Amen...The Pope of Family and Life
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"Amen" was said to be the last word of Pope John the Paul II heard by his bishop secretary before he died. Inded, a tremendous gift of God to all of us in the vineyard of Family and Life Apostolate.
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It is but fitting to honor a man whose pontificate span aquarter of a century and whose papacy was dedicated in the promotion and defense of human life, its value and its inherent dignity. Most of his encyclicals and letters were centered on these topics. His living legacy will be summed up in one phrase: Culture of Life. His charisma, examples and convictions will tell it all. I still remember him when he first visited the Philippines in 1981. I was one of those selected high school seminarians to attend the mass at Luneta during the beatificaiton of san Lorenzo Ruiz. What struck me most in this man was his presence as if you are just in front of him yet you are hundreds f meters away. Same expereince during the World Youth Day 95 in Manila where I was part of the staff.
I read in one of the many praises heaped on this man after his death that the world exoerienced a loss and mourned not only globally or nationally but personally. I asked ordinary people in the streets and they felt the same way. Wow, God really make wonders. His love for us was truly conveyed through this man. I just hope this will transcend this experience of loss. That of showing our appreciation of the culture of life legacy into action. that we ourselves will have that same conviciton to uphold the family and promote and defend the value and dignity of human life.
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