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Poland: Canonisation process begins for parents of St Pope John Paul II


Emila and Karol Wojtyła with  Karol junior

Emila and Karol Wojtyła with Karol junior

Source: Archdiocese of Krakow

The Archbishop of Krakow Most Rev Marek Jędraszewski yesterday announced the decision to start the canonization processes for the parents of St Pope John Paul II, Servants of God Emilia Wojtyła née Kaczorowska and Karol Wojtyła.

The Polish Bishops Conference and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, gave their approval last October.

The faithful are being asked to forward any documents, letters or messages "positive and negative" - related to the investigation Metropolitan Curia in Krakow by 7 May, 2020.

The memory of Emilia and Karol is still still very much alive especially in the Wadowice and Krakow communities. Although much time has passed since their death, there are still people who knew them personally.

Fr Andrzej Scąber, canonisation officer in the Archdiocese said: "We will try to reach them and ask them to testify.'' Besides speaking with direct witnesses they will be interviewing their children or grandchildren.

Fr Scaber said the Pope himself - in a sense - will be a direct witness to his parents' holiness. "There are many texts that confirm that they were exceptional people... John Paul II often recalled his father with whom he had internal spiritual friendship; he remembered his mother less, but always carried her in his heart - until his death."

Fr Scąber said the two separate canonization processes will be formally conducted with the task of showing that Emilia and Karol Wojtyla practiced virtues heroically, that they enjoy the reputation of holiness, and through their intercession people ask for God's favours.

Fr Scaber added that although there are a small number of direct witnesses still alive, a considerable amount of documentation has been collected over the years- especially regarding Karol Wojtyła senior. They show that his spiritual life progressed and he gave God and this friendship with God to his son, the future Pope.

The Archdiocese said in a statement: "Karol Karol Wojtyła senior was a deeply religious , hardworking and conscientious man. John Pail II repeatedly mentioned that he had seen his father kneeling and praying even at night. It was his father who taught him the prayer to the Holy Spirit which accompanied him to the end of his life."

The couple married in 1906. They had three children: Edmund, Olga and Karol. Olga died shortly after her birth. Emilia died just before Karol's ninth birthday. Edmund became a doctor, but died in 1932 of scarlet fever caught in the hospital where he worked, when Karol was just 12. Karol senior died in 1941.

Fr Scaber said: "At the threshold of the beatification process, it can be said that Emilia and Karol Wojtyła are the future patrons of the family. - Today the family is in crisis - lots of divorces, cohabitation relationships, abandoned children. The Wojtyła family - as Pope Francis says - are 'saints from the neighbourhood' - normal, ordinary, who show us that in a very difficult economic situation, during illness, the death of two children, you can trust and be close to God."

LINK

https://diecezja.pl/aktualnosci/abp-marek-jedraszewski-oglosil-decyzje-o-otwarciu-procesow-kanonizacyjnych-emilii-i-karola-wojtylow/

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