The True Face of Christianity

Pope John Paul II has been beatified today, a step so soon made towards Sainthood, 6 years after his death. Pope John Paul is the most traveled pope and his charisma is said to have influenced the fall of communism. Ironically, his beatification is set today on Labor day, a much left-leaning celebration.

Pope Benedict said that Blessed John Paul II "restored the true face of Christianity as a religion of hope". In his burial, the crowd who witnessed it, shouted "santo subito" exclaiming sainthood now for John Paul. Only 1 more miracle is being waited by to make John Paul a saint. This beatification to me is symbolic and meaningful, and for each and everyone the Pope had shared his life with. Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=654_0lrerok&feature=fvsr

I reserve in my heart a pride that twice in my life I have met a "blessed" a "holy" man. The first was in 1981. I was just six years old then when we joined the throngs of people hearing the mass to be celebrated by John Paul II, in the Quirino Grandstand. My mom took me there with her wedding godmother, Lola Penny who was also my mom's spiritual shepherd, along with her two kids.

Because I was small, my mom had to carry me, when Pope John Paul II came in. There was a beautiful image of the Virgen Santo Rosario de La Naval de Manila, that got my attention. I asked my mom, who was that lady. She said, it was "Mama Mary". I asked back, "Does she know me?"

Mama was perhaps startled with my question. Lola Penny answered for her, "Of course hijo, she knows you. She knows every good little boy in the world, and she loves you, just like how Jesus loves all of us." The Pope really didn't matter to me that time, my understanding of the Catholic church's hierarchy would of course come later on in my growing years.

It was perhaps in that first encounter with the Pope that I learned about Mama Mary. I don't have devotion for her like the other religious. But from then on, I'd see my self more involved in the church, first in attending Sunday school and Catechism, then in serving as a choir and lector. I even remember that I won the first Bible quiz bee in the parish when I was 10, beating someone 5 years older than I was.

The second time that my eyes set on Pope John Paul II was in his second visit, during the last day of the World Youth Day in 1995. In the same location, where I first saw the Pope. The event's hymn sings to all that we ought to tell the world of God's love. In this way, I understand John Paul's mission of bringing the people of this world closer to God.

That said, Benedict XVI is right to say that John Paul II showed the true face of Christianity as a religion of hope. It lingers in my thoughts and feelings that beatification of Pope John Paul II ushers hope to the people he met across the world. He is a man of the new world, who kept the fire of faith burning in him and for this world, amidst the exposed errors of bishops and priests, the threats to his life, the fear doom sayers wreak, and the declining number of faithfuls in many other states.

John Paul II, to me is not only blessed, for he has lived his life a saintly life, his is the symbolic face of Christianity as a religion of hope to this world.