For those interested, more information is here.
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.
But, like I said I felt I had to say something about a very unBiblical doctrine in a week that is I felt strongly was not about Protestants in the least and should be left to Catholics. I tried to leave the thread and had to follow the call of my heart to say something, it would have been unfaithful not to.
Like I said before do with it what you will but I do not hate Catholics in the least, my only reason for responding to you openly when I had already said I was done. Nor do I think do any others that were upset by that statement.
Besides that is how the left shuts off all conversation on any subject by calling the other side hatefilled when all we do is discuss policy. I have never been a big fan of shutting off conversation before it starts by belittling the other side instead of defending with a good argument. Just find my the Bible verse that supports this doctrine fully and I will agree with you it is not blasphemy.
That's all God wants, is for each one of us to "get into the Word", and understand The Word. We do that, then everything else falls into place.
bump for later read
Mary is given the title Mother of God to refute the Nestorian heresy that Jesus is not God. It affirms that Jesus was truly God and truly man. It affirms the Holy Trintiy- that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Jesus represented God in the flesh.
Well thank goodness for that.
My comment addressed the short-shrift that this
particular article gave to JPII's magnificent,
prayerful 15 hand written pages that spanned
the years from 1979-2000.
Cheers,
CSG
Wasn't it you who once posted "scratch a maryphobe and find a heretic"?
Since the Pope's last writing does not reveal the "Secret Cardinal", is that person still a cardinal?
For those interested, more information is here.
Someone being nailed to a tree, and someone else eating a wafer, strike me as plainly two distinctly separate events.
True kinda, but what was secular and what was church rode a bumpy ride.. during those times.. the "church" and the "rulers" and few Kings used each other like siblings and cousins in a Tennessee love triangle.. what was secular and what was church blended like a finely crafted salad dressing.. and people munched like rabbits.. as you do..
< irony >
The Last Supper and the Crucifixion were two distinctly different events but they were both connected. Jesus hinted through the eating of the bread and drinking of the wine, that he would sacrifice his flesh and blood for all.
You're simply not using the correct definition of worship. By its definition, you CAN NOT worship something that is not a divine being. Mary is not divine - she is human. Therefore she cannot, nor is she, worshipped.
Perhaps you are looking at it too plainly?
This plain view of communion was not seen until relatively recently. Communion, perhaps, is not brought into plain view.
Right. She has no mystical powers, as one poster eluded to.
Just because you think it was some homogenized class of people doesn't mean it really was. I'm not going to even take offense to your snide inference, I've tried to educate your little mind, and apparently you refuse. Next time read a book or two before you decide to formulate an opinion then you might actually understand what you are talking about. Oh yes, also forgot, facts are your friends, without them you sound very DUmb.
Cheers,
CSG
Bravo! (or Brava!, as the case may be.)
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