'Precious' Suffering John Paul II

Newsweek ^ | Feb. 28 issue | Christopher Dickey and Rod Nordland

[AliVeritas]

Feb. 28 issue - The face in the window high above St. Peter's Square is small and distant and, even when viewed through a long lens, almost without expression. The voice quavers, just a few words breathed with excruciating effort, audible over loudspeakers, but only barely comprehensible. Few people can get close enough to Pope John Paul II to try to read the thoughts behind the mask of sickness on a Sunday morning, but some of those who have approached him say they've glimpsed the pain of a man with a vital mind, a man who has loved life enormously, trapped now in a body that brings him nothing but suffering. "You can see it in his eyes," says such a priest. "To be imprisoned like this must cause him tremendous agony."

[AliVeritas]

As most of you know the Pope is on his way into surgery now. Keep him in your prayers. This may also be a help to soldiers and their families on suffering.

[Howlin]

Search much?

[NYer]

 
Lord Jesus, you came into the world
 
to heal our infirmities
 
and to endure our sufferings.
 
You went about healing all
 
and bringing comfort 
 
to those in pain and need.
 
We come before you now 
 
in this time of illness
 
asking that you may be the source
 
of our strength in body,
 
courage in spirit 
 
and patience in pain.
 
May we join ourselves more closely
 
to you on the cross
 
and in your suffering
 
that through them
 
we may draw our patience and hope.
 
Assist us and restore us to health
 
so that united more closely 
 
to your family, the Church, 
 
we may give praise and honour to your name.
 

 
Amen.
 

Catholic Ping - Come home for Easter and experience God’s merciful love. Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[HanneyBean]

I'm a Protestant, but the Pope has always gotten my respect. Prayers to a good man...and may God's will be done.

[Ohioan from Florida]

God bless JPII!

[God pays good]

I am praying for Pope John Paul and all of us. I pray that my eyes and ears will be open to learn what God wants me to learn from this man who is filled with love for Him and suffering.

[madprof98]

"You can see it in his eyes," says such a priest. "To be imprisoned like this must cause him tremendous agony."

Given the source, I'm surprised they didn't add, "Euthanize him! Euthanize him!"

[american colleen]

As most of you know the Pope is on his way into surgery now.

I didn't know that, thank you for posting it. What is the surgery for? No matter what the surgery is, it's alarming in an 84 year old man suffering from (as I understand it) bacterial pneumonia.

My thoughts and prayers are with him this day.

[redgolum]

Given the source, I'm surprised they didn't add, "Euthanize him! Euthanize him!"


Really ironic, especially since it is lent.