I lived at the side of the Saint. In other words, for almost forty years, every day I have seen up close the holiness in the way I always thought it will look like this. I saw it in this man, in Karol Wojtyła, in his very deep, mysterious contact with God. In his deep yet transparent faith. In the courage with which he bore witness to the truth of Christ and the value of life. And, in his love with which he approached every human being, respecting his dignity, regardless of skin color, race or religious affiliation. I saw this holiness in the evangelical passion with which Karol Wojtyła sought to make the Church once again a family, a welcoming home under the sign of mercy, communion and unity in the midst of a multiplicity of charisms and gifts. In order for humanity to get rid of fear, to be able to resist the temptation of new conflicts, new forms of integralism. And, so that after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rejection of various ideologies, it may rediscover the path of peace, justice and solidarity. I saw holiness up close when Pope Wojtyła was still alive. I saw ordinary holiness inscribed in everyday life, in the duties and hardships of every day, in meetings with people from all over the world, in great public ceremonies, and also in jealously guarded moments of personal spiritual life. I also saw holiness full of amazement, awakening every morning with the opening of eyes to see the wonderful works of the Creator.
Later, years later, I saw holiness constantly marked by the cross, which was the whole life of Karol Wojtyła, starting from his youth. I saw holiness bordering on heroism, if not martyrdom, because they tried to kill him, and also because of a terrible illness that prevented him from walking and then even talking, and finally brought death upon him. And, he accepted all this serenely, placing his fate in the hands of God. As he wrote at the beginning of his Testament: “I desire to follow Him…” I saw his holiness in this incredible multitude of people who came to bid him farewell for the last time. Then they began to visit his grave. They returned to St. Peter again on May 1, 2011, this time for beatification. They were his people. A people who loved him, who identified with him, or at least were influenced by him.
With the permission of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “At the side of the Saint”
St. Stanislaw BM Publishing House, Krakow 2013
