Text of Pope's Last Will and Testament

Associated Press ^ | April 7, 2005 | Associated Press

[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.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

It's also a disgrace to the Protestants who expressed sympathy for the passing of the Pope, despite our denominational differences.

[Publius6961]

Understood; I need more coffee.

[Malacoda]

Indeed. They seem to wait, with baited breath, to jump in with a "Holier Than Thou" post.

I might have a modicum of respect for it, if they could agree with ONE ANOTHER on whatever their form of truth is. From what I can see, once Luther did his thing, they all decided they liked the infighting, and kept splitting into smaller and smaller factions. I mean, really -- just look in the darn phone book. How many denominations of "Protestant" are out there?

The only thing they can all seem to agree on is they don't like Catholics.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

Although I don't hold out much hope. It seems they get almost demonic glee out of slamming their fellow Christians.

---

I agree.

[BigSkyFreeper]

But...by your own standards, shouldn't you recuse yourself from this discussion? You're a "godless atheist" who has only read the Bible "half a dozen times."

So your "standard" is different than MineralMan's. Who are you to judge someone, even if they've read the Bible "a half dozen times". Personally, I'd be satisfied even if a person has read the Bible a "couple of times", because they took the initiative to immerse themselves in The Word. Then that person can decide for themself, not everyone else.

[wolfman]

If your child is on a path to destruction, ignoring it would be the most hateful reaction.

[Petronski]

The Crucifiction was a once-for-all event

It's Crucifixion (being fixed to a cross). Why do you put the word 'fiction' in there?

...why then must Christ be sacrificed repeatedly thousands of times per day for thousands of years?

Because He said so.

...and who are we to thrust His sacrifice upon Him again and again?

We are the ones whom He asked to do so.

[Rutles4Ever]

We are never told in the Bible whether anyone else in heaven can even hear us.

That still doesn't explain why Jesus needed to talk to a couple of dead guys at the Transiguration. Ya think they were praying for Him and His mission?

[lupie]

So how could Mary be full of grace? It's there in black-and-white. There are no ifs, ands, or buts - the angel Gabriel called her "full of grace". Would he call her that if she wasn't?

It is not necessarily full of grace, if you are refering to Luke 1. Depends on the translation. In Luke, Gabriel called her "charitoo {khar-ee-to'-o}" (#5487) According to Zodhiates, it means to grace, highly honor, or greatly favor. In this word there is not only the impartation of God's grace, but also the adoption into God's familyjin imparting special favors in distinction to charizonmai (5483) which means to give grace, to remit, forgive.

The word "charitoo" is found in 2 places in the NT. The first is when Gabriel is addressing Mary. The second is found in Ephesians 1:6:

..to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

So then if Mary was special and this term was used of her, then so are also all believers. It would seem to be pretty "black and white" then that what is true of Mary, is true of all who put their trust in the Lord God. How then do you explain the difference?

[Daisy4]

"Dear, a comma does not wipe out the second half of the sentence. The fear of works was fear that people would be boastful of doing good and righteous acts.'

---

I don't know what you mean here????? At any rate, once a person is saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ, good works should follow. Many do good works, but do not put their faith in Jesus Christ, and this is what Paul is talking about.

"Seems that the most boastful are the Protestants; boasting about how they don't do works so they won't boast."

---

Why should we boast? The teachings of Jesus are of a humble servant, and we are to be likewise. Many of are good works are not even noticed by man, but God knows them.

[Petronski]

Protestants worship God by prayer, singing songs, and listening to sermons; if a Catholic prays to Mary, sings songs about her, and listens to a talk about her, the Protestant concludes that's "worship" because that's what he calls what he does. That isn't what I call "worship," however, and I would not be rendering true worship to God if that were all I did concerning Him.

Excellent.

[Bella_Bru]

I would think showing people how great your faith is through righteous acts would be the best way to witness if you are into that.

[onyx]

Right, BSF is a good guy.
He posted this article and a lot of folks
post to him like he's the expert...lol...
and he's not RC, just a GOOD Prot.

[Truth666]

One of the reasons why evil is so willing to make a mockery of the agony of Jesus is because they want to make people forget the key point I mentioned. Again, that's one of the reasons why egoism (packaged as survival of the fittest) is central to evolution theory.

[Rutles4Ever]

And ironically, this Pope tried desperately to bridge these gaps... I want to celebrate the values I share with my Protestant friends, not tear down their beliefs.

[GraniteStateConservative]

50 Cent, Eminem and an Unknown I will raise from rock groups, from rap artists, I will raise from sportsmen and they will speak out the word that the musicians and the rappers already experienced in prophesying without the Spirit, but now they are going to prophesy with the Spirit and with the fire and that will raise up a generation that shall be filled with the fire of God and consumed with his seal.

Be aware of this, 50, 50, 50! Maybe you have no idea who this is. But now is the greatest voice in this nation. It shall come to pass that 50 shall be known as 50 because there are no cents. For there is one thing that shall happen. The Spirit shall come upon him. And they shall say, is he amongst the prophets as well? Then Eminem shall say, I know that I was born for this, I know that I was born for this. There is one more. He is unknown but shall become famous overnight He shall be in darkness for a short period and 50 and Eminem shall overshadow him and there shall be a three fold chord that will not be broken. Why am I saying this? Because America you have let your children go. You’ve let them go because you’ve not disciplined them. But I will bring them back swiftly. Because you know why? I have raised up a President to watch over the nation. Now I’m raising up watchmen on the wall in the music world so that your children will come out saying, ‘something happened when I said those words.’ I began to speak in other languages the mysterious God of the earth shall take your children and this generation and raise them up as Samuels, Davids, Jeremiahs and Isaiahs, Obadiahs in this generation. "

Eminem and 50 Cent will lead a Holy Spirit revival? If that happens, you can knock me over with a feather.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

You know they are going to do it (evidently we are such an attractive nuisance that they can't resist). I personally prefer to ignore them. Their minds are sealed, and they say what they say to reinforce their own viewpoints.

Therefore, you have two choices - try to outbeat them in argument, or go on walking in the ways God would have us do, by witnessing by word and by deed, much like John Paul did.

I hope I can do more like him...



O sweet Mary,
You, with your yes
as big and generous
as the heart of humankind can get,
with the help of the Father
through the workings of the Spirit
have given us
the most precious gift
human has ever given human:
Emananuel,
God with us,
Jesus,
whose very name
proclaims this truth:
God saves.

O Mary,
Mother of God,
Mother of the church,
whose advice to us
has always been
and always will be
"Do whatever he tells you,"
help us learn
why there is a reason for joy,
even in the times of sorrow,
even when we feel the sword piercing through our own hearts,
and pray for us,
that like you,
when God asks us,
we can always say Yes.

Amen.

[wolfman]

Jesus is God. He was in His Glorified body. We are not. He can talk to anyone He wants and they will hear hHim and vica versa