THE P
RTAL
Book Review by Laura Magson
November 2011 Page 15
Blessed John Paul the Great by Joanna Bogle , illustrations by Kati Teague
Published by St Pauls publishing , ISBN 978-0-85439-819-5
This biography of our present Pope ’ s predecessor is aimed at children , but may also provide an introduction for those adults who are less familiar with his story than life-long Roman Catholics .
With an illustration on each page , the book takes us through the then Karol Wojtila ’ s childhood , the death of his mother and brother when he was a young boy , his school and university years , his study for the priesthood and his ordination in 1946 . Through his story we learn of the progression of Poland through the Second World War , the occupation by Nazi Germany , the takeover by Communist Russia and the difficulties Polish people , and particularly Christians , faced during these times .
first ever Polish Pope
The book goes on to tell the story of Father Karol ’ s appointment as Archbishop of Krakow , his progression to Cardinal and his election as the first ever Polish Pope in 1978 .
Throughout , we hear of his devotion to Our Lady : he dedicated his work as Pope to her ( his apostolic motto was Totus Tuus – I am all yours ), and attributed his survival of the assignation attempt on 13th May 1981 , to the hand of Our Lady of Fatima , whose feast day it was . One of the bullets that was meant to kill him was set in the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima the following year and is still there today .
international visits
We learn of his contribution to the church : his international visits , including to his home country against the will of the Polish government , his preparation of a new Catechism , his teaching about the divine mercy and the importance of the Rosary , the five new mysteries he added – the Luminous mysteries , the institution of World Youth Day and how he taught everyone “ Do not be afraid “.
ill health
We are told of his ill health in later life – a broken hip , a stomach tumour and the Parkinson ’ s Disease which slowed him down and eventually immobilised him , of his death while crowds gathered in St Peter ’ s Square on the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday 2005 , his funeral celebrated by then Cardinal Ratzinger , and the appointment of his successor . The book concludes with the story of his beatification in 2011 .
Most children reading this book will be too young to remember Blessed John Paul II in life , but the author ’ s obvious affection for this holy man will inspire future generations to keep devotion to him alive .
The Catholic journalist , author and broadcaster , Joanna Bogle ( left ) with freelance illustrator Kati Teague at the launch of the book on the life of Blessed John Paul II in St Paul ’ s Bookshop in Westminster