Quo Vadis?

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. After a 15-day hiatus that included most of my mid-term exams, I hope to return to regular bi-weekly updates.

Today I have the distinction of being cantor for the Office and Mass on the first ever memorial of Blessed John Paul II, and while this morning was not too different from any other Monday I'm sure I will look back on it as a noteworthy occasion. Below is the text released for the Office of Readings.

October 22
BLESSED JOHN PAUL II, POPE

Charles Joseph Wojtyla was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. After his ordination to the priesthood and theological studies in Rome, he returned to his homeland and resumed various pastoral and academic tasks. He became first auxiliary bishop and, in 1964, Archbishop of Krakow and took part in the Second Vatican Council. On 16 October l978 he was elected pope and took the name John Paul II. His exceptional apostolic zeal, particularly for families, young people, and the sick, led him to numerous pastoral visits throughout the world. Among the many fruits which he has left as a heritage to the Church are above all his rich Magisterium and the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and for the Eastern Churches. In Rome on 2 April 2005, the eve of the Second
Sunday of Easter (or of Divine Mercy), he departed peacefully in the Lord.

Office of Readings

SECOND READING From the Homily of Blessed John Paul II, Pope,
for the Inauguration of his Pontificate
(22 October 1978: AAS 70 [1978], 945-947)

Peter came to Rome! What else but Obedience to the inspiration received from the Lord could
have guided him and brought him to this city, the heart of the Empire? Perhaps the fisherman of
Galilee did not want to come here. Perhaps he would have preferred to stay there, on the shores of Lake of Genesareth, with his boat and his nets. Yet guided by the Lord, obedient to his
inspiration, he came here!

According to an ancient tradition. Peter tried to leave Rome during Nero's persecution. However,
the Lord intervened and came to meer him. Peter spoke to him and asked, "Quo vadis, Domine?”
-"Where are you going, Lord?" And the Lord answered him at once: “I am going to Rome to
be crucified again." Peter went back to Rome and stayed here until his crucifixion.

Our time calls us, urges us, obliges us, to gaze on the Lord and to immerse ourselves in humble
and devout meditation on the mystery ofthe supreme power of Christ himself.

He who was born of the Virgin Mary, the carpenter's Son (as he was thought to be), the Son of
the living God (as confessed by Peter), came to make us all “a kingdom of priests.”

The Second Vatican Council has reminded us of the mystery of this power and of the fact that
Christ's mission as Priest, Prophet-Teacher, and King continues in the Church. Everyone, the
whole People of God, shares in this threefold mission. Perhaps in the past the tiara, that triple
crown, was placed on the Pope’s head in order to signify by that symbol the Lord’s plan for his
Church, namely that all the hierarchical order of Christ’s Church, all “sacred power” exercised in
the Church, is nothing other than service, service with a single purpose: to ensure that the whole
People of God shares in this threefold mission of Christ and always remains under the power of
the Lord; a power that has its source not in the powers of this world, but instead in the mystery of
the Cross and the Resurrection.

The absolute, and yet sweet and gentle, power of the Lord responds to the whole depths of the
human person, to his loftiest aspirations of intellect, will and heart. It does not speak the
language of force, but expresses itself in charity and truth.

The new Successor of Peter in the See of Rome today makes a fervent, humble and trusting
prayer: Christ, make me become and remain the servant of your unique power, the servant of your
sweet power, the servant of your power that knows no dusk. Make me a servant: indeed, the
Servant of your Servants.

Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and
all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the
Whole of mankind.

Do not be afraid. Open, I say open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the
boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and
development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “that which is in man.” He alone knows it.

So often today, man does not know that which is in him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So
often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt
which turns into despair. We ask you, therefore, we beg you with humility and with trust, let
Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of life eternal.

RESPONSORY

Do not be afraid. The Redeemer of mankind has revealed
the power ofthe Cross and has given his life for us.
-Open, open wide the doors for Christ.

In the Church we are called to partake of his power.
-Open, open wide the doors for Christ.

Concluding Prayer: (also the collect for mass)

O God, who are rich in mercy
and who willed that the Blessed John Paul the Second
should preside as Pope over your universal Church,
grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching,
we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ,
the sole Redeemer of mankind.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.