Eleven years ago today, April 2, 2005, Pope St. John Paul II, died and entered eternal life. I remember receiving the news at a small wedding reception I was attending that Saturday afternoon for a colleague at the time. Upon arriving home, I remember weeping once I saw the official news on television. The loss was so great; it was as if I lost a family member. Although I never met John Paul personally, I was able to see him three different times during my lifetime: Phoenix, Arizona in 1987, Denver, Colorado in 1993 for World Youth Day, and finally, in Rome, Italy in 2000 for World Youth Day.
The influence John Paul II has had on my life is powerful and continues to be so 11 years after his earthly death. You are reading this blog post because of my late father’s encouragement and the words and life of John Paul II. Both have played a role in my love and ability to evangelize the Truth who is Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. This entire blog, which you read on my main page, is about Evangelization, Catechesis, and through the experience of the JP2 Generation, of which I am.
There is so much more I can say, but I will let you read it in other blog posts that I have written on him, since I have said it already in the past. If you click on the link below, you will find a plethora of blog posts focusing on the life and theology of Pope St. John Paul II. Many of my blog posts that focus on John Paul II have to be do with his love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and his thoughts on Mariology, which are often featured in my weekly series – “Mondays with Mary”.
If you are a new subscriber to my blog, I would highly encourage you to check out these weekly posts on Mary. I am 4 weeks away from the 200th blog post and the 4th anniversary of this series, which is slowing becoming a book that I hope to publish in the near future. John Paul II has given me lots to say on Mary and it is through his intercession that I continue to write about her. Here are my many blog posts on Pope St. John Paul II.
I just ordered this book through Barnes and Noble (had a gift card) and it arrived last night. I quickly flipped through the pages this morning and it is pretty awesome. Not only did I, and many of my generation have a love for John Paul II, but his close friend, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI did as well.
Pope St. John Paul II…Pray For Us.
Totus Tuus.
Categories: Pope Saint John Paul II
TOM PERNA 
I just subcribed to your site. I am looking forward to reading it. I read the 12 things that made you laugh from Mother Angelica she was a living saint. Her sense of humor was a gift from God. I also loved Pope John Paul II. I believe that nothing is a coincidence that all good is ordained by God and I know that he has led me to your site for many reasons. May God bless you for all that you di for the glory of God.