“He is truly a saint”

Saints John Paul II and John XXIII are now elevated to the altars April 27 in this Year of the Laity.

This is a momentous event in the life of the Catholic Church throughout the world especially for the Philippines where Pope John Paul II visited twice—in 1981 and 1995.

As the beloved Pope John Paul II is listed among the saints of the Catholic Church, people relay their own stories of journeying to holiness as the great pope became their inspiration.

Among them is DCHerald columnist Fr. Roy Cimagala, who shared in an article how the great pope helped him in his journey to priesthood.

“I have no doubt he is truly a saint.”

This is how Fr. Cimagala describes Pope John Paul II, who ordained him in the priesthood, saying “by an extreme stroke of luck and, I believe, a pure bolt of grace, I was chosen as one of those to be ordained priest by him in Rome on May 26, 1991, Trinity Sunday.”

“I still vividly remember every moment of that day of my ordination. What struck me most was that he started it very tired. He just came in from a trip and he already had serious health conditions. But as the event went on, I noticed he became very alive. At the end, he talked to me as if he knew me all along,” Fr. Cimagala said.

Fr. Cimagala did not seek the priesthood but was simply called to it and said yes after a little reflection. He was already a professional while undergoing philosophical and theological studies when Pope John Paul II was elected Pope on October 22 1978.

“It was he who sort of challenged me to take more seriously my Christian formation,” he said.

“I found him irresistibly stimulating and engaging. I was sure his presence, his words, even his mannerisms were all so soaked with a certain charism that I just found myself insatiably devouring his writings and any piece of news about him. I knew I was learning a lot and growing interiorly,” he added.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI proclaimed John Paul II Venerable on December 19, 2009, four years after his death. He was beatified on May 1, 2011 after the Congregation for the Causes of Saints attributed the miraculous healing of a French nun from Parkinson’s disease. The second miracle was attributed to him on July 2, 2013 and approved by Pope Francis.

The Archdiocese of Davao, through the initiative of JohnPaulIICollege in Ecoland, DavaoCity celebrates the canonization of the two saints with a Eucharistic celebration at the San Pedro Cathedral.

The school and the parish named after the great saint, Blessed John Paul II Parish in Los Amigos, Tugbok District mounted a big screen to let the people witness the ongoing canonization rites live from the Vatican.

Saints John XXIII’s and John Paul II’s feast days will not be celebrated on the day of their death but on the anniversary of their papal inauguration.

Like the miracles attributed to the two saints before they were beatified and canonized, no doubt their intercession to every prayer will help get the answer to every believer’s plea to God in the heaven.