Thursday, November 3, 2011

Totus Tuus


     Last October 29, 2011, around 10,000 Filipinos were gathered at Araneta Coliseum for the event (BLESSED: A CALL TO HOLINESS) to honor the beloved universal pastor, Blessed John Paul II.  I attended the said event with my 2 siblings and a brother-in-law.  Now, I am inspired to write another tribute to his Holiness.



    Karol Josef Wojtyla (JP2 or John Paul II) was born on 18 May 1920 to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska in Wadowice, Poland.  His mother died when he was 8. All his siblings also died before the death of his father in 1941. He was already an orphan at the age of 20.

     He began thinking about priesthood after his father died.  He entered the seminary and he was ordained priest in 1946.  Following the death of Pope John Paul I, he was elected pope, the first non-Italian in centuries.

     JP2 has been pope for over 26 years.  By the time of his death in 2005, JP2 had visited 126 countries, beatified 1,340 people, canonized 483 saints, wrote 14 encyclicals, etc..  He left us teachings, encouragement and an example of how it is to be holy during these modern era.

     It is fortunate to Filipinos that JP2 visited our country twice: in 1981 and in 1995.  In his first visit, he addressed professionals and catechists at the very same place (Araneta Coliseum).  A great reflection that I want to share with you also, "You have a twofold calling, in the first place, you have to meet your personal needs and those of your families, through the exercise of your professions.  In this you have sometimes experienced difficulties and frustrations and perhaps even discouragement.  And yet you must not give up, knowing as you do that you are also called upon to make your contribution to the service of the common good.  When things are going well, never shut yourselves off from the society for the sake of making money, gaining power or acquiring more knowledge; do not retreat into a position of privilege.  May you put your talents to good use by serving  even more  generously the needs and aspirations of all your brothers and sisters in the Philippines.", -JP2 said.

      In his second visit, he offered mass at the Luneta Park for the WORLD YOUTH DAY to approximately 5-7 million crowd.  It was considered the largest single gathering in Christian history.


     By the way, he also noted two great blessings we, Filipinos, have (and of which I am very proud of):  1) Richness of our faith and 2) closeness of our family.

     TOTUS TUUS is JP2's apostolic motto which means "totally yours". He encourages us to be strong  to do things in God's glory.  Do not be afraid to be extraordinary. And always be grateful in whatever way because that will bring out the love of God.

TOTUS TUUS, my only GOD!

4 comments:

  1. I felt blessed reading your post Zen...

    Thanks for sharing... How are you?

    ReplyDelete
  2. one of my most memorable experience and journey in life is the world youth day 1995. I can still remember this totus tuus maria song when it was sang by thousands of young people gathered in luneta. Kinikilabutan pa rin ako pag naaalala ko sya. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Everyone :) I'm happy that you can relate with me, too :)

    ReplyDelete

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