04/08/2005: "Comments on the John Paul's funeral"

I stayed up last night to watch the funeral on TV. Sadly, I fell asleep for about an hour. I'll have to go back and watch that part. (As a humorous side note: why can't the vatican get with the times! Everything important should be in primetime. I sure hope the next Pope is willing to consider important moderizations like this before his death. Jeez!)

Luckily, I woke up in time for the final prayers and for them taking him inside St. Peter's Bascilica. What a powerful moment that was! I cried and cried and cried. I cried not so much out of sadness for the man but out of a deep love for the man and a deep realization of how far I have to go in living up to my baptismal, confirmational, and marital vows. There is nothing like reflecting on the life of a saint to make it clear how I've failed myself.

But in that moment, knowing the depth of my failures, I remembered John Paul's favorite phrase of Christ: "Do not be afraid!" a phrase that speaks to everyone, saint and sinner. After he was taken inside the bascilica, I turned off the TV and pulled out my Rosary and prayed. I asked for Mary's intercession with every Hail Mary and asked for John Paul's intercession with every glorious mystery. Finally I asked God to fogive me my sins while I forgive those who tresspass against us.

John Paul the Second... pray for us!