Heather

behind is simple: We cannot

choose whose human dignity

and sacredness we should affirm

because we must choose

to affirm all human dignity

and sacredness. That was his

central message – he was a

vigorous defender of human

life, both the unborn and

those close to death. And he

left us with a beautiful theology

of the body, integrating

the entire person, both body

and soul. He wrote numerous

encyclicals on the sacredness

of both consecrated and married

life, and the underlying

theme in all of his messages

was always the defense of

every human person.

Lately, I have been receiving

e-mails from my campus

ministry calling for students

to protest outside of an abortion

clinic. So far, 25 students

have signed up. They are

following in the footsteps of

the late pope. Pope John Paul

II had an undying love for

children and for the youth

of the church – he was truly

loved by the young and the

old.

I was a junior in high school

at Dominican when I heard

about his passing. I watched

his funeral Mass on the television

and cried. Even though I

had never met him, I still felt

a strong connection to a man

who crossed all boundaries to

preach the Gospel. I grew up

hearing his message. It is only

fitting that I continue living

it.

Pope John Paul II emphasized

the universal call to

holiness. The question that

we should be asking ourselves

is not when will he become a

saint. It should be when are

we, as a society, going to follow

his message and follow

his example to build a culture

of life and love?