Reflection: Pope Saint John Paul II, pray for us!

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Pope Saint John Paul II. Let us pray to him and ponder our Blessed Mother Mary as he did that we may say to her, Totus Tuus (Latin Totally yours).

"Immaculate Conception, Mary, my Mother. Live in me. Act in me. Speak in and through me. Think your thoughts in my mind. Love, through my heart. Give me your dispositions and feelings. Teach, lead and guide me to Jesus. Correct, enlighten and expand my thoughts and behavior. Possess my soul. Take over my entire personality and life. Replace it with yourself. Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving. Pray in me and through me. Let me live in you and keep me in this union always."  Saint Pope John Paul II

On October 22, 1978, Pope John Paul II began his pontificate with these words:

“Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” 

The witness of his life and the words he spoke in his many homilies, speeches, and encyclicals are more relevant today than ever. John Paul II had a powerful influence on the Church and on the world. Let us pray to Saint John Paul II for all families and for our priests, who were so dear to his heart. So many vocations to the priesthood came through the powerful witness of Pope John Paul II. Let us pray to him that an abundance of vocations will be nurtured and born in our families. Let us ask him to help us be unafraid and to "Open wide the doors for Christ" for our families and for all those for whom we pray.

I was blessed to attend his Canonization on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014. It was a grace more than I could have ever imagined. From the time he became Pope, I always felt a closeness to him. I have come to know him as a personal intercessor for my family. The unexpected way it unfolded for me to go to Rome, I believe that he invited me to his Canonization.

When I was in Saint Peter's Square, I took this photo of the image of Mary holding Jesus titled Mater Ecclestae (Latin Mary, Mother of the Church). After the attempt was made on John Paul's life, he looked around Saint Peter's Square and saw there was no image of Mary. He had this image painted there. Totus Tuus, Totally yours, was the way he lived his life, totally for Mary.

Mary always leads us to her Beloved Son Jesus. I think about John Paul and how much I love him. I know he is with me. I love his writings on the Gospel of Life, Love, Theology of the Body, Suffering, the Rosary and the Dignity and Vocation of Women because they draw me into the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

We entrust all the names we have received and all the names we will receive to Mary, Mother of the Church. We thank Jesus for giving His Mother to us.  Jesus we trust in You.