Papal Message

Submitted on August 22, 2002

Pope John Paul II

KALWARIA, POLAND (VIS) -The following is from the homily of Pope John Paul II, given at the Mass celebrated Aug. 19 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Calvary, in Kalwaria, Poland. How many times have I seen that the Mother of the Son of God turns her eyes of mercy upon the concerns of the afflicted, that she obtains for them the grace to resolve difficult problems, and that they, in their powerlessness, come to a fuller realization of the amazing power and wisdom of Divine Providence? Has this not been the experience of the generations of pilgrims who have come here for 400 years? Indeed it has. Otherwise today's celebration would not be taking place. You would not be here, dear friends, you who tread the Paths of Kalwaria, tracing the steps of Christ's Passion and Cross and following his Mother's journey of compassion and glory. This place wondrously helps the heart and mind to gain deeper insight into the mystery of that bond which united the suffering Savior and his co-suffering Mother. At the center of this mystery of love everyone who comes here rediscovers himself, his life, his daily existence, his weakness and, at the same time, the power of faith and hope: that power which springs up from the assurance that the Mother does not abandon her children at times of trouble but leads them to her Son and entrusts them to his mercy.