Matt 5:9
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
The Holy Father popepapa John Paul II was an angel of peace. His visit brought joy to millions of people throughout the world, as the Holy Mass was celebrated, many Catholics went to receive the Sacraments and to renew the faith.
He was opposed to wars and was always prepared to act as a mediator, and to give holy advice.
The peace of Christ was the gift that the Holy Father gave to everyone who came close to him, in life and even in death.
His funeral was attended virtually by over a billion people throughout the world, more than 4 million people went to Rome the Eternal City for this unique event. Millions more watched on their television screens and were united receiving the peace that the Holy Father popepapa John Paul sent into our hearts.
We have prayed and continue to pray for his well deserved eternal peace, the gift from God. We rest assured that in his new spiritual dwelling the Holy Father will continue to pray for us and will become our angel of peace. We can seek refuge in the words of Christ that he proclaimed so lovingly in his gospel of peace.
+ + + + + +
Excerpts
popepapa JOHN PAUL II FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE
1 JANUARY 2004
The various colours of the prism of peace have now been amply illustrated. What remains now is to work to ensure that the ideal of a peaceful coexistence, with its specific requirements, will become part of the consciousness of individuals and peoples. We Christians see the commitment to educate ourselves and others to peace as something at the very heart of our religion. For Christians, in fact, to proclaim peace is to announce Christ who is “our peace” (Eph 2:14); it is to announce his Gospel, which is a “Gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15); it is to call all people to the beatitude of being “peacemakers” (cf. Mt 5:9).
Teaching peace
4. In my Message for the World Day of Peace on 1 January 1979 I made this appeal: To Reach Peace, Teach Peace. Today that appeal is more urgent than ever, because men and women, in the face of the tragedies which continue to afflict humanity, are tempted to yield to fatalism, as if peace were an unattainable ideal.
The Church, on the other hand, has always taught and continues today to teach a very simple axiom: peace is possible. Indeed, the Church does not tire of repeating that peace is a duty. It must be built on the four pillars indicated by Blessed John XXIII in his Encyclical Pacem in Terris: truth, justice, love and freedom. A duty is thus imposed upon all those who love peace: that of teaching these ideals to new generations, in order to prepare a better future for all mankind. |
