In preparation for World Youth Day to be held on July 26-31, 2016, in Krakow, one should watch the video from the WYD official site entitled “The Pilgrim’s Guide”.
The video clip is extremely informative not only for eventual participants of this event but also for people interested in history and culture in general. This video will be a nice find for those who admire Saint Pope John Paul II’s life, exploring the spiritual paths of his life.
Читай українською: ВІРТУАЛЬНИЙ ТУР СДМ: ШЛЯХАМИ СВЯТОГО ІВАНА ПАВЛА ІІ
The main points of the saint’s life, pictured in the video, demonstrate to the spectators all of the memorable places which led him to the way of priesthood, and, later, to Rome as a Pontiff. What is presented here are the memorable places of his birth, churches of his ministry, and places of his retirement for prayer.
It is interesting to note that the video uses the first person perspective in order for the presenter to demonstrate all the memorable sites of Saint Pope John Paul II’s life as if the spectators were at these places.
The first spot presented in “The Pilgrim’s Guide” is the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (which is the laical name of John Paul ІІ), situated in the town of Wadowice, near Krakow. Here he lived with his father until the age of 18. There’s also a church in this town where John Paul II was baptized.
At present, his family home has been transformed into a museum, housing numerous memorable objects from his childhood.
The next site showed in the video is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a town near Wadowice. Inside its Basilica, there’s an icon of St. Mary of Kalwaria. All of John Paul II’s adoration and prayer gravitate toward St. Mary of Kalwaria, when he visited the monastery during his first and last visit to Poland.
Upon arriving to Krakow, Karol Wojtyla began his studies at Jagiellonian University. Karol and his father attended mass in the church belonging to the Salesians.
It was at this church that Karol Wojtyla found a parish to call home.
Further south of the Vistula River, there’s the Divine Mercy Sanctuary.
Karol Wojtyla frequently prayed at the monastery chapel run by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, as it was not too far from a chemical plant where he worked.
Later, as Pope, he consecrated the newly built Basilica in 2002 which was dedicated to the devotion of Divine Mercy.
In general, the “The Pilgrim’s Guide” is very informative. The cinematography is made in such a way that, sometimes, one is able to press pause and examine what is presented in more detail. It is important to note that, in this video, there are many more cultural monuments from the life of Saint Pope John Paul II than is indicated above. Let “The Pilgrim’s Guide” raise your interest and encourage other activities concerning World Youth Day.
Tetiana Baran
