Homage to Blessed John Paul II

It was of particular joy for me to make my own Melodies & Memories homage to Blessed John Paul II. The music that we listened to in the days which led up to the May 1st ceremony was not always sacred music, but I made my choices according to the deepening consciousness that I experienced as the day of Karol Wojtyla’s beatification drew near.

This year was a very special one for all of us, with its celebration of the Easter of Christ’s resurrection just one week before another emotionally uplifting event. The air here at St. Peter’s began to take on conspicuous vibrancy with the arrival of the faithful, and I felt myself transported to a more profound level of spirituality and personal relationship with Jesus.

The reading of Santa Faustina Kowalska’s “Diary” and a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Mentorella were of great help to me during these days. They lead me to understand more about the sanctity of this extraordinary person who lived among us as our equal, and instructed us as a loving brother would have on how to achieve the gift of eternal life.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Mentorella, I learned just recently, was a beloved place for John Paul II. It took one or two overturns of my stomach to get there, but thanks to my husband at the wheel, we finally did. Mentorella is placed high on one of the highest precipices in the Lazio region and it offers an extremely suggestive view on the world below and beyond.

My offering to you, our webpage readers, is of the statue of John Paul II that I took a picture of while we were at the Mentorella Sanctuary. It may not be the best of photographs, but I hope that it will invite you to somehow revisit your own spiritual roots and to seek out the intrinsic grandeur of God’s presence that is forever available in the world around us.