Maya Angelou: A True Hero

As Maya Angelou had said, "I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place."(Angelou). Saint John Paul II was just that. Throughout his life he had felt his call to priesthood and continued sharing his gifts with others. Many others had experienced his blessings and help. Children were also a wonderful gift, whom he had much love for. His Five Loves set an impression on how the world could be a better place. Several people can tell you how much of a hero he had been for the human rights and how he had a great possession of love for others throughout his lifetime. Born on May 18, 1920, Karol J. Wojtyla was raised into a decent family. Many of his loved ones had passed away and Karol was left for himself. His mother,
Emilia Kaczorowska, had died when he was only nine years old, in 1929. Soon after, Edmund, his older brother, had died when he was twelve in 1932. Many years later his father had died in 1941. As he grew up many of his family members had passed away and soon he was attending college at Jagiellonian University. He absolutely loved drama and had performed in many different musicals. In 1939, the Nazis had attacked the city and the college was closed. Soon enough, he was aware of his call to priesthood and began many courses in the clandestine seminary of Crocaw. Karol had soon became a priest and had received his license to teach. In 1951, Fr. Karol had been qualified to become a University Professor. He was ordained into Holy Orders in 1958, then became an auxiliary Bishop for Archbishop Eugeniusz Baziak of Krakow. As a bishop, he joined the Second Vatican Council. After Archbishop Baziak of Krakow had died, he became the Bishop of Krakow. Then in 1967, he was elected as a Cardinal by Pope Paul VI. He then became pope in 1978( "St. Pope John Paul II"). Throughout many tough times in his younger age, Pope John Paul II still grew up to become one of the most legendary people in history. Pope John Paul II is known to many as a wise one.
He had many courageous acts in his lifetime that had helped human rights and many children. He is the patron of World Youth Day, which was created to celebrate youth. Children were one of his favorite things. During World Youth Day, popes strongly emphasize the meaning of children and how they are a gift. They explain how the good and creative possibilities from the children of Christ can help make this world a bigger and better place to live in. Every year, Pope John Paul II had contributed much to the organization and explained the love of his children of Christ. Not only did he provide many things for World Youth Day, there were many principle documents that he had made. There were fourteen encyclicals, thirteen apostolic exhortations, eleven apostolic constitutions, and fourth-two apostolic letters. He had cared for so many of his people. Three books he had written were Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, and Roman Tryptych- Meditations. As said before, Pope John Paul II had exclusively cared for his people. He had presided at one hundred thirty-eight beautification ceremonies and forty eight canonization ceremonies. During the Second Vatican Council he had played a significant role. All his papers and presentations had continued to enrich the Church. His articles had much interest in his theological and philosophical ideas. As the 283rd successor of the Apostle Peter, he was a very charismatic man. He had led people the right way to Christ and showed how he can rediscover the fulfillment and purpose of human life (Baron). No other person had ever seen any human being encounter as many people as he did. By understanding the nature of human life and using his teachings, Pope John Paul II had been an extreme inspiration for many of God's
children. His Five Loves had also really influenced his people. Through these five things, courageous Pope John Paul II has explained to everyone the connection and how God has influenced them. One was human love. Human love showed how humans can love each other fully and justly. Relationships often have an inseparable connection that was connected by God. John Paul exclaimed this message and explained how chastity comes in effect to this. Many problems have arose in the world because of some accidental mishaps. Abortion has been a result of several. By connecting through God, two people can experience the human love that God originally had planned for them. Another one of his Five Loves was Youth. He absolutely adored them. From human love, came youth. Many miracles have happened to many children by praying to him. For example, a polish boy, who once suffered from kidney cancer, had been visiting his parents grave. While leaving St. Peter's Basillica, he was able to walk again. Another was when a French nun was confined to her bed because of Perkin's disease. Many people had prayed to Pope John Paul II to help heal her and her sickness. She was then cured and said," I was sick but now I'm cured." Virgin Mary was another one of his Five Loves. Through Mary, Christ was born. He prayed the Rosary all the time when he was in prayer. Most days, he had prayed for hours by himself. By offering his prayers to Mary, he had felt that he had thanked her for his wonderful son, our Savior who had helped God's children. The Cross was yet another one of his Five Loves. The cross was a symbol of Jesus Christ and how he had sacrificed his life for us and our sins. Pope John Paul had prayed everyday to Christ. One last of his Five Loves was the Blessed Sacrament. By taking in the Body of Christ, we are blessed with God's son, Jesus. Through all these Five Loves, he has shown us that being closer to Christ, can change the world. Lastly, Pope John Paul II has left a lasting influence in our lives. On October 22 each year is his feast day. By bringing people closer to God and giving up many things for tons of people, that is what a hero is. On April 22, 2005, sadly, Saint John Paul the Great had passed away. He had reminded us all that God has a purpose for us and that our lives can help change other people. By being the strong, passionate, and courageous person he was, really showed how much of a hero he was. By caring for others and coming from a tough childhood to where he was as a pope, that explains it all. A hero should be someone looked up to just like he was. By encountering as many individuals as he did and understanding each and every one to help them with their problems, this is why he became a saint. A saint is someone who not only helps other people for God, but does it for them self, helping other people and honoring God's children. In 2013, he was officially canonized as a saint because of his lasting impression on the people. As the quote had said," I think a hero is any person really intent on making this world a better place." Saint John Paul the Great had done just that. Because of him, tons of miracles have happened to those in desperate need. He displayed heroic courage when he joined the underground seminary just to keep the literature and drama alive. With his love of children and World Youth Day, he helped make the world a bit better for the youth to live in. All those important principle documents and books, all the beautification and canonization ceremonies, and even his journey to where he was all characterized how he was... a hero. Through his life and call to priesthood, Pope John Paul II had continued sharing his love for others and children. Several have experienced the miraculous miracles that he has helped with. Others have experienced the impression he had set for his Five Loves. Although some may not see the strength, courage, and worthiness of Saint John Paul the Great, he definitely had the characteristics of a hero.