Magnus, Magnus

As a Catholic I am proud that my church closed the last chapter of the 20th century under the stewardship of Pope John Paul II.

I thought I knew his story - but how little I knew. During past few days of coverage I have been awestruck at the virtues that seemed to be combined, providentially, in this humble man from Poland: Faith, courage, intellect, humor, and an almost limitless energy that kept him engaged with the world. He just kept coming at you, smiling, in the name of peace - no matter if you were young, old, Soviet, American, Muslim or Jew.

Some American Catholics (and many who aren't Catholic, but feel obliged to offer their two cents) think the church "needs to change". And clearly some material realities of the church must always change, notably the bureaucratic practices of the too-fallible men who are charged with its leadership.

But the basic articles of faith are not subject to change. Like it or not - and I'll be the first to tell you, some of it is hard to like - the theological doctrine of the Catholic church is based on spiritual truth, which doesn't change. To pick an abrasive example, abortion can't be wrong for thousands of years and then suddenly become acceptable because social mores are different these days. Either it's always been okay or it never was at all.

But if we get hung up on inflammatory, political issues, we miss the blazing example of Karol Wojtyla's life. He confronted many of the most brutal challenges of the deadliest and most astonishing century in history and prevailed - armed with only humility, compassion and grace. This week I wonder how many of us have watched his departure, and contemplated that example, and quietly resolved to make better use of our numbered days on earth.

Sanctus Ioannes Paulus Secundus Magnus