Not Speaking Out

 
Pope John Paul II is on the fast track to sainthood. In attendance at his beatification ceremony in Rome today, was the single miracle that he needed to be beatified: Sister Marie Simon Pierre Norman, a French nun, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2001. A Vatican investigation determined that fellow French nuns encouraged Sister Marie to pray to the then deceased John Paul. Following prayer, the Sister was miraculously “cured” of Parkinson’s.

In order to become a saint, Pope John Paul will require a second miracle. Five million people world-wide with Parkinson’s would love to be his second miracle.

I don’t have any problems with Pope John Paul becoming beautified and eventually becoming a saint. He led a saintly life and is well-deserving of the title.

However, my issue with the late pope is that prior to his death in April of 2005, he rarely or never spoke out about his personal struggles with living with Parkinson’s Disease. I kept waiting and waiting for a word of inspiration from the late pontiff, but it never happened. Think of how much he could have helped the Parkinson’s community had he shared his story.

Instead, Pope John Paul chose to be a silent sufferer and was commended by Pope Benedict XVI for doing so. In his homily at today’s beatification ceremony, Pope Benedict spoke of John Paul’s witness in suffering.  He said the Lord gradually stripped John Paul of everything, yet he remained ever a "rock," as Christ desired.  His profound humility, Pope Benedict added, grounded in close union with Christ, enabled him to continue to lead the Church and to give to the world a message that became all the more eloquent as his physical strength declined.

In the past, I’ve been guilty of this sin of omission by not speaking out and sharing my story—not wanting to whine when my health was going poorly and not wanting to brag when my life was going well.

We must start by speaking out about Parkinson’s and sharing our stories so that others might benefit. And don’t forget to pray to Pope John Paul for a permanent cure, not a one or two-time miracle, for this devastating disease.

Comments

[Ginny]

I have just found your blog but will be back often. Thank you for speaking out and educating people who don't know much about this disease.