John Paul II, by Peggy Noonan
W. J. Rayment / ConservativeBookstore -- It has been argued that "interesting" times make great men. Perhaps troubled times do spawn great leaders, or perhaps they bring out the best in people. Yet for a Pope the times are not as important as the number of people he can touch and bless and bring to a spiritual connection with God. Peggy Noonan does not so much argue this in her book, "John Paul the Great", as she illustrates it by the story she tells.
In "John Paul the Great" Peggy Noonan relates her own faith journey and the influence that John Paul II had upon that journey. Although this is not a biography, per se, it is fairly loaded with biographical facts that show John Paul as he appears to modern Catholics within the milieu of the history of the last thirty years. It begins with Ms. Noonan's own experience at a papal audience. The description is a heartfelt revelation of the images and feelings produced by such an event in general and led by John Paul in particular. (He could make even a routine appearance a special event.)
John Paul had a tremendous influence on the politics of the late 20th century. Ms. Noonan goes into some detail discussing his visit to Poland soon after he became pope, and how this visit began a change in this communist country that precipitated the demise of world socialism. This was affected by the timely message he delivered of freedom and faith in the face of tottering and discredited dictatorship.
Freedom was an important concept for John Paul II. He embraced it with his whole heart. He saw that God made us free to choose the direction our faith will take. John Paul understood that God created the universe and then created man in his own image. For the pope this meant that it was also important for man to be a creator. John Paul was a poet who published books of poetry. He created for Catholics everywhere an image of the church that was both comforting and challenging. In Peggy Noonan's own faith journey we see both aspects of this creation. She becomes challenged to be a better person, but at the same time she is comforted by her faith.
Ms. Noonan has never been a writer to shirk in asking the hard questions. She takes on Pope John Paul's handling of the sex scandal of the priesthood in the United States head on. If she has any criticism for the pope it is on this score. She believes that the church must deal with this problem in a decisive manner or risk losing much of its following in the United States. Despite her criticism, her adoration of the Holy Father comes through in every page. "John Paul the Great" is written with the verve and enthusiasm of someone who has found a way to live life fully, with the spiritual guidance of John Paul II, even in the midst of the chaos and distractions of the dawn of the 21st century.
To understand this world leader and personal advisor to over one billion people, the book explores the influences of John Paul's childhood, his education in a Nazi/Communist run Poland, his rise in the church, his humility and his gentle sense of humor. The blending of the history of the pope with the perceptions and incidents in the life of Ms. Noonan gives the book a personal flavor that is both refreshing and insightful.
Does John Paul II deserve to be called "the Great"? The answer to that question lies within these pages. There is no question that John Paul had a forceful impact on history, but he did it by influencing every individual with whom he came in contact. In every mass, every homily, every audience, every conversation, every act on the stage of history, he more than proved his value as a man and as pope.
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