The Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of Saint John Paul the Great on October 22!
Not only is Pope Saint John Paul II a powerful heavenly intercessor, but he also remains one of the most influential figures in the history of our faith. During his time on earth, his impact reached outside the Church as well. As Pope, Karol Wojtyła was a staunch defender of human dignity in a multitude of spaces.
Pope Saint John Paul II served as Pope from 1978 until he died in 2005. Throughout his papacy, he spoke on a variety of topics. He wrote a total of 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, and 45 apostolic letters during his papacy. He traveled around the world speaking to the masses in person, too.
His words had a lasting impact on the Catholic Church and the world, and his wisdom is truly timeless.
Below are some of my favorite life-changing bits of wisdom from this powerhouse saint!
Here are 10 life lessons from Pope Saint John Paul II:
You Are Not Alone in Your Struggles
“There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us.” (Oct. 8, 1995)
You Were Made for Relationship with Jesus
“It is Jesus you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle.
"It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.” (Aug. 19, 2000)
Do Not Be Afraid to Share Your Faith
“This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel. It is the time to preach it from the rooftops. Do not be afraid to break out of comfortable and routine modes of living in order to take up the challenge of making Christ known in the modern metropolis.” (Aug. 15, 1993)
Your Full Potential is Found in Christ
“When you wonder about the mystery of yourself, look to Christ who gives you the meaning of life. When you wonder what it means to be a mature person, look to Christ who is the fullness of humanity. And when you wonder about your role in the future of the world and of the United States, look to Christ. Only in Christ will you fulfill your potential as an American citizen and as a citizen of the world community.” (Oct. 3, 1979)
Your Life Has Meaning
“The most beautiful and stirring adventure that can happen to you is the personal meeting with Jesus, who is the only one who gives real meaning to our lives.” (March 1, 1979)
Prayer Can Change Your Life
“Prayer can truly change your life, for it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and your heart towards the Lord. If we look only at ourselves, with our own limitations and sins, we quickly give way to sadness and discouragement. But if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, then our hearts are filled with hope, our minds are washed in the light of truth, and we come to know the fullness of the Gospel with all its promise and life.” (Sept. 12, 1987)