TUESDAY, APRIL 05, 2005
Remembering Pope John Paul II
I remember where I was the late August day in 1978 when I heard Pope Paul VI had died. I’d returned home from the King of Prussia Plaza on the bus, which by then was the habit of a weekly mall shopping trips. I’d buy lunch, maybe a 45 or two and still have money for the ride back to Bridgeport.
I bought an 8-track tape that day (they were on the wane but still strong) and was about to plug in when I heard Andy Musser on the old WCAU-AM describing a Phils-Pirates baseball game. He spoke of the shock when earlier announcing the Holy Father’s passing and a lump came to my throat. It was the first time in my semi-adult lifetime (I was 1 ½ when JFK was assassinated) a leader had died.
Pope John Paul I’s election followed and the Church was excited again, even at the name he chose from his successors.. But when he died just over a month later, after one of the shortest papacies in history which started one of its longest conspiracy theories, my 16 year old ‘s sense of delinquency and cynicism crept in and I told friends, "The pope croaked."
After these dual aftershocks, Pope John Paul II’s election that October came as a refreshing surprise. Father Murray, our high school principal, interrupted Mr. Wagner’s junior year algebra class with the news, "We have a new Pope. He’s Polish…" To which Mr. Wagner, my algebra teacher and still one of my favorite, funniest teachers, cracked, "We should have got a German to clean things up in the Vatican…Pope Otto the First."
Little did he or any of us know how lucky we’d be the next 27 years to be blessed with this Holy Father’s exemplary life and legacy. After hearing tales of his trip to Poland again this week, it’s easy to speak of his steadfast, victorious fight against Communism in eastern Europe and the former USSR. After describing his many trips to America and the "rock star" welcome he always received, we’ve heard the Holy Father's equal dismay and discomfort over what author and missionary Glen Galtere would later call America’s SHIM (Secular, Humanistic, Individualistic and Materialistic) worldview.
I found the "rock star" analogy on John Paul II this week particularly amusing. Hit songs the week of Pope John Paul’s election included Donna Summer’s "MacArthur Park," Exile’s "Kiss You All Over," and Barry Manilow’s "Ready To Take a Chance Again." (The pontiff lived eternal truth and outlived a lot of kitsch culture. )
Pope John Paul II sat on St. Peter’s throne before the rise of the Internet, fax machines, cell phones, personal computers and the ever faster rise of communication. In connecting with youth, myself included, he led the cause for a new evangelization bringing modern technology to present and define the Church’s timeless, values. This led even to networks like Relevant Radio where classic radio formats were adapted to winning souls for Christ.
Catholic Christianity is a faith whose church’s stones are built from paradox; G.K. Chesterton’s masterpiece "Orthodoxy" overflows with them and Chesterton's own admission doesn't scratch the surface. But steadfastly defending life in all places and times for all reasons, emphatically opposing abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty and war, the Holy Father’s "culture of life" became the centerpiece of the Church’s teaching in the modern era. Despite what pretentious lightweights like Anna Quindlen may believe, Pope John Paul’s legacy right up to the insertion of his feeding tube (no small irony after Terri Schiavo’s death) and his closing days testified to a message he’d gave and lived across the globe. Ms. Quindlen, there IS a culture of life – Our life, not just your life and my life lived isolated and selfish. Pope John Paul II spoke to the dignity of all people, then to each individual's self-worth.
Sad to say, we also have a culture of death which rejoiced in victory and believed themselves steadfast over Mr. and Mrs. Schindler and their valiant fight to save their daughter, No doubt George Felos and his advocates are relieved their staunchest opponent no longer stares them down a continent away (though his words galvanize a pro-life movement and, rightly or wrong;y, make Terri Schiavo a martyr for change) Pope John Paul II, like Terri Schiavo, like the Savior he loved and served and shepherded a faith for most of his life, commanded the world's written words and attention when weakest and most silent.
Finally, a personal remembrance. I was lucky enough to be playing 1st chair trumpet in Bishop Kenrick’s High School band the crisp October day Pope John Paul II arrived at Philadelphia Airport, to say Mass and visit the city on his first US tour). I remember being searched at the game, German shepherds sniffing our bags, all the while our Napoleonic band director snarling "Everyone plays today..."
It was a thrilling moment as we started to play, despite Mr. Genovese literally playing the relentless drill instructor more than a month before we walked on that tarmac bandstand. (His bullying attitude during that preparation, summarized in his warning, "You guys don’t want to play? I’m gonna MAKE you play. And if this doesn’t get better every time we play it, all I have to say is watch out!" stayed with me for years afterward. )
The Holy Father waved to us all, gave rosaries to our drum majorette (a wonderful person named Kathy Campana I would love to know what happened to) and Cardinal Dougherty's major, and was in off in his car. Sister St. Elizabeth, who led our band that day, stood in the center of us before Mass at Logan Circle and said, "Today you are the envy of Philadelphia." Sister herself could be tyrannical at times, but that day as sunset washed that city she was right.
I think even then PJII’s appearance may have rubbed off on Jim Brennan, a curly haired trombone player and the Kenrick band’s resident party animal and ladies man in fall 1979. He later became a Catholic priest. The world mourns John Paul II even as he rejoices in heaven today.
I bought an 8-track tape that day (they were on the wane but still strong) and was about to plug in when I heard Andy Musser on the old WCAU-AM describing a Phils-Pirates baseball game. He spoke of the shock when earlier announcing the Holy Father’s passing and a lump came to my throat. It was the first time in my semi-adult lifetime (I was 1 ½ when JFK was assassinated) a leader had died.
Pope John Paul I’s election followed and the Church was excited again, even at the name he chose from his successors.. But when he died just over a month later, after one of the shortest papacies in history which started one of its longest conspiracy theories, my 16 year old ‘s sense of delinquency and cynicism crept in and I told friends, "The pope croaked."
After these dual aftershocks, Pope John Paul II’s election that October came as a refreshing surprise. Father Murray, our high school principal, interrupted Mr. Wagner’s junior year algebra class with the news, "We have a new Pope. He’s Polish…" To which Mr. Wagner, my algebra teacher and still one of my favorite, funniest teachers, cracked, "We should have got a German to clean things up in the Vatican…Pope Otto the First."
Little did he or any of us know how lucky we’d be the next 27 years to be blessed with this Holy Father’s exemplary life and legacy. After hearing tales of his trip to Poland again this week, it’s easy to speak of his steadfast, victorious fight against Communism in eastern Europe and the former USSR. After describing his many trips to America and the "rock star" welcome he always received, we’ve heard the Holy Father's equal dismay and discomfort over what author and missionary Glen Galtere would later call America’s SHIM (Secular, Humanistic, Individualistic and Materialistic) worldview.
I found the "rock star" analogy on John Paul II this week particularly amusing. Hit songs the week of Pope John Paul’s election included Donna Summer’s "MacArthur Park," Exile’s "Kiss You All Over," and Barry Manilow’s "Ready To Take a Chance Again." (The pontiff lived eternal truth and outlived a lot of kitsch culture. )
Pope John Paul II sat on St. Peter’s throne before the rise of the Internet, fax machines, cell phones, personal computers and the ever faster rise of communication. In connecting with youth, myself included, he led the cause for a new evangelization bringing modern technology to present and define the Church’s timeless, values. This led even to networks like Relevant Radio where classic radio formats were adapted to winning souls for Christ.
Catholic Christianity is a faith whose church’s stones are built from paradox; G.K. Chesterton’s masterpiece "Orthodoxy" overflows with them and Chesterton's own admission doesn't scratch the surface. But steadfastly defending life in all places and times for all reasons, emphatically opposing abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty and war, the Holy Father’s "culture of life" became the centerpiece of the Church’s teaching in the modern era. Despite what pretentious lightweights like Anna Quindlen may believe, Pope John Paul’s legacy right up to the insertion of his feeding tube (no small irony after Terri Schiavo’s death) and his closing days testified to a message he’d gave and lived across the globe. Ms. Quindlen, there IS a culture of life – Our life, not just your life and my life lived isolated and selfish. Pope John Paul II spoke to the dignity of all people, then to each individual's self-worth.
Sad to say, we also have a culture of death which rejoiced in victory and believed themselves steadfast over Mr. and Mrs. Schindler and their valiant fight to save their daughter, No doubt George Felos and his advocates are relieved their staunchest opponent no longer stares them down a continent away (though his words galvanize a pro-life movement and, rightly or wrong;y, make Terri Schiavo a martyr for change) Pope John Paul II, like Terri Schiavo, like the Savior he loved and served and shepherded a faith for most of his life, commanded the world's written words and attention when weakest and most silent.
Finally, a personal remembrance. I was lucky enough to be playing 1st chair trumpet in Bishop Kenrick’s High School band the crisp October day Pope John Paul II arrived at Philadelphia Airport, to say Mass and visit the city on his first US tour). I remember being searched at the game, German shepherds sniffing our bags, all the while our Napoleonic band director snarling "Everyone plays today..."
It was a thrilling moment as we started to play, despite Mr. Genovese literally playing the relentless drill instructor more than a month before we walked on that tarmac bandstand. (His bullying attitude during that preparation, summarized in his warning, "You guys don’t want to play? I’m gonna MAKE you play. And if this doesn’t get better every time we play it, all I have to say is watch out!" stayed with me for years afterward. )
The Holy Father waved to us all, gave rosaries to our drum majorette (a wonderful person named Kathy Campana I would love to know what happened to) and Cardinal Dougherty's major, and was in off in his car. Sister St. Elizabeth, who led our band that day, stood in the center of us before Mass at Logan Circle and said, "Today you are the envy of Philadelphia." Sister herself could be tyrannical at times, but that day as sunset washed that city she was right.
I think even then PJII’s appearance may have rubbed off on Jim Brennan, a curly haired trombone player and the Kenrick band’s resident party animal and ladies man in fall 1979. He later became a Catholic priest. The world mourns John Paul II even as he rejoices in heaven today.
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