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Your conversion story is reminiscent of mine. I have such a deep love for our Blessed Mother now. Piggy-backing off Phillip’s comment, I lost my mom when I was 18. It was when I was attending HACS that I found out about JP II’s dad taking him to the statue of the Blessed Mother and telling him, “She’s your mother now.” JP II has been a true older brother showing me the way.

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Jan 1, 2023·edited Jan 1, 2023Author

That story made a big impression on me, as well!

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Jan 1, 2023·edited Jan 1, 2023Author

I was having dinner with a priest and we got on the topic of John Paul II’s strong mariology. The priest said, “Wojtyla lost his mother at a young age, 9 or so. In response, he clung to the other mother Christ gave him.”

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I enjoyed his biography immensely! He was not just a great Pope and warrior against communism, but he loved hiking and Sinatra - gotta love that!

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Jan 2, 2023Liked by Judson Carroll

This is a joy to read and reflect upon. Cradle Catholics and converts who have been Catholics for a long, long time need to hear from folks like you. It restores our joy in Mary and love for her!

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Actually, it is the Holy Spirit within us that perfects our prayers (cf. Romans 8:28). Ultimately, we have to also present our own sinful faces to God in order to be saved regardless of who intercedes for us; and this includes the intercession of Christ, our heavenly High Priest, at the right hand of the Father (cf. Hebrews 7:24-27; 4:14-16; 10:19-23).

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