St. JPII and the "New Evangelization"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, one of our Deacons presented to any interested parishioners a showing of the video, “Nine Days that Changed the World” produced by Newt Gingrich and his wife. He showed it in our education wing at noon (folks were invited to bring a bag lunch) and in the evening around 7pm after the Knights of Columbus served a Spaghetti Dinner.

I don’t know how many attended in the evening but at noon about 14 persons came. Now consider our parish has about 1200 persons. All who came were older parishioners who are retired. One came on her lunch hour. (I know because I invited her) but what a poor attendance!

How sad to me is the indifference I find when opportunities like this and the weekly Bible Studies my husband and I offered from Sept to June of this year are available! But I did not start this thread to lament or complain but rather to encourage us all to pray and do whatever we can to “change the world” as Pope St. John Paul II and all the saints have done in their day.

Our gifts may be no where near those of great saints like Pope St. john Paul II, but many hidden saints have done much for the Church – like St. Therese of Lisieux. When Pope JPII called for a “New” Evangelization, I believe it was the Holy Spirit prompting him to wake up the Catholic Church to live their Baptism. The Church exists to evangelize!

The video was about 90 minutes long which is longer than I expected, but there were several truly inspiring and stirring images I cannot forget. One was Pope St. John Paul II’s prayer beseeching the Holy Spirit to come upon Poland in particular, praying in the midst of an almost unbelievable crowd on the eve of Pentecost. Certainly his prayer was answered.

Has anyone seen this video? Were you stirred to do more, and to pray more that the Holy Spirit may heal our land and our world by a new Pentecost? Millions of lay persons in Poland were inspired to rise up and live their faith and reclaim their dignity as sons and daughters of God! What about you and me?

Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your Faithful, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.
Mary, “Star of the New Evangelization”, pray for us.

 

[chimo]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, one of our Deacons presented to any interested parishioners a showing of the video, “Nine Days that Changed the World” produced by Newt Gingrich and his wife. He showed it in our education wing at noon (folks were invited to bring a bag lunch) and in the evening around 7pm after the Knights of Columbus served a Spaghetti Dinner.

I don’t know how many attended in the evening but at noon about 14 persons came. Now consider our parish has about 1200 persons. All who came were older parishioners who are retired. One came on her lunch hour. (I know because I invited her) but what a poor attendance!

How sad to me is the indifference I find when opportunities like this and the weekly Bible Studies my husband and I offered from Sept to June of this year are available! But I did not start this thread to lament or complain but rather to encourage us all to pray and do whatever we can to “change the world” as Pope St. John Paul II and all the saints have done in their day.

Our gifts may be no where near those of great saints like Pope St. john Paul II, but many hidden saints have done much for the Church – like St. Therese of Lisieux. When Pope JPII called for a “New” Evangelization, I believe it was the Holy Spirit prompting him to wake up the Catholic Church to live their Baptism. The Church exists to evangelize!

The video was about 90 minutes long which is longer than I expected, but there were several truly inspiring and stirring images I cannot forget. One was Pope St. John Paul II’s prayer beseeching the Holy Spirit to come upon Poland in particular, praying in the midst of an almost unbelievable crowd on the eve of Pentecost. Certainly his prayer was answered.

Has anyone seen this video? Were you stirred to do more, and to pray more that the Holy Spirit may heal our land and our world by a new Pentecost? Millions of lay persons in Poland were inspired to rise up and live their faith and reclaim their dignity as sons and daughters of God! What about you and me?

Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your Faithful, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.
Mary, “Star of the New Evangelization”, pray for us.

It seems Maria that when there is oppression of that sort that hits a country like Poland it is much easier for the people to respond to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When there is no oppression of the sort that had hit Poland (or Russia and the rest of Eastern Europe) these countries would not have responded as they did. Even here in the West we are witnessing what happens when we are not oppressed (I am referring to the same type of oppression that had hit Eastern Europe). Christianity in the West is experiencing a different type of oppression if one can say. In fact it was Pope John Paul II who had said that the problems in this world have not been solved (he was talking about the aftermath of the end of Communism in Russia and Europe) as yet for he pointed to the West (the democracies of Western civilization) as being the most important problem we are now facing. He said it is now the undisciplined tide of Western democracy that is threatening the very existence of our world. Whereas the oppression of Communism had seemingly helped Russia, Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe to find their Christian roots to live out the Christian message the undisciplined tide of Western civilization is disarming its Christian roots at an alarming rate.
It seems we are facing an undisciplined type of authority in the West. To fix it or correct it the Church needs the right type of people who are not afraid to discipline others. For some reason we the Church have been neglectful in this area. Albert Einstein had said that he was not much afraid of the evil that is in the world than he was for the people who do nothing about it. Christianity in the West has more Christians doing nothing than in any other part of the world. Where are the Christians. It is my honest opinion Maria that when Christians are no longer Christians and God is need of them to help further His Gospel in the same place where it is now in jeopardy why can`t the Lord call in other peoples to do His work. It is my humble opinion that the Lord may give to us a great sign for all to see so that He will have these people to do His work. Perhaps the Christians from Asia will be one of those signs. Perhaps a sign from the Heavens. Perhaps the conversion of the people of Islam to Christianity. Who knows. God though will supply when it is necessary. I see where I live (a city in Canada) almost 10 new Catholic priests all from India. Perhaps the great missionary work will come out from Asia.

 

[chimo]

I believe if I may continue on with this discussion that there is a way to help the West in the manner which you have stated in your post by having another Pentecost experience. We have at our resources for the first time ever Eastern Orthodox and Catholics living side by side. We have the very means to discover each other. There was a good reason why the Eastern Orthodox have migrated to the West. It is my humble opinion that this is the way the Church can begin to become united. It is my humble opinion we are in need of each other. We can learn from each other. We can strengthen each other. The possibilities of the treasures of both Churches can belong to you and me, to both Catholic and Orthodox. We are in need of each other`s treasures in order to help evangelize back the West to send out this Pentecost that is so longing. We need as Orthodox and Catholics to discover each other, to visit each other, to come to know the treasures we belong to and to offer our services to bring together what God has so long wanted. This unity can begin in the West because there are no other places in the world where Orthodox and Catholics can live side by side. This unity will be the Pentecost that will help us both if we will only take the time to discover each other. There is no persecutions to stop the Orthodox and Catholics to come to know each other in this part of the world. Let us use this opportunity wisely to begin it now because this opportunity is given to us by God.

 

[MariaChristi]

It seems Maria that when there is oppression of that sort that hits a country like Poland it is much easier for the people to respond to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When there is no oppression of the sort that had hit Poland (or Russia and the rest of Eastern Europe) these countries would not have responded as they did. Even here in the West we are witnessing what happens when we are not oppressed (I am referring to the same type of oppression that had hit Eastern Europe). Christianity in the West is experiencing a different type of oppression if one can say. In fact it was Pope John Paul II who had said that the problems in this world have not been solved (he was talking about the aftermath of the end of Communism in Russia and Europe) as yet for he pointed to the West (the democracies of Western civilization) as being the most important problem we are now facing. He said it is now the undisciplined tide of Western democracy that is threatening the very existence of our world. Whereas the oppression of Communism had seemingly helped Russia, Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe to find their Christian roots to live out the Christian message the undisciplined tide of Western civilization is disarming its Christian roots at an alarming rate.
It seems we are facing an undisciplined type of authority in the West. To fix it or correct it the Church needs the right type of people who are not afraid to discipline others. For some reason we the Church have been neglectful in this area. Albert Einstein had said that he was not much afraid of the evil that is in the world than he was for the people who do nothing about it. Christianity in the West has more Christians doing nothing than in any other part of the world. Where are the Christians. It is my honest opinion Maria that when Christians are no longer Christians and God is need of them to help further His Gospel in the same place where it is now in jeopardy why can`t the Lord call in other peoples to do His work. It is my humble opinion that the Lord may give to us a great sign for all to see so that He will have these people to do His work. Perhaps the Christians from Asia will be one of those signs. Perhaps a sign from the Heavens. Perhaps the conversion of the people of Islam to Christianity. Who knows. God though will supply when it is necessary. I see where I live (a city in Canada) almost 10 new Catholic priests all from India. Perhaps the great missionary work will come out from Asia.

Dear chimo,

Thanks for your reply. Please can you tell me where and when you found Pope St. John Paul II saying as you stated:

chimo:

…In fact it was Pope John Paul II who had said that the problems in this world have not been solved (he was talking about the aftermath of the end of Communism in Russia and Europe) as yet for he pointed to the West (the democracies of Western civilization) as being the most important problem we are now facing. He said it is now the undisciplined tide of Western democracy that is threatening the very existence of our world. …

We do not know how God is working, but we can be sure His Holy Spirit is at work. (cf Rom 8:28) I would be interested in your giving a source for the statement you attributed to Pope St. John Paul II.

I’ll respond to your other comments later, as I need to shut down my computer for awhile, and runs some errands.

 

[chimo]

Sure Maria. It was contained in the video “Witness to Hope” which is one of the greatest presentations on the life of Pope John Paul II. The video was made in part of the biography that was written by George Weigle. To watch this video you will see how much this Pope had to go through in order to give to the world Jesus Christ. You can get this video either through Amazon and I think Ignatuis Press. You can find a trailer to this video on YouTube so that you may get a glimpse of what is in the video. Very powerful!

 

[MariaChristi]

Sure Maria. It was contained in the video “Witness to Hope” which is one of the greatest presentations on the life of Pope John Paul II. The video was made in part of the biography that was written by George Weigle. To watch this video you will see how much this Pope had to go through in order to give to the world Jesus Christ. You can get this video either through Amazon and I think Ignatuis Press. You can find a trailer to this video

Thanks for your reply, chimo. I’ll see if I can find a trailer.

 

[MariaChristi]

I believe if I may continue on with this discussion that there is a way to help the West in the manner which you have stated in your post by having another Pentecost experience. We have at our resources for the first time ever Eastern Orthodox and Catholics living side by side. We have the very means to discover each other. There was a good reason why the Eastern Orthodox have migrated to the West. It is my humble opinion that this is the way the Church can begin to become united. It is my humble opinion we are in need of each other. We can learn from each other. We can strengthen each other. The possibilities of the treasures of both Churches can belong to you and me, to both Catholic and Orthodox. We are in need of each other`s treasures in order to help evangelize back the West to send out this Pentecost that is so longing. We need as Orthodox and Catholics to discover each other, to visit each other, to come to know the treasures we belong to and to offer our services to bring together what God has so long wanted. This unity can begin in the West because there are no other places in the world where Orthodox and Catholics can live side by side. This unity will be the Pentecost that will help us both if we will only take the time to discover each other. There is no persecutions to stop the Orthodox and Catholics to come to know each other in this part of the world. Let us use this opportunity wisely to begin it now because this opportunity is given to us by God.

Dear chimo,

Perhaps you have read the beautiful encyclical written by Pope St. John Paul II On the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church and the World. If you have not I highly recommend it. In the final paragraphs, he wrote this:

1. In the midst of the problems, disappointments and hopes, desertions and returns of these times of ours, the Church remains faithful to the mystery of her birth. While it is an historical fact that the Church came forth from the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, in a certain sense one can say that she has never left it. Spiritually the event of Pentecost does not belong only to the past: the Church is always in the Upper Room that she bears in her heart. The Church perseveres … like the Apostles together with Mary, the Mother of Christ, and with those who in Jerusalem… the first seed of the Christian community… who awaited in prayer the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Church perseveres in prayer with Mary. This union of the praying Church with the Mother of Christ has been part of the mystery of the Church from the beginning: we see her present in this mystery as she is present in the mystery of her Son. It is the Council that says to us: “The Blessed Virgin…overshadowed by the Holy Spirit… brought forth…the Son…, he whom God placed as the first-born among many brethren (cf. Rom 8:29), namely the faithful. In their birth and development she cooperates with a maternal love”; she is through “his singular graces and offices…intimately united with the Church… [She] is a model of the Church.” “The Church, moreover, contemplating Mary’s mysterious sanctity, imitating her charity,…becomes herself a mother” and “herself is a virgin, who keeps…the fidelity she has pledged to her Spouse. Imitating the Mother of The Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, she preserves with virginal purity an integral faith, a firm hope, and a sincere charity.”…

Let us pray that we may ALL be one, as Christ prayed in Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel.

 

[chimo]

Thank you for your post. It is very interesting how the Pope sees in Mary the possibilities we can all receive. Catholics tend to go to Mary through a different approach than what the Orthodox do. In fact Mary can only be taught in the Catholic Church through outside resources such as the Rosary can give. You will not come to know Mary if you only go to the Mass. The approach to Mary in the Catholic Church is done differently than how someone in the Eastern Church comes to know Mary. The Divine Liturgy which is the “Mass” of the Orthodox Church will give out Mary throughout the Liturgy. She is at least mentioned 13x and her Icons always show her presence among the faithful. The “Rosary” of the East is actually contained within their own Liturgical services. This is how the Eastern Christian comes to know Mary. In both approaches we come to know our common mother. In fact it should point out how these two approaches actually point to us the same Church. What we need to do as Orthodox and Catholics is to appreciate both approaches and to accumulate the rich treasures that are available because of it. Thank you for sharing the Pope’s words for they do convey the truth of our own existence and why we are now presently the Church that needs to proclam the Gospel.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for your post. It is very interesting how the Pope sees in Mary the possibilities we can all receive…

Dear chimo,

In his Apostolic Letter “On The Dignity and Vocation of Women” even more of Pope St. John Paul II’s insights into the union God intends for all of us through Mary is found. In this beatutiful letter he chose to write in the character of a meditation on “Mary” who is the perfect woman. Mary is the perfect image for the Church!

Men and women can read this letter and learn so much. Let me quote a portion of it:

…Mary - the “woman” of the Bible (cf. Gen 3:15;Jn 2:4; 19:16) - intimately belongs to the salvific mystery of Christ, and is therefore also present in a special way in the mystery of the Church. Since “the Church is in Christ as a sacrament… of intimate union with God and of the unity of the whole human race”, the special presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of the Church makes us think of the exceptional link between this “woman” and the whole human family. It is a question here of every man and woman, all the sons and daughters of the human race, in whom from generation to generation a fundamental inheritance is realized, the inheritance that belongs to all humanity and that is linked with the mystery of the biblical “beginning”: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”(Gen 1: 27).

This eternal truth about the human being, man and woman - a truth which is immutably fixed in human experience - at the same time constitutes the mystery which only in “the Incarnate Word takes on light… (since) Christ fully reveals man to himself and makes his supreme calling clear”, as the Council teaches. In this “revealing of man to himself”, do we not need to find a special place for that “woman” who was the Mother of Christ? Cannot the “message” of Christ, contained in the Gospel, which has as its background the whole of Scripture, both the Old and the New Testament, say much to the Church and to humanity about the dignity of women and their vocation?

This is precisely what is meant to be the common thread running throughout the present document, which fits into the broader context of the Marian Year, as we approach the end of the second millennium after Christ’s birth and the beginning of the third. And it seems to me that the best thing is to give this text the style and character of a meditation.

Mary is given to ALL humanity at the cross, by Jesus’ words: “Behold your Mother”. Mary received all of us in Jesus’ words to her looking upon John, the beloved disciple: “Behold your son”. Mary intercedes for all the sons and daughters of God whether they know her or not. Her union with God is unique for she gave physical birth to the Incarnate Word, Jesus.
Yet, she is for all of us now Mother and Model. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives her the beautiful title of “Eschatalogical icon of the Church”.

Pope St. John Paul II called Mary the “Star of the New Evangelization” for she always guides us to her Son. Mothers have that special “gift” of gathering the family.