to fight.
Yes, when Jesus said, "This is my body" we don't try to explain his words away.
being sacrificed
... yes ...
again? and again? and again?
No, and no, and no.
I don't compare THERESA MARIA SCHINDLER to Jesus as God. I relate her agony to the agony of Jesus.
OMG!
Unbelievable.
Strange, but the RCC has been encouraging Marian worship for some time.
The Pope did not give praise to Jesus Christ for "saving" him when he was shot by Abbas; he praised Mary.
The testimony of Scripture points to a supernatural structure for Christ's Church, and not mere human invention. Jesus said, "Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The Stone which the builders [i.e., unbelieving man] rejected , the same is become the Head of the Corner: this is the LORD's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" (Matthew 21:42). The Roman Catholic Church has dethroned the Blessed Son of God and set up the Roman Pontiff as supreme over the Universal Church. "I am come in My Father's Name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive"
No, the Eucharist is a way of remembering that Jesus gave up his Eartly body and shed his blood for all.
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