Why October 22?
On October 22, the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Paul II. The date was not chosen at random. On October 22, 1978, six days after his election, he celebrated the Mass that inaugurated his pontificate in St. Peter's Square and spoke the words that would define his life: "Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!"
For more than 26 years, he lived those words in front of the whole world.
A Short Life Story
Karol Wojtyła was born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland. By the time he was 20, he had lost his mother, his only brother, and his father. During the Nazi occupation, he worked in a quarry and a chemical plant while studying in secret for the priesthood.
He was ordained in 1946, became Archbishop of Kraków, and in 1978 was elected Pope, the first non-Italian Pope in more than 450 years. He traveled to more than 120 countries, started World Youth Day, and helped bring down communism in Eastern Europe through faith rather than force.
He died on April 2, 2005, and was canonized on April 27, 2014.
"Be Not Afraid" in Times of Suffering
St. John Paul II did not only preach about the Cross. He carried it publicly. In 1981, he was shot in St. Peter's Square and was rushed to Rome's Gemelli Hospital. He later forgave the man who tried to kill him, visiting him in prison.
He returned to Gemelli so many times over the years that he jokingly called it "Vatican III." In his final years, Parkinson's disease took away much of his strength and even his voice. Still, he never hid his weakness. He showed the world that a life marked by suffering keeps its dignity and can become a powerful offering to God.
In 1984, he wrote an entire letter on the Christian meaning of suffering, and in 1992 he established the World Day of the Sick, celebrated every February 11.
This year his witness feels especially close. Just days ago, Pope Leo XIV was also treated at Gemelli Hospital after surgery. As we pray for his recovery, St. John Paul II is a natural friend to ask for help.
The Pope of Divine Mercy
One of St. John Paul II's greatest gifts to the Church was his love for the Divine Mercy. In the year 2000, he canonized St. Faustina Kowalska and established Divine Mercy Sunday for the whole Church. Fittingly, he died on the vigil of that very feast.
A Divine Mercy statue in your home is a simple way to keep his message of trust alive: "Jesus, I trust in You."
4 Ways to Celebrate His Feast at Home
- Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as a family. Our Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer card makes it easy to follow along.
- Pray the Rosary, including the Luminous Mysteries, which St. John Paul II added in 2002. A wood rosary with a Divine Mercy center brings both devotions together.
- Read one of his quotes at dinner and talk about it. A good place to start: "Do not be afraid!"
- Offer a prayer for the Pope and the sick, asking St. John Paul II to intercede for Pope Leo XIV and for anyone who is suffering.
A Short Prayer
St. John Paul II, you taught us not to be afraid and to open wide the doors to Christ. Help us to trust in God's mercy in every trial. Intercede for Pope Leo XIV, for the sick, and for all families. Amen.
