It is amazing how prominent Saint John Paul II is in Poland. Everywhere you go there are statues or pictures of him. You see them on street corners and public buildings and in every church and on the alters of the churches. There are roads named after him in every village and city. Everyone knows that Karol Wojtyla served as archbishop of Krakow from 1964 to 1978, when he became Pope John Paul II. They are so proud to know that this Pope and Saint came from their homeland and there are many new sons named Karol after their county’s great Saint. 

After visiting Poland for the last five weeks I realized that even though everyone knew who John Paul II was, there were so many who knew nothing of his teachings, especially on the Theology of the Body. During our lectures we would share about it and they really appreciated it, but told us that they had never heard of the TOB before. Needless to say, John and I were astonished to hear this. We asked around outside of class and realized that most people in Poland know all about the history of St. John Paul II and what a holy man he was, but very few know what a great teacher of the faith he really was. 

As I said in one of my first blog posts, I truly believe it was John Paul II who brought us to Poland. Now more than ever I believe this and that God has a plan for us to help make him better known not only the people of Poland, but also everyone here in the US, especially this young generation that seems to be so confused about their dignity and purpose in life.  We are called to remind all of us that we were created in the image of God and that our vocation to love is lived in and through our bodies.  Saint John Paul II, pray for us!