Everyone seems upset that Pope John Paul II's last wishes weren't kept. I'm not. I think the Pope's secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz did what he felt best. He is not making money; he's giving the proceeds from the sale of the book away. He is saving the Pope's papers for the world to read.
Look at it this way. Last wishes and just that--wishes. If Pope John Paul II wanted his papers destroyed, he would have done it himself, before he died. I did. I've burned my personal journals and diaries.
It was easy.
One can never know what will happen when you die. St. Dominic was a very humble man. His explicit directions when he was dying was to bury him on the path where his brothers would walk over him. Did you ever see the marker that indicates his grave? He who wanted no marker except to be trampled upon, has a monument. It took centuries to finish. Renowned artists, including
Michael Angelo, added to it. It is so huge, it is called the Arc of St. Dominic.
Bl. Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.'s grave was moved three times!
Last wishes are just "hopes." My poor brother wanted his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean. Well, the Department of Environmental Protection had something to say about that. We upgraded his "wishes" and had his ashes buried with our parents in consecrated ground.
I think people try to honor the loved one's wishes. But you can't always get what you want when you're living, so don't expect it when you die.
Look at it this way. Last wishes and just that--wishes. If Pope John Paul II wanted his papers destroyed, he would have done it himself, before he died. I did. I've burned my personal journals and diaries.
It was easy.
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| Arc of St. Dominic |
Michael Angelo, added to it. It is so huge, it is called the Arc of St. Dominic.
Bl. Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.'s grave was moved three times!
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| Tomb of Father Lataste |
Last wishes are just "hopes." My poor brother wanted his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean. Well, the Department of Environmental Protection had something to say about that. We upgraded his "wishes" and had his ashes buried with our parents in consecrated ground.
I think people try to honor the loved one's wishes. But you can't always get what you want when you're living, so don't expect it when you die.
