J.P. II's Catholic Laity - 2 - We have to be for Others

J.P. II’s Catholic Laity – 2- We Have to be for Others

www.cinopsbegone.blogspot.com Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008
The following are significant excerpts from a book: The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II – a Life in Prayer, Atria Books, N.Y., London, Toronto, Sydney, 2005

“OUR TIMES REQUIRE MATURE AND BALANCED PERSONALITIES.

Ideological confusion produces psychologically immature needy personalities; pedagogy itself wavers and sometimes goes astray. For this very reason, the modern world searches anxiously for models, and most of the time remains disappointed, defeated, humiliated. That is why we have to develop mature personalities, which means learning to keep our selfishness in check, assuming proper roles of responsibilities and leadership, and trying to fulfill ourselves wherever we are and in whatever work we do.

Our times require serenity and courage to accept reality as it is without discouraging criticisms or utopian fantasies, to love it and to save it.

All of you, then, undertake to reach these ideals of ‘maturity,’ through love of duty, meditation, spiritual reading, examination of your conscience, spiritual guidance, and regular use of the Sacrament of Repentance. The Church and modern society need mature personalities: we must fill that need, with the help of God!

FINALLY, OUR TIMES REQUIRE A SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO HOLINESS.

The spiritual needs of the present world are immense! It is almost frightening to look at the infinite forests of buildings in a modern metropolis, inhabited by countless numbers of people. How will we be able to reach all these people and lead them to Christ?

The certainty that we are merely instruments of grace comes to our aid: acting in the individual soul is God himself, with his love and mercy.

Our true, lifelong commitment must be to personal sanctification, so that we may be fit and efficacious instruments of grace.

The truest and most sincere wish I have for you is just this: ‘Become holy and soon be saints!” St. Pio V Parish, October 28, 1979

George H. Kubeck, Duplicate and or translate into Spanish and Vietnamese