“We must have confidence in God, Who is what He always has been, and we must not be disheartened because things turn out contrary to us.” – Saint Philip Neri
Blessed Pope John Paul II had a rough childhood. His mother died when he was 9, his brother died when he was 12 and his father died of a heart attack when he was 21. He reflected his sentiments at a speech in 1982 at his former University in Poland: “These are events that became deeply engraved in my memory, my brother’s death perhaps even deeper than my mother’s death—equally because of the special circumstances, one may say tragic ones, and in view of my greater maturity at the time.” But, what a Pope and what an inspiration for all of us!!
