The Catholic Herald recently featured an article discussing Pope Francis’s personal and intimate devotion to Mary, contrasting it with that of Pope St. John Paul II. One commentator suggested Pope Francis’s Marian devotion resembled a son’s love for his mother, while Pope John Paul’s was more akin to a subject’s reverence for a queen. However, a closer look at the life and expressions of Pope St. John Paul II reveals a deeply personal and maternal understanding of Mary’s role, emphasizing her loving motherhood above all else.
Pope St. John Paul II’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was not a distant, regal formality, but a deeply ingrained aspect of his spiritual life, beginning in his childhood. Losing his mother at the young age of nine, he was nurtured in faith by his devout father, and Mary became a central figure in his spiritual upbringing. In his own words from Crossing the Threshold of Hope, he highlighted three key influences that shaped his profound Marian devotion.
Image alt text: Close-up of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, depicting Mary tenderly holding the Child Jesus, who gazes at the instruments of the Passion with fear, seeking refuge in his mother’s embrace.
Firstly, the parish church in Wadowice, his hometown, held the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in high regard. This icon, depicting Mary cradling the Child Jesus, profoundly impacted young Karol Wojtyła. In the image, Jesus looks towards the instruments of his future Passion – the spear, sponge, nails, crown of thorns, and cross – and instinctively grasps Mary’s hand, seeking comfort and protection. This image instilled in the young John Paul a sense of Mary as a protector, a mother who would shield him from harm and offer solace in times of suffering. He regularly prayed before this icon, forging an early and intimate connection with Mary as a maternal figure.
Secondly, pilgrimages with his father to the shrine of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, especially during the Feast of the Assumption, further solidified his Marian devotion. This shrine, known for its paths depicting the Way of the Cross, also housed another revered image of the Blessed Mother holding the Child Jesus. These pilgrimages were formative experiences, deeply intertwining his devotion to Mary with his faith in Christ. As Pope John Paul II himself noted, “From my earliest years, my own devotion to Mary was deeply joined to my faith in Christ. The shrine of Kalwaria helped me greatly in this.” It was at this shrine, from the age of ten, that he received the scapular, a tangible symbol of Mary’s maternal protection, which he wore throughout his life, a testament to his unwavering reliance on her.
Image alt text: The iconic Black Madonna of Częstochowa, showcasing the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus, revered for centuries by Polish Catholics as a symbol of maternal protection and hope, especially in times of national difficulty.
Thirdly, the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, home to the revered icon of the Blessed Mother holding the Child Jesus, exerted a profound influence on his spiritual development. For centuries, the Polish people have venerated this icon, turning to Our Lady of Czestochowa for maternal protection and intercession, particularly during times of hardship. This devotion was deeply ingrained in Polish culture and resonated deeply with the young Karol Wojtyła. His connection to Our Lady of Czestochowa was evident throughout his papacy. On his historic first trip to Poland in 1979 as Pope, he made a point to visit this sacred shrine. There, he poignantly declared, “The call of a son of Poland to the Cathedral of St. Peter contains an evident and strong link with this holy place, with this Shrine of great hope: totus tuus (“I am all yours”), I had whispered in prayer so many times before this Image.” This phrase, Totus Tuus, became his papal motto, encapsulating his total consecration to Mary.
Later, in 1982, on the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, amidst the struggles of Poland for independence from communist rule, Pope John Paul II delivered a powerful message of hope to his countrymen. He invoked Our Lady of Czestochowa, urging them to find strength and perseverance in her maternal heart, mirroring the courage of Maximilian Kolbe, and to continue striving for truth, justice, liberty, and dignity. This demonstrated his deep reliance on Mary not just for personal solace, but also as a source of strength and hope for his nation.
As he matured, around the age of 20, Karol Wojtyła encountered the writings of St. Louis de Montfort, particularly Treatise of True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. This encounter was transformative. While he already understood Mary’s role in leading people to Christ, St. Louis de Montfort’s teachings illuminated the reciprocal truth: Christ also leads us to His Mother. This profound realization solidified his understanding of Marian devotion and inspired his adoption of Totus Tuus as his personal motto. As reflected in Gift and Mystery, this motto represented his complete self-giving to Mary, understanding it as a path to deeper union with Christ.
Image alt text: Pope John Paul II’s papal coat of arms, featuring the prominent ‘M’ for Mary placed beneath the cross, visually symbolizing Mary’s unwavering presence and maternal support at the foot of the Cross and throughout his papacy.
Upon his election as Pope on October 16, 1978, and when asked by Cardinal Jean Villot if he accepted the election, Cardinal Wojtyła responded, “In the obedience of faith before Christ my Lord, abandoning myself to the Mother of Christ and the church, and conscious of the great difficulties, accepto.” This acceptance, uttered in Latin, was immediately followed by his act of entrusting himself to Mary. He chose Totus Tuus as his papal motto and incorporated the letter “M” for Mary into his papal coat of arms, placed beneath the arm of the cross. This symbolized Mary’s role as the faithful mother and disciple, standing at the foot of the cross, and her continued presence in his pontificate.
In 1980, observing the absence of a dedicated monument to the Blessed Mother in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II commissioned the creation of the beautiful mosaic “Mary, Mother of the Church.” Unveiled on December 7, 1981, he expressed his hope that “Now all who come to St. Peter’s Square may raise their eyes to Mary to greet her with filial trust and prayer.” This act further demonstrated his desire to make Mary’s maternal presence felt at the heart of the Vatican.
To mark the 25th anniversary of his papacy, Pope John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary. In his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, he explained, “With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of His love. Through the Rosary, the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.” This addition to the Rosary further emphasized Mary’s role as a maternal guide, leading believers to Christ and dispensing grace.
Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of Pope John Paul II’s reliance on Mary’s maternal protection occurred during the assassination attempt on May 13, 1981. As he was passing through St. Peter’s Square, he was struck by two bullets. Falling into the arms of his secretary, Archbishop Dziwisz, his immediate response, even in the face of mortal danger, was a cry to his mother: “Oh Mary, my mother, my mother.” His survival was considered miraculous. Doctors noted that the bullets narrowly missed vital organs, and one bullet seemed to have inexplicably changed direction. Pope John Paul II himself later attributed his survival to Mary’s intervention, stating, “Someone’s hand had shot me, but Another Hand directed the bullet. For in everything that happened to me on that very day, I felt that extraordinary motherly protection and care, which turned out to be stronger than the deadly bullet.”
Image alt text: Pope John Paul II kneeling in prayer at the Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal, expressing gratitude for Mary’s intercession in saving his life during the 1981 assassination attempt, highlighting the profound connection between Fatima and his personal experience of Marian protection.
One year later, visiting Fatima to give thanks for his miraculous recovery, Pope John Paul II reflected on Mary’s spiritual motherhood. He recalled Jesus’ words on the cross, “There is your mother,” and emphasized that Mary’s motherhood extends to all humanity. He stated, “Motherhood means concern for the life of the child. Now, if Mary is the mother of all mankind, then her concern for the life of man has universal extension. A mother’s concern embraces the whole man.” He connected Mary’s spiritual motherhood to the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, and affirmed her role as a humble servant of the Lord.
In conclusion, while Mary is indeed revered as Queen of Heaven, Pope St. John Paul II’s devotion went beyond regal respect. His life and teachings consistently highlighted Mary’s role as a loving mother, a source of comfort, protection, and guidance. His Totus Tuus was not the pledge of a subject to a queen, but the heartfelt offering of a son to his mother, a testament to his profound belief in her maternal love and intercession for all.
