For the Children : Words of Love and Inspiration from His Holiness Pope John Paul II
by Pope John Paul II
Description - This collection of quotes from Pope John Paul II is a testimonial to his love and respect for the children of the world. Each page offers a stirring, inspirational message that speaks to important Catholic themes in childhood, such as "Family," "School," "Prayer," "Suffering," "Peace," and "My First Communion." Alongside each quote there is an exquisite color photograph of a child or group of children that embodies the theme. Under the opening heading "Greeting," Pope John Paul offered these words in an address to a crowd of 10,000 children at Vatican City: "The Pope wishes well to everyone, but he has a preference for the youngest, because they had a special place in the heart of Christ, who wished to remain with the children and to talk with the young. He addressed his call to the young especially, and John, the youngest apostle, was his favorite." What child would not feel honored and captivated by such a respectful invitation? This is an excellent gift book for Catholic children, who will certainly beam with pride, prayer, and purpose upon reading this loving tribute. --Gail Hudson
Reviewer (Amazon) - This book has excerts of Pope John Paul II's speeches which have been directed to Catholic children. These words of our Pope, however, have significance even to those over the age of 10. I highly recommend this book for First Communicants and for all other Catholic children, because had I had this book when I was younger, I would probably not have fallen into as many traps as I did.
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Witness To Hope
by George Weigel
Description - Witness To Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II by George Weigel is as comprehensive a biography of its subject as can be hoped for while the Pope still lives. Weigel, a journalist who came to the Pope's attention after the publication of his book, The Final Revolution: The Resistance Church and the Collapse of Communism, wrote Witness To Hope with his subject's encouragement and assistance. Weigel had unprecedented access to the Pope's correspondence (with, among others, world leaders including Mikhail Gorbachev). He reports lengthy conversations with many members of the Pope's inner circle, and he occasionally reveals vivid details of the Pope's daily life (for example, at the beginning of each day, the Pope's adviser's hear moans and groaning from John Paul's solitary prayers in his private chapel).
Reviewer (Amazon) - This exhaustive biography of Pope John Paul II successfully helps the reader to understand where Karol Wojtyla came from and the experiences which shaped him. The picture that emerges is of a man who endured intense suffering. He lost his entire family by age 19, was active in a illegal underground theater and seminary, witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust first hand, and then lived under Communist rule. One also gets the sense, from Weigel's biography that the Holy Spirit has been actively preparing Wojtyla all along for his role as leader of the Church. Witness to Hope is a remarkable book. It allows insights not widely known about Pope John Paul II as provided by his friends, his advisors, and world leaders. The biography also contains many wonderful photographs. If you read one book about the Pope, this is the one to read.
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The Hidden Pope : The Untold Story of a Lifelong Friendship That Is Changing the Relationship Between Catholics and Jews : The Personal Journey of Joh
by Darcy O'Brien
Description - John Paul II has made greater strides toward understanding and atoning for Rome's complicity in anti-Semitism than any other pope in history. The Hidden Pope shows how and why this rapprochement is taking place by telling the story of John Paul's lifelong friendship with Jerzy Kluger, a Polish Jew. The text is a fascinating and detailed depiction of John Paul's personal life, but the book's real significance lies in its frank demonstration of the way Karol Wojtyla brings his personal experience to bear on the eternal truths of Catholic theology.
Reviewer (Amazon) - This is a fabulous book. I am neither Catholic nor Jewish, but I was fascinated by the depth of the man we all call Pope. I had no idea of his personal journey, and the breadth of his goodness. Too many times, we don't look beyond the title and the robes. This is truly a saintly man.
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