Church Celebrates First Feast of Blessed John Paul II on October 22

Masses and other events take place in dioceses around the world

"Pope John Paul II was a special role model to so many people as an extraordinary priest, bishop and pope," the Cardinal stated with regard to the new seminary. "In the quarter-century that he was pope, he traveled far and wide, met huge numbers of people and encouraged them with the words, 'Be not afraid. Put your trust in God. Open your hearts to Christ.'" Cardinal Donald Wuerl

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Thirty-three years ago today Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was installed as Pope John Paul II. October 22, 2011 the Catholic Church around the world celebrated his feast day as Blessed John Paul II, just six and a half years after the end of his papacy.

At the Vatican, a prayer vigil was scheduled for the afternoon in preparation for a Mass in St Peter's Basilica, celebrated by the Cardinal-Vicar of Rome, Agostino Vallini. Similar Masses and events have been planned in dioceses around the world.

In Washington, DC, for example, Cardinal Donald Wuerl blessed the opening of the new Blessed John Paul II Seminary near the Catholic University of America.

In the earlier announcement regarding the new seminary, Cardinal Wuerl stated, "Pope John Paul II was a special role model to so many people as an extraordinary priest, bishop and pope. In the quarter-century that he was pope, he traveled far and wide, met huge numbers of people and encouraged them with the words, 'Be not afraid. Put your trust in God. Open your hearts to Christ.'

"Those words have inspired many young people to vocations. With the new seminary in the archdiocese, the young men who have been inspired to be part of the new evangelization may begin their formation right here at home and be an integral part of the local Catholic community in Washington from the beginning."

The cause for canonization of the Holy Father continues to move forward. Vatican Radio asked postulator of the cause of canonization for Blessed John Paul II, Monsignor Slawomir Oder, "how the cause is proceeding, and whether those who cried out 'Santo subito!' have long to wait.

"'The real protagonist,' he said, 'who undoubtedly will show us the best time, is God.' It will be God, he continued, 'who will give us a sign so that the Church might consider whether to recognize a new miracle.' - and thus canonization."

Vatican Radio continued, "However, Mons. Oder says that he has received numerous significant testimonies, and is working with the Congregation to discern whether and how to go forward. He does say, however, that 'many graces have [already] been obtained.'"

Today on his feast, we remember the first words he shared with the Church in his inaugural homily:

"Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ's power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows "what is in man". He alone knows it.

"So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.

"Precisely today the whole Church is celebrating 'World Mission Day;' that is, she is praying, meditating and acting in order that Christ's words of life may reach all people and be received by them as a message of hope, salvation, and total liberation."

The Church is eagerly waiting the final decree of sainthood for the beloved Holy Father. As Catholic Online's Editor in Chief, Deacon Keith Fournier wrote at the time of his beatification:

"In the last ten centuries of Church history no Pope has beatified his predecessor. From the beginning of Pope Benedict's pontificate it has been clear that he has longed for this day. On April 3, 2011 at another Angelus, he told the faithful who gathered of his memories of the late John Paul II, 'I remember him in prayer with affection as I think of you all. While we journey through Lent and prepare for the feast of Easter, we come with joy to the day when we will also venerate as a saint this great pope and witness of Christ, and rely even more on his intercession.'"

For today's feast day, Deacon Greg Kandra in his blog "The Deacon's Bench," wrote, "This is the message of Blessed John Paul - the message he learned as Karol Wojtyla: no matter how lonely, how isolated, how persecuted, how endangered we might feel.no matter how wide the world or how great our challenges.a merciful God is with us.  He calls on us still to remember that.  So: "Do not be afraid."

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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