Love Is a Journey:
The Inspiring Life and Legacy of Pope John Paul I
Mo Guernon
Loris Serafini (foreword)
Sheed & Ward
ISBN 9781538190708
eISBN 9781538190715
ASIN B0DKHCJ3S9
I have long had a personal devotion to Pope John Paul I, I was only 8 years old when he was elected. But I remember him and the effect on our Catholic School, that year of three popes. I was intrigued by this volume from the first moment I was aware of it. I knew it was one I must read, and I am very thankful I did.
The chapters and sections in this volume are:
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Preface: Genesis—To Begin Anew
Prologue: Transfiguration (August 6, 1978)
Part I: Advent
1 Pontiff—Week I/Charisma: A Divine Smile (August 26–
September 2, 1978)
2 In the Beginning: Blessed Are the Poor (1912–1923)
3 Student and Seminarian: Austerity and Obedience (1923–1935)
4 Priest and Promotions: Home and Away Again (1935–1958)
Part II: Acquiescence
5 Pontiff—Week II/Faith: Servant of Servants (September 3–13,
1978)
6 An Intelligible Intellectual: Talented Teacher and Admired
Author (1936–1976)
7 The Reluctant Bishop: Humility (1958–1970) 117
8 Patriarch and Cardinal: Preparation for the Papal Pallium
(1970–1978)
9 Pilgrimages and Prophecies: Extraordinary Encounters
(1964–1977)
Part III: Allure
10 Pontiff—Week III/Hope: God’s Promise (September 14–20, 1978)
11 Interregnum: Out of Danger (August 6–25, 1978)
12 Destiny: Vicar of Christ (August 25–26, 1978)
Part IV: Finale
13 Pontiff—Week IV/Love: The Journey Nears Its End
(September 21–27, 1978)
14 The Last Supper: “See You Tomorrow, God Willing”
(September 28, 1978)
15 Shock: The Pope Is Dead (September 29, 1978)
16 Murder Hysteria: Poison (September 29, 1978–Present)
17 Into Eternity: A Meteor That Lit Up the Heavens (September
30–October 4, 1978)
Epilogue: What If?
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
I highlighted numerous passages while reading this book. Some of them are:
“This entire undertaking has been a labor of love. I pray that I have done justice in this work to the memory of Albino Luciani, Blessed Pope John Paul I, who touched my life profoundly.”
“It is one of the few biographies of John Paul written in English and provides the most up-to-date information available. The book is also much more than a chronological presentation of facts. In that regard it avoids repeating the patterns of many Luciani biographies, particularly of those written by some Italian authors. It raises awareness of Blessed John Paul I while giving readers an accurate account of his inspiring life and countering the widespread distortions, especially about his death. So much misinformation about this holy man has tarnished the real man’s image. Mo Guernon here reveals the true personality and humanity of a great man who is worthy of admiration.”
“Mo reconstructs the major events of Albino Luciani’s life in an original and fascinating manner that gives the reader rare insights into the pope’s character through the skilful use of facts and anecdotes from a variety of sources, documents, and conversations with people who knew him well.”
“President Kennedy, a devotee of biography, once astutely observed that what makes biography fascinating is “the struggle to answer that single question: What’s he like?” 4 In this book I attempt to answer that question about Albino Luciani. Doing so was demanding.”
“John Paul made us yearn to become better individuals, to become more like him. Those who have forgotten him, as well as those who weren’t alive when he was pope, deserve to encounter a holy man whose story can provide them with hope as well as the longing and wisdom to lead more righteous and fulfilling lives.”
“Albino Luciani’s exceptionality is that he was a part of but apart from this world. His faith was profound and abiding; thus, much of his life was steeped in the spiritual world. As a result, he was an individual of transcendence who astounded us.”
“If the cardinals assumed that they had elected a simple, acquiescent pas-tor with parochial views, John Paul’s first speech must have startled them. The humble pontiff, whose foreign travels were limited, had in fact a keen understanding of the universal Church’s challenges as well as the complexity of world affairs.”
“John Paul sounded more like an experienced diplomat than the bishop of a small diocese. And yet the talk was suffused with his characteristic humility as evident in his closing in which he asked “all our sons and daughters for the help of their prayers.””
“John Paul indicated that he had entered the Sistine Chapel calmly. He confided that he became fearful as the “danger” of his election drew near. As it became clear that he was about to become pope, two nearby “colleagues” whispered words of encouragement to him. Despite his profound sense of unworthiness, Luciani accepted out of a sense of responsibility—not his will but the Lord’s will be done.”
“Though meeting the press was the highlight of his day, it was not the only item on the pope’s agenda. Notably, he dispatched Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to represent him in Latin America, where liberation theology was becoming increasingly popular. 76 It was a cause of concern for the pope, who perceived dangers in priests becoming political activists. He had dealt decisively with a similar problem in Venice when he was patriarch, and he sought to intervene in these developments in the hope of thwarting the movement.”
“Paradoxically, the harshness of his early life produced the gentleness that was inherent in Albino’s character throughout his existence.”
“Albino was precocious, and his love of books was insatiable. The boy had an advantage over his classmates in mastering all subjects, thanks to having learned to read early. Books appealed to his intellect and ignited his imagination.”
“According to his own recollection, Luciani as a youngster was drawn to the Church as if it were a lodestone whose attraction he was unable to resist. It became a salve for his poverty, an escape from the deprivations of daily life, a source of hope, a dispenser of dignity, a great equalizer, a refuge, and a source of individual inspiration.”
“On his eleventh birthday, Albino took his first step on the road to the priesthood and the journey that fifty-five years later would lead to his improbable election as supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.”
“Shortly following his election as pope, a prominent magazine suggested that Albino Luciani seemed to have some mettle in him. 25 The writer’s assessment of the new pope’s character was accurate. The docile seminarian had hidden reserves of virtues including valor.”
“Indeed, Albino had a gift as a catechist and always considered this role as central to his priesthood. The importance he attached to it was evident years later when he wrote the book Catechism in Crumbs.”
“Luciani’s consecration as a priest took place on July 7, 1935, and was officiated by Giosue Cattarossi, bishop of Belluno-Feltre. At age twenty-two, he was young to enter the ranks of the clergy. In his day, to be ordained prior to the age of twenty-four required a papal dispensation, which Luciani had been granted at the request of his superiors, who recognized his readiness to carry out the pastoral responsibilities of a clergyman.”
“In his sermons he frequently referenced both St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Francis de Sales, both noted for their advocacy of the simple virtues. 13 Luciani often spoke of joy, which he counseled was a Christian obligation. He, of course, was a man who consistently displayed signs of joy, as always, teaching by personal example.”
“Albino Luciani was not destined to fulfill his modest ambition of a career as a parish priest. He loved pastoral work, relished being a catechist, and he would have been content to finish his ecclesiastical calling as he began his vocation: a simple country parish priest administering to his flock.”
“On this day and the next, the pope worked in the privacy of the Apostolic Palace. The Holy Father led an intense prayer life. In addition to celebrating morning Mass each day, he devoted hours to silent prayer and recitation of the rosary. It’s likely that when his schedule was light, he devoted even more substantial time to praying, reading, and writing.”
“The smiling pope was breaking barriers, reaching people and teaching them. They were listening intently and responding positively. His personality drew people of all sorts to him: heads of state, high-ranking clergy, persons of other faiths, atheists and agnostics, workers, serious sinners, the disillusioned, just about everyone. Already he was changing lives for the better by his personal example, the power of his words, and the appeal of his beliefs. The possibilities for what he could accomplish in the years ahead seemed almost without limit.”
“For the most part, Luciani was perceptive in his assessment of the pre-vailing moral, social, political, and religious realities of his age. Some of his written ruminations were ominous. And yet he was no cynic but, rather, a champion of hope. He perceived a fundamental solution to the problems he described: a united humanity guided by God.”
“The range of courses he taught is illustrative of his unusual breadth and depth of knowledge, particularly for one so young. Luciani sporadically taught a diversity of subjects that few accomplished scholars would dare attempt. They included administration, art history, canon law, catechetics (principles of Christian religion), dogmatics (incontrovertibly true principles), eloquence (preaching), history, liturgy, patristics (early Christian theology), scholastic philosophy, sacred art, and pastoral theology.”
“Albino Luciani was obviously a man of many talents. A gifted teacher and writer, he was also a riveting public speaker, able administrator, accomplished pastor, wise counselor, and a singular role model. Long before he became pope, he contributed to improving the lives of countless people from children to whom he taught the catechism, to seminarians he supervised and instructed, to priests whom he guided, to the Catholic laity to whom head ministered the sacraments, to the downtrodden to whom he provided succor.”
“Pope John himself consecrated Luciani in St. Peter’s Basilica. At the pivotal moment of the ceremony, the Holy Father embraced Luciani tightly. The newly minted bishop, in turn, thanked the pope and pledged his obedience and devotion. Afterward, he borrowed a cape for the official photo with the pontiff because he didn’t have one of his own at the time.”
“A devotee of the Blessed Mother, Luciani placed importance on the Marian shrines around the world; he believed in their capacity to have a transformative impact on the lives of those who visited. He described them as “living centers of piety.” To Luciani the visions associated with these shrines were not so significant for having revealed dogma; rather, they provided practical guidance by reminding the faithful of the necessity of prayer and penance that he knew led to a greater tenderness toward others.”
“No one could have guessed it, but John Paul’s days were dwindling rapidly. Already, he was beyond the halfway point of his pontificate. He had been an immediate sensation, and his personal popularity, without regard to religious denomination, was intensifying and expanding far beyond the boundaries of Italy and the Western world. The international press corps that covered the papacy was beguiled by him. The cardinals who had elected him continued to be effusive about their choice. Seemingly all who met with him were touched by his meekness, impressed with his wisdom, delighted with the prospects of a revitalized church under his leadership. Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri provided proof of the public’s esteem of John Paul: “St. Peter’s square was jammed to the brim for the noon blessing the past two Sundays—something that had occurred only very seldom previously.””
“John Paul was relentless in adhering to a routine that would have taxed the energy of a much younger man; his workload was weighty, his schedule crammed, his days long, and his commitment to implementing the pro-gram outlined on the first full day of his papacy, unwavering. In fact, as was his wont, he was proceeding at a galloping pace to further the goals of his apostolic agenda.”
“Referring to his own experience as a student, he noted good-naturedly,“ No one came to tell me: ‘You will become Pope.’ Oh! If they had told me! If they had told me, I would have studied more; I would have prepared. But now I’m old; there’s no time.” “But you, dear young people . . . you have the time, you have youth, health, memory, ingenuity: try to exploit all these things.””
“John Paul held his third general audience on this day; his topic this timew as hope. He relished these weekly opportunities to bond with thousands of people. The pope taught that it was necessary for Christians to maintain hope even though “the bad are often fortunate and the good oppressed.””
“His frequent allusions to renowned writers didn’t mar the simplicity of his messages, nor did they make him sound like an intellectual, though much of his audience was unfamiliar with some of the notables’ names. He talked as if he were explaining concepts to a child but without condescension.”
“Albino Luciani thought highly of Paul VI, referring to him often as “un papa grande,” a great pope, according to his niece Pia Luciani. 12 The patriarch of Venice had admired Paul’s courage and steadfastness throughout the storms of controversy that had buffeted his pontificate. And although the two had had some disagreements about significant Church issues, they always maintained a relationship of mutual respect, each honoring the other’s intellectual and doctrinal integrity.”
“Luciani occupied modest accommodations as a guest of the Augustinian Fathers. St. Monica’s International College was conveniently located a short distance from St. Peter’s. The superior of the order had opportunities to observe the patriarch during his stay and later wrote that “his holiness radiated from his smiling face. His fatherly love encouraged everyone to feel he was his closest friend.” His presence there was unobtrusive, just as he wished it to be. He enjoyed taking isolated afternoon walks in the garden while reading his breviary. Afterward, he would sit on a bench and pray the rosary. In addition to prayer, the cardinal had time to engage in one of his favorite pastimes: reading. Work, though, intruded on this pleasure.”
“Most of the public guesswork did not consider Luciani to be a viable contender. That was fine with him. 46 He did not want to be pope; in fact, he did not consider himself qualified. Luciani’s name had been circulated widely as a papabile only in northern Italy—his home territory, where some people even boldly predicted that he would be the next pope. Few outside the area took the prognostication seriously, however.”
“Albino Luciani was a man with virtually no enemies among the College of Cardinals. In fact, those who knew him loved and admired him, and those who had only passing acquaintance with him were taken with his humility, intellect, and sense of humor, which was often self-deprecating. 61 A cardinal with those qualities, reasoned Benelli, would be a formidable candidate for the papacy. Not only was he likable, but Luciani also defied easy categorization as a liberal or conservative.”
“Senigaglia had gone so far as to predict that his former boss would be elected because he was the holiest of the cardinals. Luciani summarily dis-missed the notion. The man pressed him, asking how Luciani would respond if, in fact, he was elected. He said with an air of certainty that he would refuse. He simply didn’t want to be pope.”
“Highlight(yellow) - Poison (September 29, 1978–Present) > Location 17766
Even if the Vatican had been honest about the events surrounding John Paul’s death, the likelihood is that disbelief would have prevailed—at least temporarily. The popular pope’s passing was too sudden and too traumatizing to be comprehensible. John Paul was only sixty-five years old. In his public appearance just the day before his death he had exuded vitality. He had been animated and joyful. He had laughed good-naturedly while delivering a stirring talk. He had looked and sounded like a healthy, cheerful man. Further, there had been no public disclosure or discussion about any pre-existing physical ailment prior to or after his election.”
“Compounding the credibility dilemma was the depth and breadth of the public’s grief. John Paul was widely perceived as a man of almost mystical righteousness who radiated divine love. He provided a weary world with joy and hope, and his pontificate had held unlimited promise for the future. No act of God could possibly be responsible for terminating such a saintly life so soon, the widespread thinking went.”
““We ask ourselves, why so quickly?” he began in Italian, posing the unfathomable question about the brevity of John Paul’s pontificate that haunted the collective mind. “We have scarcely had the time to see the new pope. Yet one month was enough for him to have conquered hearts—and for us it was a month in which we loved him intensely. It is not length which characterizes a life in the pontificate, but rather the spirit that fills it. He passed as a meteor which unexpectedly lights up the heavens and then disappears, leaving us amazed and astonished. Already the Book of Wisdom [4: 13] spoke of this when telling of the just man ‘coming to perfection in so short a time that he achieved long life.”
“His enduring legacy is that all people must grow in love, for love alone can unite humanity, bring peace to individuals, communities, countries, continents, and the entire world. Love is the fountain of joy, respect, kindness, humility, and forgiveness—all of which are essential to a fulfilling life. By example, Albino Luciani taught us how to live and how to love.”
“Though the Vatican bureaucracy coveted secrecy, all indications were that he would have ushered in an era of public scrutiny of the Church’s policies and practices that would have been welcomed by both the laity and the press. Beyond that, the pope was committed to a Church of integrity. John Paul was not one to tolerate illegal or immoral behavior on the part of church personnel, lay and clerical alike. Unscrupulous church leaders such as Paul Marcinkus, who governed the Vatican bank like a Mafia boss, undoubtedly would have been relieved of their duties in addition to facing legal consequences if they had committed criminal acts. Any rogue Church organizations would have been disbanded or reorganized to prevent future abuses.”
“On September 4, 2022, John Paul’s heroic virtues were recognized when he was beatified, earning him the title “blessed.” Millions pray for his intercession in their lives. Whether another miracle attributed to him ise ver verified, paving the way to his canonization is almost irrelevant, for he demonstrated his saintliness in his lifetime. Joining the pantheon of “official” saints, however, will make him an even more singular spiritual force to untold future generations just as he was to those of us who marveled at the sway of his brief but inspiring papacy.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. It is written in an interesting way. It goes through each day of the pontificate. But written around those sections are the history of Pope John Paul I, and the events after his passing. Once I got going it was a very hard volume to put down.
It is an excellent biography and look into the life and pontificate of Pope John Paul I. I can easily recommend it. It was inspiring and encouraging to read this volume. Especially reading it during a papal interregnum. I can easily recommend this book for any church, school, or home library. It will inspire and challenge readers of all ages.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
Relates posts and links:
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Reviews of books about Pope John Paul I:
John Paul I - Stephen Dean
John Paul I - Stephen Dean
Gods Candidate the life and times of Pope John Paul I - Paul Spackman
...
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Books by Pope John Paul I:
Illustrissimi
A Passionate Adventure: Living the Catholic Faith Today
Books by Pope John Paul I:
Illustrissimi
A Passionate Adventure: Living the Catholic Faith Today
...
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