Fr. Michael Williams

Pope John Paul II designated the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. He died on the Vigil of the Feast of Divine Mercy in 2005, and so it seems appropriate that on this feast of Divine Mercy, Pope John Paul II is being declared Blessed by his successor and friend, Pope Benedict.

Interestingly, the miracle that has been approved by the Vatican, is the healing of a French nun from Parkinson’s disease, which left her seriously debilitated. The miracle was approved by the Vatican\’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 14 January 2011. It’s worth remembering that John Paul II suffered from this terrible affliction, and he obviously glanced an eye of pity from Heaven onto this poor nun and her afflictions.

The miracle is a manifestation of God’s mercy obtained through the prayers of Pope John II. Pope John Paul II was a genuine man of mercy, following the example of His Lord and Master. In his native Poland he witnessed two of the most merciless and godless regimes in human history- firstly the Nazis led by Hitler, and then after the Second World War the Soviet Union led by Stalin. He saw the immense sufferings these regimes caused. Many of his Polish, Jewish friends were murdered by the Nazis. But he supported and helped many Jews to escape from the Nazi tyranny. And throughout his adult life he constantly opposed the error of Communism, which sought to create a society with Atheism as its official religion and so deny humanity their right of worshipping and honoring God. Many historians have stated that no one played a greater role than Pope John Paul II in bringing down Eastern Bloc Communism. Yet, he always opposed these ideologies peaceably and mercifully.

John Paul II was surrounded by two of the most merciless and violent regimes that mankind has ever produced, which produced so much suffering for his fellow Poles, and indeed all of humanity. It’s been said Poland represented Jesus, with two thieves on either side- Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

But by God’s grace Poland produced many images of Jesus to bring His light, love and mercy into the darkness. Pope John Paul II was undoubtedly one of these images- a Good Shepherd who fed the Lord’s sheep with sound spiritual teaching, and of course the Sacraments of the Church.

Another image of Jesus who arrived in Poland at this time was Sr. Faustina Kowalska, who received revelations about the great mercy of God (see leaflet).

Amidst all the sufferings John Paul II witnessed, and endured, his solution to suffering was twofold. Firstly, to try and alleviate people’s sufferings when this is possible, by trying to create a better world through practicing the works of mercy and working towards ‘a civilization of love’, where society and governments recognise the dignity of all human beings, especially the most vulnerable. He also urged humanity to practice the spiritual works of mercy, such as praying for those far away from God.

His second solution to suffering was to unite one’s sufferings to Christ’s for the saving of souls. He did this especially when he developed poor health in his latter years with Parkinson’s Disease. He would say the Stations of the Cross, to help ponder of the mystery of Christ’s sufferings and so unite himself more them with the suffering Christ, for the good of Christ’s Body, the Church.

Blessed John Paul II was a great gift to the Church and it has been suggested he should be given the title Pope John Paul the Great. Only three pope’s in the last two thousand years have been given the title, ‘the Great’, but it would be surely fitting for Pope John Paul II, who extolled God’s Divine Mercy, to a world in need of that mercy.