Newly Revised Edition

Go in PeaceA G I FT OF ENDUR ING LOVE

by John Paul II

Contents

Introduction to the New Edition . . . . . . . . . . . xi

Editor’s Foreword to the New Edition . . . . . . . xv

1 . On Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 . On Forgiveness and Reconciliation . . . . . . . 19

3 . On Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

4 . On Faith and Belief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

5 . On Living in the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

6 . On Morality and the Christian Conscience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

7 . On the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

8 . On the Eucharist and the Mass . . . . . . . . . 125

9 . On the Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

10 . On Suffering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

11 . On Christian Vocation and Working in the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

12 . On God the Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

A Final Blessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

John Paul II: A Biographical Sketch . . . . . . . . 225

Scripture and Other Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . 231

Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

ix

hen,ontheslopesoftheMountofOlives, theapostlesaddressedJesuswiththewords

“Lord,teachustopray,”theywerenotaskinganordinaryquestion;theywereexpressingoneofthedeepestneedsofthehumanheart.

Totell thetruth,today’sworlddoesnotmakemuchroomforthisneed.Thehecticpaceofdailyactivity,combinedwiththenoisyandoftenfrivo-lousinvasivenessofourmeansofcommunication,is certainly not conducive to the interior recol-lectionrequiredforprayer.Then,too,thereisa

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deeperdifficulty:modernpeoplehaveanincreas-inglylessreligiousviewoftheworldandlife.Thesecularization process seems to have persuadedthemthatthecourseofeventscanbesufficientlyexplainedbytheinterplayofthisworld’simmanentforces,independentofhigherintervention.

What we need to foster, in ourselves and inothers,isacontemplativeoutlook.SuchanoutlookarisesfromfaithintheGodoflife,whohascreatedeveryindividualasawonder.Itistheoutlookofthosewhoseelifeinitsdeepermeaning,whograspitsuttergratuitousness,itsbeauty,anditsinvita-tiontofreedomandresponsibility.Itistheoutlookofthosewhodonotpresumetotakepossessionofreality,butinsteadacceptitasagift,discoveringinallthingsthereflectionoftheCreatorandseeingineverypersontheirownlivingimage.

Ourdifficultagehasaspecialneedforprayer.Inthecourseofhistory—bothinthepastandinthepresent—manymenandwomenhavebornewit-nesstotheimportanceofprayerbyconsecratingthemselvestothepraiseofGodandtothelifeofprayer,especiallyinmonasteriesandconvents.Inrecentyears,wehaveseenagrowthinthenum-berofpeoplewho,inevermorewidespreadmove-mentsandgroups,aregivingfirstplacetoprayer

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andseekinginprayerarenewaloftheirspirituallife.Thisisasignificantandcomfortingsign,forfromthisexperiencethereiscomingarealcontri-butiontotherevivalofprayeramongthefaithful,whohavebeenhelpedtogainaclearerideaoftheHolySpiritasHewhoinspiresinheartsaprofoundyearningforholiness.

In many individuals and many communities,thereisagrowingawarenessthat—evenwithalltherapidprogressoftechnologicalandscientificcivilization, and despite the real conquests andgoalsattained—humanityisthreatened.Inthefaceofthisdanger—andwhile,indeed,theyarealreadyexperiencing the frightful reality of humanity’sspiritual decadence—individuals and communi-ties,guidedbyaninnersenseoffaith,areseekingthestrengthtoraisehumanityupagain, tosaveusfromourselves,fromourownerrorsandmis-takesthatoftenmakeharmfulourveryconquests.Inthisway,thetimesinwhichwearelivingarebringingtheHolySpiritclosertothemanywhoarereturningtoprayer.

InsomeChristiancircles,however,thereisawide-spread“functional”viewofprayerthatthreatenstocompromise its transcendentnature.SomeclaimthatonecantrulyfindGodbybeingopentoone’s

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neighbor.Therefore,prayerwouldnotmeanbeingremovedfromtheworld’sdistractionsinordertoberecollectedinconversationwithGod.Itwouldratherbeexpressedinanunconditionalcommit-menttocharityforothers.Authenticprayer,there-fore,wouldbeourworksofcharityalone.

Inreality,however,becausewearecreatures—inandofourselves incompleteandneedy—wefindourselves spontaneously turning to Him who isthesourceofeverygift, inordertopraiseHim,makeintercession,andinHimseektofulfillthetormenting desire which enflames our hearts.St.Augustineunderstoodthisquitewellwhenhenoted:“Youhavemadeusforyourself,OLord,andourheartsarerestlessuntiltheyrestinyou.”

For thisveryreason, theexperienceofprayerasabasicactofthebelieveriscommontoallreli-gions, including those in which there is only arathervaguebeliefinapersonalGod.

Inthespiritualrealm,noonelivesforoneselfalone.Andsalutaryconcernforthesalvationofone’sownsoulisfreedfromfearandselfishnessonlywhenitbecomesconcernforthesalvationofothersaswell.Thisistherealityofthecommunionofsaints,ofthemysteryof“vicariouslife,”andofprayerasthemeansofunionwithChristandHissaints.

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Thisoutlookdoesnotgiveintodiscouragementwhenconfrontedbythosewhoaresick,suffering,outcast,oratdeath’sdoor.Instead,inallthesesitu-ations,itfeelschallengedtofindmeaning;andpre-ciselyinthefaceofeveryperson,itfindsacalltoencounter,dialogue,andsolidarity.

Itistimeforallofustoadoptthisoutlook,andtorediscover,withdeepspiritualawe,theabilitytorevereandhonoreveryperson.Inspiredbythiscontemplativeoutlook,wecannotbutrespondwithsongsofjoy,praise,andthanksgivingfortheprice-lessgiftoflifeandforthemysteryofeveryindi-vidual’scalltoshare,throughChrist,inthelifeofgraceandinanexistenceofunendingcommunionwithGodourCreatorandFather.

Jesusurgesusto“prayalwayswithoutbecomingweary.”Christiansknowthatforthemprayerisasessentialasbreathing;andoncetheyhavetastedthesweetnessofintimateconversationwithGod,theydonothesitateto immersethemselves in itwithtrustingabandonment.

TheHolySpirit—thebreathofthedivinelife—initssimplestandmostcommonmannerexpressesitself and makes itself felt in prayer. Whereverpeoplearepraying in theworld, there theHolySpiritis,thelivingbreathofprayer.

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TheHolySpiritisthegiftthatcomesintoourheartstogetherwithprayer.InprayerHemanifestsHimself firstofallandaboveallasthegiftthat“helpsusinourweakness.”ThisisthemagnificentthoughtdevelopedbySt.PaulintheLettertotheRomanswhenhewrites:“Forwedonotknowhowtoprayasweought,butthatverySpiritintercedeswithsighstoodeepforwords.”

Therefore,theHolySpiritnotonlyenablesustopray,butguidesusfromwithininprayer:heispresentinourprayerandgivesitadivinedimen-sion.Thus,“God,whosearchestheheart,knowswhatisthemindoftheSpirit,becausetheSpiritintercedes forthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod.” Prayer, through the power of the HolySpirit,becomestheevermorematureexpressionof thenewhuman,whobymeansof thisprayerparticipatesinthedivinelife.

Prayer is also the revelationof the abyss that istheheartofman:adepththatcomes fromGodandthatonlyGodcanfill,preciselywiththeHolySpirit.Prayeristhevoiceofallthosewhohavenovoice.Prayermakesus aware that everything—evenevil—findsitsprincipalanddefinitiverefer-encepointinGod.

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Prayerisnotsimplyoneoccupationamongmany,butisatthecenterofourlifeinChrist.ItturnsourattentionawayfromourselvesanddirectsittotheLord.Prayerfills themindwithtruthandgiveshopetotheheart.Withoutadeepexperienceofprayer,growthinthemorallifewillbeshallow.

OurFatherwhoartinheaven...Accordingtothesewords—Christ’sanswerto

theapostle’srequest“teachustopray”—everythingisreducedtothissingleconcept:tolearntopraymeans“tolearntheFather.”IfwelearntheFatherinthefullsenseoftheword,initsfulldimension,wehavelearnedeverything.

TolearnwhotheFatherismeanslearningwhatabsolutetrustis.TolearntheFathermeansacquir-ingthecertaintythatHedoesnotrefuseyouevenwheneverything—materiallyandpsychologically—seemstoindicaterefusal.Heneverrefusesyou.

PrayernotonlyopensusuptoameetingwiththeMostHigh,butalsodisposesustomeetingwithourneighbors,helpingustoestablishwithevery-one—without discrimination—relationships ofrespect,understanding,esteem,andlove.Prayeristhebondthatmosteffectivelyunitesusall. It isthroughprayerthatbelieversmeetoneanotherat

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alevelwhereinequalities,misunderstandings,bit-terness,andhostilityareovercome;namely,beforeGod.PrayeristheauthenticexpressionofarightrelationshipwithGodandwithothers.

Weneedtoreaffirmourneedforintense,humble,confident,andperseveringprayer, if theworld isfinallytobecomeadwellingplaceofpeace.

OurrelationshipwithGodalsodemandstimesofexplicitprayerinwhichtherelationshipbecomesanintensedialogueinvolvingeverydimensionoftheperson. “TheLord’sDay” is thedayof thisrelationship,whenmenandwomenraisetheirsongtoGodandbecomethevoiceofallcreation.Thisispreciselywhyitisalsothedayofrest.Speakingasitdoesofrenewalanddetachment,theinterruptionoftheoften-oppressiverhythmofworkexpressesthedependenceofhumanityandthecosmosuponGod.TheLord’sDayreturnsagainandagaintodeclarethisprinciplewithintheweeklyreckoningoftime.The“Sabbath”hasthereforebeeninter-pretedevocativelyasadeterminingelementinakindof“sacredarchitecture”of timethatmarksbiblicalrevelation.Itrecallsthattheuniverseandhistory belong to God; and without a constantawareness of that truth, we cannot serve in theworldascoworkersoftheCreator.

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Allofus,throughthedifferentformsofspiritu-ality by which we are inspired and that consti-tutetherichspiritualheritageoftheChurchandhumanity,aretryingtolivetrulyChristianlives—asChristians“intheworld”withoutbeing“oftheworld.”Forthelayfaithful,thisapostoliclifecallsforeffectiveopennesstoourvariousenvironmentsinordertocausetheevangelical“leaven”topene-tratethem.Itinvolvesassumingmultipleactivitiesandresponsibilitiesinallareasofhumanlife:thefamily,professions,society,culture,andpolitics.ItisbyassumingtheseresponsibilitiescompetentlyandindeepunionwithGodthatyouwillfulfillyour vocation as laity and Christians: you willsanctifyyourselvesandsanctifytheworld.

ToremainunitedwithGodintheaccomplish-mentofthesetasksincumbentuponyouisavitalnecessitytobearwitnesstoHislove.Onlyasac-ramental lifeandalifeofprayerwillenablethisintimacywiththeLordtogrow.

So,totaketimetoprayandtonourishprayerandactivitiesthroughbiblical,theological,anddoctri-nalstudy;andtolivebyChristandHisgracebyreceivingassiduouslythesacramentsofreconcili-ationandtheEucharist:sucharethefundamentalrequirementsofeverydeeplyChristianlife.Thus,

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the Holy Spirit will be the source both of ouractionandofourcontemplation,whichwilltheninterpenetrateeachother,supporteachother,andyieldabundantfruit.

Thisdeepunitybetweenprayerandactionisatthebasisofallspiritualrenewal.Itisatthebasisofthegreatenterprisesofevangelizationandcon-structionoftheworldaccordingtoGod’splan.

Wehearwithinus,asaresoundingecho,thewordsthatJesusspoke:“Apartfrommeyoucandonoth-ing.”We feelnotonly theneed,butevenacat-egoricalimperative,forgreat,intense,andgrowingprayerbyallthefaithful.Onlyprayercanpreventallourgreatsucceedingtasksanddifficultiesfrombecomingasourceofcrisis,andmaketheminsteadtheoccasionand,asitwere,thefoundationforevermorematureachievementsonthePeopleofGod’smarchtowardsthePromisedLandinthisstageofhistoryatthebeginningofthethirdmillennium.

Accordingly,andwithawarmandhumblecall,I wish the Church and all its people to devotethemselves in prayer—together with Mary theMotherofJesus—astheapostlesanddisciplesoftheLorddidintheUpperRoominJerusalemafterChrist’sascension.Aboveall,IimploreMary,theheavenlyMotheroftheChurch,tobesogoodas

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todevoteherself toaprayer forhumanity’snewadvent,togetherwithuswhomakeuptheChurch,thatistosaytheMysticalBodyofheronlySon.Ihopethatthroughthisprayerweshallallbeableto receive the Holy Spirit coming upon us, andthusbecomeChrist’switnesses“totheendsoftheearth,”likethosewhowentforthfromJerusalemonthedayofPentecost.

ISBN-13: 978-0-8294-2472-0ISBN-10: 0-8294-2472-5

The best-selling collection of the beloved pope’s most personal thoughts

and writings—revised and expanded

This definitive compilation brings together the words that Pope John Paul II most urgently wanted the world

to hear and embrace. Arranged by the themes he emphasized in his quarter century as pope—including prayer, forgive-ness, family, suffering, the church, and Christ—Go in Peace gives the reader an up-close and personal look at this great churchman’s pastoral heart and passes along his vision for a vital life of Christian faith.

“Make time for study, meditation, and reflection. Use your intelligence well; make an effort to reach correct convictions; do not waste time; deepen the motives and foundations of faith in Christ and in the Church, so as to be firm now and in your future. We remain firm in our faith by means of prayer; remember St. Paul wrote: ‘Pray without ceasing.’”

—John Paul II, from Go in Peace

Religion/Christianity $12.95 U.S. Newly Revised Edition

Go in PeaceA G I FT OF ENDUR ING LOVE

by John Paul II

Go in Peace

John Paul II