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20 de enero de 2005, audiencia de la Federación de Familias con Juan Pablo II January 20, 2005, audience of the Federation of Familias with John Paul II 20. Januar 2005, Audienz des Familienbundes bei Johannes Paul II |
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Se acercan los matrimonios... The couples come to greet the Pope... Die Ehepaare kommen zum Papst… |
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Es un encuentro profundo y personal It a deep and profound encounter Ein Tiefes, ergreifendes und sehr persönliches Erlebnis Foto: www.familienbund.de © 2005 |
ROMA, MKF. The process of beatification for John Paul II officially opened on the 28th of June, the eve of the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. More than 20,000 persons visit his tomb daily, and the memories of encounters with him grow brighter each day…The Federation of Families had the privilege of being with John Paul II in one of his last - if not the last- public audiences. One of the participants offers her testimony of the experience on the 20th of January 2005.
We are excited and moved by the encounter with the Holy Father on the 20th of January…
God showed his "rich mercy" by choosing this day to give us his paternal encouragement.
We felt an interior sensation that we had never experienced before, we felt that on this day we would be permitted to "go up to heaven" and meet with Father.
I confused both images when I thought about the encounter" The image of the Holy Father and the face of our Father. Why on the 20th of January? Who was extending his hand, giving us his blessing, welcoming our present and encouraging our commitment for the future? Our Father did not want to miss it…He accompanied his children in the Clementine Hall, we were devout and anointed, preparing to kneel before the tenderness and vigor of the Father of all of us…
Each couple moved forward, singing softly. He looked at us with unusual depth, as if from afar Someone was looking through his gaze…I felt he was telling each of us: "Totus Tuus", although I don’t know you, although you are coming for the first time,
even if we never meet again, even if you cannot speak a single word and you are very teary eyed: Totus Tuus, I am your father.
Today we look at the photo and we are conscious that…We never would have imagined this encounter, and it will always be a symbol of the delicate paternity of God toward his small children.
A road of pilgrimage to the heart of the Father
The encounter with the Holy Father has left such an intense impression, that my husband and I ask ourselves everyday, how could this brief exchanges of looks, and the tender contact of his old hands and the blessing we received, cause us to tremble interiorly as we never have trembled in this way.
We are convinced that we have experienced a profoundly religious act…The filial consciousness that we insistently cultivate in Schoenstatt, the devotion to the paternity of God in his transparencies, the sincere confidence in that God himself, through this human path has bowed before the son, he takes care of him, he listens to him, he knows him, and he sends him to be a new father, was the framework of this encounter. We did not suddenly get to know the "Father of Christianity"…we arrived on pilgrimage from Schoenstatt to Rome, from the heart of our Father Kentenich to the heart of the Holy Father, to acknowledge ourselves as children and to take the mission of the Church from his hands.
For a moment I was tempted "to feel sorry" for this old person, who was making an enormous effort to maintain his voice while he was speaking and he listened attentively to the Martins. I had a knot in my throat when I saw the effects that age had on him, which has also Irrupted in our present day situation in the frailty of our parents.
My temptation was over when I met with his gaze and he enveloped me with his strength, the suffering and the joy of the whole of humanity was encrusted in his pupils, a soul that
was pierced by the Grace of God coming out to meet the soul of the unknown child…he whom he has loved since he assumed the Pontificate but had not recognized in earthly terms.
To go from the Father, to return to the Father…
An encounter that was truly redeeming.
Prayer of Petition through the intercession of the Servant of God John Paul II
"O Blessed Trinity. We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him. Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen."
The diocese of Rome has posted an email address to receive testimonies for the cause of Beatification of John Paul II, Postulazione,GiovanniPaoloII@VicariatusUrbis.org
Postal address:
Monsignor Slawomir Oder
Vicarship of Rome
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 6/A
00184 Rome
For more information: www.vicariatusurbis.org