John Paul II’s strong bond with Mary was crucial to the popularization of the Fatima message in the world – writes in the latest issue of “Fatima Luz e Paz” the former co-worker of the Polish Pope, Archbishop Piero Marini.
The Italian hierarch recalled that long before the assassination attack in Rome on May 13, 1981, in which John Paul II was reached by the terrorist’s bullets on the day of Our Lady of Fatima, Karol Wojtyła cultivated a close spiritual relationship with Mary. – The bond between St. John Paul II and the Most Holy Virgin Mary was extremely strong, and it’s most characteristic feature was the maternal-son feeling – said Archbishop Marini.
The Italian clergyman recalled that the Pope was born just a few days before the enthronization of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Chapel of Apparitions in June 1920. He noted that after the early loss of his mother, Karol Wojtyła took Mary as a spiritual mother and throughout his life he was a person with a great “Marian spirituality”. He added that one of the forms of service to Mary was e.g. daily personal prayer, as well as participation in pilgrimages, including three visits to the Shrine of Fatima.
Marini stated that “in Fatima John Paul II felt at home.” – Our Lady of Fatima truly became for the Pope a mother who saved his life (…) Saint John Paul II not only came to Fatima to honor Mary, but also wanted the image of Our Lady of Fatima to visit him in Rome – concluded a close associate of the Polish Pope.
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