When he was nine years old, a little Polish boy bamed Karol lost his mother. That boy grew up to become a priest, then a cardinal, then one of the most well-loved popes of the Modern era: Pope St John Paul the Great.

John Paul II had a great devotion to Our Lady, one that began in earnest during his childhood.  His father was a devout, holy man, and the two of them would often visit and venerate many of the icons near their home. At 10, Karol was invested in the scapular of Our Lady of Czestochowa, to whom the elder John Paul attributed his deep devotion.

During his papacy, John Paul spoke and wrote at length of the beautiful example Our Lady sets for her church. He acknowledged Mary’s sinlessness, her perpetual virginity, and her elevation to Queen of Heaven as a sign of Christ’s and the Church’s high esteem for women. He commissioned the first monument to our lady in St. Peter’s Basilica, and he wrote an apostolic letter on the dignity of women (Mulieris Dignitatem).

John Paul recognized better than anyone, perhaps, that the way to Christ is through our lady. On this, his feast day, may he intercede for our continued devotion to her and the conversion of our hearts to Christ.

Family Activities

• Read a book about Karol Wojtyla
• Research the life and papacy of JPII
• Make an icon of Our Lady

Family prayer

Oh Blessed Virgin, your good and holy servant John Paul sought your son through a singular devotion to you. Intercede for us, that we might develop that same devotion to your Immaculate Heart. Amen

This post is part of the 31 Days of Fevotion toourBlessed Virgin Mary.  You can read the rest of the story here.