Go in Peace: A Gift of Enduring Love - Hardcover
The best-selling collection of the beloved pope’s most personal thoughts and writings—revised and expanded This definitive compilation brings together the words that Pope John Paul II most urgently wanted the world to hear and embrace. Arranged by the themes he emphasized in his quarter century as pope—including prayer, forgiveness, family, suffering, the church, and Christ—Go in Peace gives the reader an up-close and personal look at this great churchman’s pastoral heart and passes along his vision for a vital life of Christian faith.“Make time for study, meditation, and reflection. Use your intelligence well; make an effort to reach correct convictions; do not waste time; deepen the motives and foundations of faith in Christ and in the Church, so as to be firm now and in your future. We remain firm in our faith by means of prayer; remember St. Paul wrote: ‘Pray without ceasing.’”
—John Paul II, from Go in Peace
—John Paul II, from Go in Peace
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About the Author:
Born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, John Paul II lived through Nazi occupation during World War II, was ordained to the priesthood in 1946, and was appointed Archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI.On October 16, 1978, he ascended to the papacy and adopted the name John Paul II. Since that time, he has greeted an estimated 16 million pilgrims at the Vatican's General Audiences on Wednesdays and has touched millions of lives in his religious ceremonies, special audiences, and trips throughout the world.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
Introduction to the New Edition: Images of John Paul II
When we think of Pope John Paul II, a variety of images, many of them quite personal, come into our minds. My favorite mental picture of him is as a young, vigorous man in a dazzling white cassock emerging from the convention center in Philadelphia in 1979. I was there in the crowd that day, standing on the sidewalk with hundreds of other excited fans. As John Paul greeted the cheers, he turned his head and suddenly caught sight of a long line of young children confined to wheelchairs in front of the nearby Children’s Hospital.
The new pope made his way to the children and spent nearly half an hour talking with them, embracing them, and blessing them. I can still see him, intently bending over their heads and gently touching each one of them as they looked up at him—with surprise and a little confusion. As I watched this, I wept—to my own surprise and a little confusion.
In 1979, I was a college student, and not a very religious one. Over the years, as my faith grew stronger and my relationship with the Church deepened, the figure of Pope John Paul II grew more distinct, like a slowly developing photo, taking on greater clarity in my life. I followed his exploits, as most Catholics did, and watched as the images changed: John Paul before throngs in Poland, John Paul with the poor in Africa, John Paul admonishing dictators, John Paul before the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Finally, I saw the bent and trembling John Paul, slowly dying before our sorrowful eyes as he labored through his final years of leading the Church.
Even as the images fade, we can begin to assess his enormous accomplishments. It is impossible in a few paragraphs to sum up the influence of Karol Wojtyla on the Church and the world. Any mere biographical sketch will mention a number of superlatives: the first-ever Polish pope, the first pope to visit a synagogue since the days of the early Church, the most widely traveled pope in history. Even the shortest biography will note how his astonishing involvement with the Solidarity movement in his native Poland helped pave the way for the dismantling of communism in Eastern Europe, then in the Soviet Union, and finally led to the end of the cold war. Any historical summary will point to his voluminous writings, most notably his powerful encyclicals on social justice, which challenge both socialist and capitalist systems to respect the essential dignity of every human person.
Assessments over, we are left with John Paul’s words. And that’s what you will find in this book: a collection of some of his most meaningful writings, arranged according to the themes he stressed again and again throughout his travels and in his many books, encyclicals, speeches, and letters.
This volume is a window into the marvelous humanity of Pope John Paul II, as well as into his obvious sanctity. As I read it, I was reminded of how arduous his long journey had been. He was a man whose faith was nurtured in the intensely pious atmosphere of early-twentieth-century Polish Catholicism, forged in the terrors of midcentury Nazi and communist regimes, and finally allowed to blossom fully, like a magnificent fruit tree, for the nourishment of the late-century world.
At the end of that journey, some reports said, John Paul’s final word was “Amen,” as if he had completed one great, long prayer—one that, like all human prayers, was imperfect and personal and incomplete, but always faithful to God.
For me, his most meaningful message wasn’t even his own, though he repeated it often enough that many thought it had originated with him. “Be not afraid!” he would say, over and over, echoing the message that Jesus repeated insistently to his disciples and that bracketed his earthly life (at the Annunciation, Gabriel tells Mary not to fear; at the Resurrection, the risen Lord tells his disciples not to fear). When John Paul uttered those words, the world understood that they were hearing from a man who not only believed in fearlessness but also had experienced things that were truly fearful.
On the day that John Paul died, I felt myself back in Philadelphia all those years ago, as a young man standing under the bright sun alongside hundreds of people cheering for Pope John Paul II—cheering for his dedication, cheering for his faithfulness, cheering for his service, and cheering, most of all, for the man who would be a saint. James Martin, SJ Editor’s Foreword to the New Edition
I immersed myself in the writings of Pope John Paul II for two reasons. First, like many millions of people, I was simply fascinated by the man. I was transfixed by his public persona. I was awestruck at his accomplishments. I wanted to study the words of one of the most influential public figures of our time.
The second reason was more personal. I delved into the writings of John Paul to find answers to questions that touched on my deepest convictions and hesitations: What does it mean to be a Catholic and a Christian today? Why do we believe as we do? Since I am a professional editor, and a compulsive reader, it made sense for me to seek answers in words. I certainly had many words to read. John Paul was perhaps the most prolific writer ever to be pope. His corpus includes fourteen encyclicals, forty-five apostolic letters, fifteen apostolic exhortations, eleven apostolic constitutions, hundreds of public addresses, numerous poems, five books, and a number of plays.
As I sifted through his words, I came to understand something surprising about John Paul. For all his magnificent accomplishments—world statesman, theologian, philosopher, Church leader—his fundamental role is that of a humble pastor. He knew something about how men and women can find God. He understood how the power of God can be released in our lives. His supreme desire was that we come to embrace a faith that transforms the way we work, the way we relate to other people, and the way we live in the world.
This book is the work of my immersion in the words of John Paul II. It contains what I believe to be his most personal words—those that seem most deeply felt, most compelling, and most clearly and passionately stated. In the many millions of words he wrote or spoke over the years of his papacy, I looked for the heart of John Paul II—the ideas that he seemed to communicate most urgently, and those that I believe will be his legacy.
The arrangement of this material reflects John Paul’s priorities. The twelve chapters correspond to themes that he returned to again and again in all his writings and talks, including faith, prayer, family, suffering, forgiveness, the Church, the Eucharist, and, most passionately, Christ—Christ as the answer to all life’s mysteries. You will find that John Paul II articulates an astonishingly powerful vision of what it means to be a Christian in our modern world. Through his words and ideas, you will also experience the compassion, the intellect, and the poetry of a great spiritual soul who has much to share with you about your journey to God.
I have framed each chapter with Scripture selections combined with John Paul’s quotations and prayers. By doing so, I have tried to create a reading experience modeled on the great art of lectio divina, or sacred reading. The overall intent is for you to deepen your understanding of John Paul’s mind and heart by allowing these words to penetrate your mind and heart.
My goal as editor of this collection was to provide a thematic presentation of John Paul’s ideas, in his own words, through which the reader could navigate smoothly and easily. To present harmonious prose, I applied a style and occasionally adjusted syntax. Following the form used by John Paul II in his later Vatican-authorized publications, I have not cited the sources of scriptural quotations within the text. It was my intention to present the words of John Paul II without interruption, thus preserving his inspirational tone. For readers who would like to further explore the Bible quotations included in the text, a list of verses and their sources appears at the back of the book.
Many people helped me in this task. Special thanks go to George Lane, SJ, and Terry Locke of Loyola Press, who opened the door to this project and made many valuable comments; to my colleagues Matthew Diener and Jim Manney, who offered gracious and welcome editorial support all along the way; and to Paul Thigpen and Bert Ghezzi of Servant Publications. I am also indebted to my “circle of first readers”: Carol Durepos, Cathy Danchisin, and Phyllis Tickle. I am especially grateful for the love and support of my wife, Betty, who always believes first.
Though the papacy of John Paul II has ended, his legacy lies tangibly before us in his writings. We can touch his books, hold his pages in our hands, take his words into our hearts. We should do this. He wanted us to. In so doing, we may discover that the secret to John Paul II’s immense popularity was that he really believed in a faith that could change the world for the better. His words will bear eloquent witness to this hope for many years to come. Joseph Durepos One
On Prayer The breath of divine life . . . , in its simplest and most common manner, expresses itself and makes itself felt in prayer.
—John Paul II Lord, teach us to pray.
—Luke 11:1
When, on the slopes of the Mount of Olive...
When we think of Pope John Paul II, a variety of images, many of them quite personal, come into our minds. My favorite mental picture of him is as a young, vigorous man in a dazzling white cassock emerging from the convention center in Philadelphia in 1979. I was there in the crowd that day, standing on the sidewalk with hundreds of other excited fans. As John Paul greeted the cheers, he turned his head and suddenly caught sight of a long line of young children confined to wheelchairs in front of the nearby Children’s Hospital.
The new pope made his way to the children and spent nearly half an hour talking with them, embracing them, and blessing them. I can still see him, intently bending over their heads and gently touching each one of them as they looked up at him—with surprise and a little confusion. As I watched this, I wept—to my own surprise and a little confusion.
In 1979, I was a college student, and not a very religious one. Over the years, as my faith grew stronger and my relationship with the Church deepened, the figure of Pope John Paul II grew more distinct, like a slowly developing photo, taking on greater clarity in my life. I followed his exploits, as most Catholics did, and watched as the images changed: John Paul before throngs in Poland, John Paul with the poor in Africa, John Paul admonishing dictators, John Paul before the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Finally, I saw the bent and trembling John Paul, slowly dying before our sorrowful eyes as he labored through his final years of leading the Church.
Even as the images fade, we can begin to assess his enormous accomplishments. It is impossible in a few paragraphs to sum up the influence of Karol Wojtyla on the Church and the world. Any mere biographical sketch will mention a number of superlatives: the first-ever Polish pope, the first pope to visit a synagogue since the days of the early Church, the most widely traveled pope in history. Even the shortest biography will note how his astonishing involvement with the Solidarity movement in his native Poland helped pave the way for the dismantling of communism in Eastern Europe, then in the Soviet Union, and finally led to the end of the cold war. Any historical summary will point to his voluminous writings, most notably his powerful encyclicals on social justice, which challenge both socialist and capitalist systems to respect the essential dignity of every human person.
Assessments over, we are left with John Paul’s words. And that’s what you will find in this book: a collection of some of his most meaningful writings, arranged according to the themes he stressed again and again throughout his travels and in his many books, encyclicals, speeches, and letters.
This volume is a window into the marvelous humanity of Pope John Paul II, as well as into his obvious sanctity. As I read it, I was reminded of how arduous his long journey had been. He was a man whose faith was nurtured in the intensely pious atmosphere of early-twentieth-century Polish Catholicism, forged in the terrors of midcentury Nazi and communist regimes, and finally allowed to blossom fully, like a magnificent fruit tree, for the nourishment of the late-century world.
At the end of that journey, some reports said, John Paul’s final word was “Amen,” as if he had completed one great, long prayer—one that, like all human prayers, was imperfect and personal and incomplete, but always faithful to God.
For me, his most meaningful message wasn’t even his own, though he repeated it often enough that many thought it had originated with him. “Be not afraid!” he would say, over and over, echoing the message that Jesus repeated insistently to his disciples and that bracketed his earthly life (at the Annunciation, Gabriel tells Mary not to fear; at the Resurrection, the risen Lord tells his disciples not to fear). When John Paul uttered those words, the world understood that they were hearing from a man who not only believed in fearlessness but also had experienced things that were truly fearful.
On the day that John Paul died, I felt myself back in Philadelphia all those years ago, as a young man standing under the bright sun alongside hundreds of people cheering for Pope John Paul II—cheering for his dedication, cheering for his faithfulness, cheering for his service, and cheering, most of all, for the man who would be a saint. James Martin, SJ Editor’s Foreword to the New Edition
I immersed myself in the writings of Pope John Paul II for two reasons. First, like many millions of people, I was simply fascinated by the man. I was transfixed by his public persona. I was awestruck at his accomplishments. I wanted to study the words of one of the most influential public figures of our time.
The second reason was more personal. I delved into the writings of John Paul to find answers to questions that touched on my deepest convictions and hesitations: What does it mean to be a Catholic and a Christian today? Why do we believe as we do? Since I am a professional editor, and a compulsive reader, it made sense for me to seek answers in words. I certainly had many words to read. John Paul was perhaps the most prolific writer ever to be pope. His corpus includes fourteen encyclicals, forty-five apostolic letters, fifteen apostolic exhortations, eleven apostolic constitutions, hundreds of public addresses, numerous poems, five books, and a number of plays.
As I sifted through his words, I came to understand something surprising about John Paul. For all his magnificent accomplishments—world statesman, theologian, philosopher, Church leader—his fundamental role is that of a humble pastor. He knew something about how men and women can find God. He understood how the power of God can be released in our lives. His supreme desire was that we come to embrace a faith that transforms the way we work, the way we relate to other people, and the way we live in the world.
This book is the work of my immersion in the words of John Paul II. It contains what I believe to be his most personal words—those that seem most deeply felt, most compelling, and most clearly and passionately stated. In the many millions of words he wrote or spoke over the years of his papacy, I looked for the heart of John Paul II—the ideas that he seemed to communicate most urgently, and those that I believe will be his legacy.
The arrangement of this material reflects John Paul’s priorities. The twelve chapters correspond to themes that he returned to again and again in all his writings and talks, including faith, prayer, family, suffering, forgiveness, the Church, the Eucharist, and, most passionately, Christ—Christ as the answer to all life’s mysteries. You will find that John Paul II articulates an astonishingly powerful vision of what it means to be a Christian in our modern world. Through his words and ideas, you will also experience the compassion, the intellect, and the poetry of a great spiritual soul who has much to share with you about your journey to God.
I have framed each chapter with Scripture selections combined with John Paul’s quotations and prayers. By doing so, I have tried to create a reading experience modeled on the great art of lectio divina, or sacred reading. The overall intent is for you to deepen your understanding of John Paul’s mind and heart by allowing these words to penetrate your mind and heart.
My goal as editor of this collection was to provide a thematic presentation of John Paul’s ideas, in his own words, through which the reader could navigate smoothly and easily. To present harmonious prose, I applied a style and occasionally adjusted syntax. Following the form used by John Paul II in his later Vatican-authorized publications, I have not cited the sources of scriptural quotations within the text. It was my intention to present the words of John Paul II without interruption, thus preserving his inspirational tone. For readers who would like to further explore the Bible quotations included in the text, a list of verses and their sources appears at the back of the book.
Many people helped me in this task. Special thanks go to George Lane, SJ, and Terry Locke of Loyola Press, who opened the door to this project and made many valuable comments; to my colleagues Matthew Diener and Jim Manney, who offered gracious and welcome editorial support all along the way; and to Paul Thigpen and Bert Ghezzi of Servant Publications. I am also indebted to my “circle of first readers”: Carol Durepos, Cathy Danchisin, and Phyllis Tickle. I am especially grateful for the love and support of my wife, Betty, who always believes first.
Though the papacy of John Paul II has ended, his legacy lies tangibly before us in his writings. We can touch his books, hold his pages in our hands, take his words into our hearts. We should do this. He wanted us to. In so doing, we may discover that the secret to John Paul II’s immense popularity was that he really believed in a faith that could change the world for the better. His words will bear eloquent witness to this hope for many years to come. Joseph Durepos One
On Prayer The breath of divine life . . . , in its simplest and most common manner, expresses itself and makes itself felt in prayer.
—John Paul II Lord, teach us to pray.
—Luke 11:1
When, on the slopes of the Mount of Olive...
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- PublisherLoyola Press
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 082941746X
- ISBN 13 9780829417463
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages264
- EditorDurepos Joseph
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