Transcript Document

Meet the Saints
Saint John XXIII
Saint John Paul II
ThePastoralCenter.com │ The Vatican II Center
Saint John XXIII
ThePastoralCenter.com │ The Vatican II Center
Saint John XXIII
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Born in Sotto il Monte,
outside Bergamo
In northern Italy
On Nov 25, 1881
His family shared the
home with cousins and
others – a total of
nearly 30 for supper
each evening
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Sotto il Monte
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It was a beautiful
small town
Centered around
the parish church
They raised crops
and livestock
The animals lived on the first floor
of their house
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Saint John XXIII
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He was baptized on the day of his birth in the
parish church
Named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli
One of 13 children (but several died in
infancy)
His parents were sharecroppers (meaning
that they gave half their produce to a
landlord for the right to live and farm there)
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Saint John XXIII
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He went to the seminary and was
ordained a priest in 1904
He served his local bishop and taught
history in the seminary
Then he accepted roles as a representative
of the Vatican (the Pope) to various places
in the world
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Saint John XXIII
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He served Turkey
Greece & Bulgaria
France
The city of Venice
in Italy
And then became
Pope
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Saint John XXIII
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He called Vatican II in 1959
He worked hard to lead the Council
He was a friend to many people
And he was loved by the whole world
He died in 1963 on June 3
The whole world mourned his death
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Vatican II
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Vatican II
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All the bishops of the world
From 1962-1965 (Oct thru Dec each year)
Renewed the Church
Restored many elements of the Church
from the early centuries
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Including the Mass, Baptism, the RCIA
Also the Call to Holiness
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St John XXIII: What he said
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What did John XXIII expect from the
Council?
The Council? he said as he moved toward
the window and made a gesture as if to
open it. I expect a little fresh air from
it…We must shake off the imperial dust
that has accumulated on the throne of St.
Peter since Constantine.
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St John XXIII: What he said
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Let us look at each other without mistrust,
meet each other without fear, talk with
each other without surrendering principles.
Unity in necessary things, freedom in
doubtful things, charity in all things.
Listen to everything, forget much, correct a
little.
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St John XXIII: What he said
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The sense of my smallness and of my
nothingness has always been my good
companion,
keeping me humble and content
and granting me the joy of consecrating
myself as best I can to the uninterrupted
exercise of obedience and charity….
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St John XXIII: What he said
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…I come from humble beginnings,
and I was raised in a restraining, blessed
poverty whose needs are few and which
assures the growth of the highest and
noblest virtues,
and prepares one for the great ascents of
life…
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St John XXIII: What he said
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We were poor but happy with our lot and
confident in the help of Providence….
When a beggar appeared at the door of
our kitchen, there was always room for
him,
and my mother would hasten to seat this
stranger alongside us.
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Who was St John XXIII?
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A friend to everyone
Unafraid of allowing the Spirit to shine in
the Church
He desired the unity of all Christians
He wanted us to focus on what unites us
Rather than on what divides us
He believed that charity must be first, even
above church rules
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To make the world glad
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After reading one of the proposed documents for
Vatican Council II, Pope John XXIII approached a
Cardinal and said, “My dear son, look at this
document here!
It uses up 30 inches condemning the world!
We’ve been down that path for a very long time,
and it hasn’t worked.”
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To make the world glad
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John XXIII then said, “Let’s try something
new.”
When asked why he called the Second
Vatican Council the humble Pope John
XXIII said: “To make the human journey
less sad!”
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Saint John Paul II
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Saint John Paul II
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Born in Wadowice,
Poland
On May 18, 1920
Youngest of 3 children
His mother died when
he was young and his
father not long
afterward
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Wadowice, Poland
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Small town
Centered on the Church
Ancient town
Long history
Very little
change
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St John Paul II
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Attended college at the University in
Krakow
Learned to speak 9 languages well
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And used them all as Pope
Was in the seminary during World War II
Helped many Jews escape the Nazis
Ordained a priest in 1946
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St John Paul II
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Served as a parish priest at Assumption
parish in Krakow
Also served at St Florian’s
Taught at the University
Very active in social, sporting, and theater
groups
Earned a doctorate in theology
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St John Paul II
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Named bishop in 1958
Attended Vatican II
Worked on the Constitution on the Church
in the Modern World
Made cardinal in 1967
Elected Pope in 1978
Died on April 2, 2005
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St John Paul II as Pope
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Traveled extensively throughout the world
Visited 129 nations
Often kissed the ground when he arrived
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St John Paul II as Pope
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Supported Vatican II
But did not push for more changes in the
Church
Worked for justice around the world
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Opposed apartheid in South Africa
Opposed the wars in the Middle East
Canonized 483 Saints
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St John Paul as Pope
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Apologized for past Church behavior
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Galileo who was excommunicated for
teaching that the sun is the center of the solar
system
Catholic involvement in the slave trade
The Church’s role in burning people at the
stake
Injustice against women
Church silence during the Holocaust
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St John Paul II: What he said
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The future is in your hearts and in your
hands.
God is entrusting to you the task, at once
difficult and uplifting, of working with him
in the building of the civilization of love.
(Downsview Address, 4)
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St John Paul II: What he said
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Do not be afraid to go out on the streets
and into public places like the first apostles
who preached Christ and the Good News
of salvation in the squares of cities, towns,
and villages.
This is no time to be ashamed of the
Gospel. It is time to preach it from the
rooftops.
(World Youth Day 1993)
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St John Paul II: What he said
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Man cannot live without love.
He remains a being that is
incomprehensible for himself,
his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to
him, if he does not encounter love,
if he does not experience it and make it his
own, if he does not participate intimately
in it.
(Redemptor Hominis #10)
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