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Newsletter
No.5
November 2003
Pope John Paul II
A great gift to the Church of Modern Times
John
Paul II was the media’s highlight globally as he
celebrated his 25th silver jubilee of his
pontificate. His
strong personality and outstanding achievements within and
without the Catholic Church are appreciated by believers and
unbelievers alike.
So
much have been written about his life and about what he has
done. He is
considered liberal in certain aspects and a staunch
conservative in others.
His Holiness has broken many records.
The record that he will surely be remembered for
(unless it is broken again!) is his travelling.
He certainly was the “Pilgrim Pope”.
His parish is the whole world.
His numerous travels had one overall objective, to
preach the faith unashamed and undiminished, and to be a
voice for world peace and social justice.
His essential message reiterates that of St Paul to
the Romans:
For I want very much
to see you, in order to share a spiritual blessing with you
to make you strong. What
I mean is that both you and I will be helped at the same
time, you by my faith and I by yours. Rom 1:12-13
Two
things stand out in particular in this great moral figure of
our times, namely his charismatic leadership and that he was
a man of prayer.
There
is no doubt that the Catholic Church is distraught with
internal human weaknesses.
Dissent and scandals are undermining the integrity of
the whole body of the Church.
John Paul II with his secure and strong leadership is
so influential in keeping the broken pieces together.
His pastoral concern has unifying and healing
qualities.
Very
few though have emphasised that he is an assiduous man of
prayer. John
Paul II is a mere man and not a superman as the world media
tends to picture him. He
knows what suffering is.
The demands and pressures of his unique ministry are
not easy to carry. Only
deep prayer sustains him as he keeps on serving the Church.
These words delivered to the young people are an echo
of what is true to himself:
If you really wish to
follow Christ, if you want your love for him to grow and
last, than you must be faithful to prayer.
It is the key to your vitality of your life in
Christ. Without
prayer, your faith and life will die.
Every
Eucharistic celebration that he celebrates is a prayerful
experience. He
remains so focused. This
man is such a telling image of a true shepherd as we observe
him leaning against his Pastoral Staff, as if embracing the
Crucified Lord.
I am a witness of
Christ’s sufferings, and I will share in the glory that
will be revealed. I
appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you
to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not
unwillingly. Do
your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to
serve. Do not
try to rule over those who are in your care, but be examples
to the flock.
1Pt 5:2-3
Fr. Vince Magri SJ
Ignatian
Maxims (4)
16.
Among the works of mercy, the spiritual work most important
would be to console the person crushed under the worries and
anguish of life. (Letter to Marguerite of Austria)
17.
Do not mark out the faults of others, but be always ready to excuse them; on the contrary, be ready to admit your
own faults and willing that everyone would know you
interiorly an exteriorly. (Letters of Ignatius XII, Sixth
Appendix)
18.
Do not say, think, or do anything, unless you see that it is
pleasing to God and edifying to the brethren. (Letters of
St. Ignatius XII Sixth Appendix).
19.
If you really want to be helpful to your brethren, you will
find out that you succeed in doing so much more by being
humble than by exercising authority. (Bartoli, 1, IV, n.36,
p.401)
20.
Be sure that whenever you speak to anyone about the things
of God, even if to the worst person on earth, a great
benefit will be drawn out from it. (Letter to Giacomo
Cassador)
Fr. Arthur Vella SJ
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