Remembering Blessed John Paul II

2013-04-02 Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) To mark eight years since the death of Blessed John Paul II on April 2nd 2005, we bring you Vatican Radio archive recordings of his words in English focusing on prayer and priestly life, as well as the testimony of some of those who witnessed this first-hand.
Among them, the late Carmelite Father, Redemptus Valabek, former postulator of the causes of the saints of his Order, who explains why many used to describe John Paul II as being a Carmelite at heart. Also, Nigerian Cardinal, Francis Arinze, head of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue at the time of the remarkable prayer gathering in Assisi. He points to how this Polish Pontiff's call for all to pray was addressed not just to Christians but to non-Christians as well.
In this programme in which you can hear Blessed John Paul II reciting the 'Our Father', we also highlight how this Pope's 's prayer life was inseparable from his priestly vocation. How he often told his friends: "I am first and foremost a priest", reminding them how privileged he was to have this vocation because it allowed him to preside at the Church's most important prayer of all: the Celebration of the Eucharist .
Listen to this programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:

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Remembering Brother Joel Stern

Recently we celebrated the funeral Mass of Brother Joel Stern, a Franciscan Brother of the Poor.  Joel served his community in various capacities, having been provincial and fulfilling other roles of service. He had also taught in various situations and assisted in parish work. He was well known in Cincinnati and famous for always having a joke to tell—some would make you laugh, others would at least bring a smile. My favorite smile was brought on from a postcard he sent, which was to inform me that he would be glad to help with a retreat. Scrawled in big letter across the face of the postcard was “CONFIDENTIAL.” I took a double take before realizing what he was doing.

One of the Brothers gave the eulogy and mentioned a number of Joel’s outstanding traits. But what hit me most was when the Brother said:

It struck me that that is exactly how Brother Joel came across.

It also struck me that this is a perfect way to appreciate the incarnation: In Jesus, God came to brother all human beings. Perhaps we first think about his teaching and his miracles, then his giving of his life for us. He also brothered the scribes and Pharisees when he warned them of their hypocrisy. He continues to brother us through his Spirit. He gives a striking example of brothering in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist.

Come to think of it, is this not a helpful way to think of the commandment to love our neighbor? We are called to “brother” or “sister” all our brothers and sisters under God.

The next time we meet another human being, we might ask: “How can I sister or brother this sister or brother?”

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Featured photo credit: Chris Sharp/freedigitalphotos.net

Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., after ordination in 1955, did further studies in Scripture. He taught Scripture to seminarians for 15 years. He has been editor of Sunday Homily Helps for almost 25 years. blog comments powered by

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