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Global Pilgrim: The Journeys of Pope John Paul II, by Triumph Books. 2005.
The most traveled pope in history, Pope John Paul II, was greeted by thousands in his many journeys; in fact he is said to have been seen by more people than anyone who ever lived. The photos prove that his visits were not limited by any racial or ethnic boundaries, as he called upon one billion Roman
Catholics and reached out to members of other faiths. Wherever he went, huge crowds reached out to shake his hands, to take his picture, to say they were in his presence.
Divided into three parts, this book gives a six page story of his birth and life before the papacy.
Part two is concerned with "A Papal Odessey", which gives details of most of
his worldwide journeys: Latin America, Poland, Middle East, North America, and the globe. This section describes his various means of travel, reasons for the travels, and something about how he was received in each place.
In Latin America, he realized that he was to be a pilgrim to the whole world. In Poland, he dealt with the grip of communism. In the Middle East, he tried to patch old wounds. In North America, he
was truly in a strange land. In other parts of the globe, the Pope tried to touch humanity one soul at a time. Because he spoke seven languages, he made himself at home wherever he went. His usual practice after he left his plane was to kneel to kiss the ground, in an effort to show that the Earth is sacred and all of the planet is holy ground.
Part three is entitled "In the Vatican". It gives details about him being
"at home" in the Vatican, his schedule, his prayer, and celebration of Eucharist. Also there is a section devoted to the pontiff as victim; this is his near death experience with a man he later forgave. The last section is the Pope as priest. This gives some information about his celebrating Holy Week, complete with the Stations of the Cross and the Triduum celebration.
(Thanks to Sr.
Irene Hartman OP for this review.)
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Saint of the Week
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St. Rose Venerini (1656-1728): May 7
Rose was born at Viterbo in Italy, the daughter of a doctor. Following the death of her fiancé she entered a convent, but soon returned home to care for her newly widowed mother. Meanwhile, Rose invited the women of the neighborhood to
recite the rosary in her home, forming a sort of sodality with them.
As she looked to her future, Rose, under the spiritual guidance of a Jesuit priest, became convinced that she was called to become a teacher in the world rather than a contemplative nun in a convent. Clearly, she made the right choice: She was a born teacher, and the free school for girls she opened in 1685 was well
received.
Soon the cardinal invited her to oversee the training of teachers and the administration of schools in his Diocese of Montefiascone. As Rose's reputation grew, she was called upon to organize schools in many parts of Italy, including Rome. Her disposition was right for the task as well, for Rose often met considerable opposition but was never deterred.
She died in Rome in 1728, where a number of miracles were attributed to her. She was beatified in 1952 and canonized in 2006. The sodality, or group of women she had invited to prayer, was ultimately given the rank of a religious congregation. Today, the so-called Venerini Sisters can be found in the United States and elsewhere, working among Italian immigrants. americancatholic.org site
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