Karol: A Man Who Became Pope

I was switching channels on the night of Palm Sunday when I came across what seemed like a movie set during World War II which was dubbed in Tagalog. There was chaos. People were fleeing, helplessly chased by bombs dropped from aircrafts - they were being shelled. A young man was struggling, carrying his elderly father who wanted to give up and just die. He only succeeded in convincing his father to return to their home after reminding him that his mother would not want to see him that way.

That young man's name is Karol Wojtyla (pronounced Voy-tee-wah) and the movie "Karol: A Man Who Became Pope" was about his life before he became John Paul II. (There is a sequel to the movie which is entitled, Karol: The Pope, the Man which chronicles his life during his papacy.) I found myself crying over certain parts of the film, empathizing with him and his generation as they lived in the midst of evil, pain, loneliness and struggle. Admittedly, I did not fully understand some of the dialogue as I am distracted by the dissonance between what I was hearing and what I was seeing while lip reading. Within that week, I found a DVD copy of the film and got a copy for myself. I saw the movie in full on Maundy Thursday.

I would say that it is one of those movies I would recommend my friends and loved ones to see. While depressing is the word to describe the events that occurred in young Karol's life, it is well worth to stick out watching the second half of the film which shows how Karol, through faith and prayer, managed not to succumb to desperation and instead allowed hope to spring in his heart.

I read that the poignant film was based on the book "Stories of Karol: The Unknown Life of John Paul II" by Gian Franco Svidercoschi. The movie was showed in Hallmark Channel as a TV series after the death of the Pope but he was able to see the movie and even meet the actor who played his characted a few months before he passed away. It was said that he asked why a movie was being made about his life when he did not do anything. His humility is indeed remarkable and worth emulating. Despite all the pain of having to lose his mother, his elder brother and later his father at such an early age, he remained steadfast in his faith and did not allow it to be bitter. During the war, his group of friends, some of which are Jews, perished one by one, persecuted, led astray, martyrd - leaving him alone in midlife. But he did not see himself alone. He shared his life and his faith to his students and he was a remarkably happy man considering everything he went through. Later on, he allowed himself to be steered along the path where God wants him to be - the shepherd of his flock. His life is testimony of God and His love for us and how we should live our lives, that is, to live in His love and our love for others. God knows us, he knows we need simple truths and in Karol's life I saw that life is all about living in God's love and sharing that love to others before love of self. What does that entail? It entails acceptance that pain and hurt, evil and lies are part of our life here on earth and we cannot, as a matter of right and borne out of arrogance, claim that we should be free of that burden. Instead, we should have a grateful, selfless heart, putting others above ourselves. This realization may seem hard to practice in this hedonistic, competitive and yes, worldly world that we live in (exactly my point!) but we need not be saints or earth shakers. All there is to know and remember is truly, God loves us and wants us to listen to him speak to us. I guess Karol's ear was always open to God that is why he remained steadfast and strong in his faith despite all.

This is my prayer -

Dear Lord, keep my ears, eyes, my whole being
always aware of your love and your will for me.
Make me capable of always being in your presence so that
I may listen to you each time you speak to me.
Keep my heart capable of love for others,
even in times when it seems impossible to love.

Amen.

My Digital Eyes

Title: Vivid Green
Date photo taken: April 7, 2006


Title: Reflections
Date photo taken: April 7, 2006


Title: Green in the City
Date photo taken: April 7, 2006

These photos were taken using a 5 megapixel digital camera, some on vivid green mode (hence the title). This is the San Miguel Corporation Head Office Complex, designed by Architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa and his brothers in 1975. The design was inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces. Bobby Mañosa eventually put up his own firm and designed the Coconut Palace and the EDSA Shrine, among others. SMC eventually moved in to its new head office in 1984, vacating the Andres Soriano Building at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas where The Enterprise Center now stands.