LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH
Our Principles in Action In word and deed, Pope John Paul II taught about charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism by Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori
POPE JOHN PAUL II often expressed great affection for the Knights of Columbus. Even more profoundly, by his own priestly example and his vast efforts to teach all nations about Jesus Christ, he shed a good deal of light on the Columbian virtues.
lives in Christ. In other words, before showing charity to others, we must welcome Christ’s mercy and love. All of our charitable work is but the evidence that this love has taken root in our hearts. Pope John Paul II’s ardent life of prayer was also the source of his insight and strength as he relentlessly strove “to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). His
about God and the human person, fully revealed in Christ. A profound philosopher in his own right, John Paul II defended reason’s capacity for truth. He witnessed to the truth in which the rights and dignity of the UNITED IN CHARITY human person is rooted and upon Like many others, I had the privilege of which a civilization of love can be built participating in Masses celebrated by amid the diverse cultures of the world. John Paul II in his private chapel. The pope’s witness to unityAfter vesting, we priests and bishin-truth should inspire us to ops would quietly take our place pray and work for unity in our there, only to find the pope alOrder, in the Church and in The pope’s witness to ready absorbed in prayer. John the world. Our unity does not Paul II’s life of deep prayer, spring merely from our own unity-in-truth should inspire founded upon the Eucharist and good will, but is instead rooted us to pray and work for unity his frequent reception of the in God. This profound sense sacrament of penance, was the of unity must extend to all of in our Order, in the Church source of an immense pastoral our relationships. charity. The pope loved his worldand in the world. wide flock, both consoling us and LOVE OF BROTHER, teaching us the truth about God LOVE OF COUNTRY and man. In a special way, he Closely allied to unity is fraterloved the poor and the vulnerable, as homilies, addresses and writings were nity, what John Paul II often referred we saw by his defense of the unborn suffused and shaped by the doctrine of to as solidarity. The pope understood and his interventions on behalf of the the Holy Trinity — the source of the this to mean much more than just a elderly and those condemned to die. Church’s communion and the ultimate group of people with common interests. Rather, he frequently taught that To put into practice the first princi- basis for unity of the human family. ple of the Order, we too must pray John Paul II taught bishops and at the heart of a truly universal brothdaily and make the Eucharist and all priests that the unity of the Church erhood is the very fact that Christ asthe sacraments the foundation of our was at the heart of their ministry. He sumed our humanity. By becoming traveled to the ends of the earth to man, Christ in a certain way united unify God’s people and worked persist- himself to every person. The pope also EDITOR’S NOTE: Supreme Chapently for Christian unity, especially taught that the family, based on the lain Bishop William E. Lori’s series with the various Orthodox commun- love of husband and wife, is where on the Compendium of the Cateions. He also reached out to the Jewish human dignity, the virtues and brothchism of the Catholic Church will community and other religious groups. erly love are first learned. resume in May 2011. Through baptism, we become the The unity that he promoted was built not on compromise, but on the truth Father’s adopted children and, thus, 4 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦
APRIL 2011