My Hero - Pope John Paul II

As I said in my first post the goal of this blog is to open my heart up to you and to share with you my perspective of the world.  With this in mind I decided that a good way for me to get started would be to tell you who my hero is and the profound impact he has had on my life.

My hero is Pope John Paul II.  For those of you who don't know who he is; you need to get out a little more! Please do a quick Google search.  John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the 20th century.  He lived through Nazi and Russian occupation, he was instrumental in the collapse of the Soviet Union, he had one of the longest pontificates in the history of the Catholic Church, he survived an assassination attempt, and he gave the world the Theology of the Body; a new teaching on human sexuality and human existence. 

JP II accomplished a lot of great things but for me the greatest was the Theology of the Body.  This teaching has changed my life.  When I was a teenager trying to figure out the meaning and purpose of my sexuality and my place in life I felt really lost.  The most important thing to me was my Catholic faith and it seemed like my faith was at odds with the desires of my heart.  Then I discovered JP II's Theology of the Body.  This teaching taught me that the deepest desires of my heart are meant to be fulfilled and that by following these desires I would be living my purpose in life.  John Paul II showed me what it means to be a man; to be truly alive.  He was one of the most amazing people I have ever seen.  My one regret is that I only became interested in his life after he died.  

I only had one experience of being in the same place as him.  It was at World Youth Day in Toronto.  I remember going to the Final Mass with my dad and brother and it was cold, wet and raining.  We were miserable.  I wanted to go back to the bus and go home.  Then, the TV screens showed Pope John Paul II getting into his helicopter and start making his way to Downsview Airport, where the Final Mass was to be held.  Immediately the sky began to clear and by the time the Pope's helicopter touched down the sun was shining and there was a nice breeze blowing.  It was amazing to experience this.  I also remember FEELING JP II's presence.  Many other people have said that when they walked into John Paul II's presence they would FEEL him.  I do not know how to describe it but when the Pope's helicopter came into view at World Youth Day I felt a presence that I had never felt before and have never experienced again.  It was amazing. 

I cannot express how much John Paul II means to me.  He is close to my heart. He is a friend, a companion, a fellow scholar.  He changed my life and it just feels right to start this blog by telling you about him. Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

God Bless!