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Inner Life of a Catholic

The Profession of Faith 

HIS FAMILY

Father - Karol Wojtyla - Son of a master tailor Maciej and Anna, born July 18, 1879 at Lipnik near the city of Bielsko Bia?a, Poland. Tailor, from 1900 administrative officer of the Austrian army, then lieutenant in the Polish army until his retirement in 1927.

Mother - Emilia Kaczorowska - Daughter of a pack-saddle maker and refurnishes carriages, named Feliks, and Maria Anna; born March 26, 1884.

Brother - Edmund - Born on August 27, 1906 in Kraków, physician, worked in Powszechny Hospital in Bielsko.

KAROL JÓSEF WOJTYLA

1920

May 18 - Born in Wadowice (Kraków), Poland.

June 20 - Baptized by the military chaplain P. Franciszek Zak.

Lived with his parents at Rynek 2, (now Via Koscielna 7, apt. no. 4).

1926

September 15 - Attended the elementary school for boys, and then the prep years of secondary school "Marcin Wadowita" in which during all his classes he achieved the top grades.

1929

April 13 - His mother dies.

1930

June - Admitted to the State Secondary School for boys, "Marcin Wadowita".

1932

December 5 - His brother Edmund dies.

1933

June 14 - Finishes the third form of Secondary School.

1934-1938 - His first student theatrical performances in Wadowice; during Secondary School he is president of the Society of Mary; first pilgrimage to Czestochowa.

1935

September - Participates in military training exercises at Hermanice.

December 14 - Admitted into the Society of Mary.

1938

May - Receives the Sacrament of Confirmation.

May 14 - Completes leaving exams at Secondary School.

June 22 - Enrolls in the Faculty of Philosophy (course of Polish Philosophy) at Jagellonian University, Kraków.

Summer - He and his father move to Kraków (Via Tyniecka 10).

Academic Year - 1938-39 - While studying at University he joins the "Studio 38", experimental theater group founded by Tadeusz Kudli?ski.

1939

February 6 - Joins the Student Society at the Jagellonian University (Eucharistic and charity section).

July - University military training camp at Ozomla, near Sadowa Wiszna for Polish and Ukraine students.

September 1 - Second World War begins.

November 2 - Registers for the second year university courses in Literature and Philosophy.

1940

February - Meets Jan Tyranowski, tailor, a man of profound spirituality, shaped by the Carmelite School. Introduces Wojty?a to the writings of John of the Cross and Teresa d’Avila. Participates in the underground theater directed by Tadeusz Kudli?ski.

November 1 - He earns a living and forestalls deportation and imprisonment, as a stone cutter in quarry at Zakrzówek, Kraków.

1941

February 18 - His father dies.

August - Receives into his house the family of Mieczys?aw Kotlarczyk, founder of the live words theater (Rhapsody).

November 1 - First presentation of Król Duch (The Spirit King) by Jiliusz S?owacki.

1942

Spring - Transferred to Solvay chemical plant.

October - Begins clandestine studies for the priesthood in Kraków's underground seminary; registers in the Faculty of Theology of the Jagellonian University.

1943

March - Takes the lead role of "Samuel Zborowski" by Juliusz S?owacki making his first appearance on the theatrical scene. It is also his last appearance in the world of theater (Clandestinely; they preform in the house of a group of friends).

Academic Year - 1943-1944 - Second year of theology studies. Continues to work in the Solvay chemical plant.

1944

February 29 - March 12 - Hit by an automobile; recovery in hospital.

August - Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapieha transfers him, together with other clandestine seminarians to the Archbishop's Residence where he remains until the end of the war. He continues his studies but not his work at Solvay.

November 9 - Receives the tonsure.

December 17 - Receives the first two minor orders.

1945

January 18 - The Russian Armed Forces free Kraków from Nazi occupation.

Academic Year - 1944-1945 - Third year of theological studies.

April 9 - Elected vice-president of the student organization "Bratnia Pomoc" (Fraternal Help) at Jagellonian University. Serves in this capacity until the end of May 1946.

Academic Year - 1945-1946 - Fourth year of theological studies.

December 12 - Receives the two other minor orders.

1946

October 13 - Sub-diaconate.

October 20 - Diaconate.

November 1 - Ordained a priest. As on the preceding occasions, he received Holy Orders from the hands of Archbishop Metropolitan Adam Sapieha in his private chapel.

November 2 - Celebrates his first Mass in the crypt of St. Leonard at Wavel.

November 15 - Leaves Poland to begin studies in Rome.

November 26 - Registers at the Angelicum University.

November 15 - end of December - Lodging with the Pallottines in Via Pettinari.

End of December - Together with Fr. Starowieyski lives at the Pontifical Belgian College in Via Quirinale 26.

1947

July 3 - Earns a licentiate in theology.

Summer - With Fr. Starowieyski he travels to France, Belgium and Holland. In the area of Charleroi he carries out his pastoral activities with the Polish workers.

1948

June 14-19 - Defends his thesis "The Problems of Faith in the Works of St. John of the Cross"; earns a doctorate in philosophy.

Beginning of July - Returns from Rome to Poland.

July 8 - Sent as assistant pastor to Niegowi? near Gdów.

December 16 - Earns a master's degree in theology at the Jagellonian University in Kraków (1942-1946). Earns a doctorate in sacred theology in the Faculty of Theology at the Jagellonian University with highest marks.

1949

August - Recalled to Kraków to be assistant pastor at St. Florian's.

1950

He starts his publications.

1951

September 1 - Archbishop Baziak puts him on leave (until 1953) to complete his qualifying exams for a university position. Up until now he served as a chaplain to the university students (in St. Florian's) and for health workers.

1953

From October - Gives a course in Catholic social ethics for the students of fourth year theology at the Jagellonian University.

December 1-3 - Completes his qualifying exams by presenting his thesis on the "ethical system of Max Scheler".

1954

Faculty of Theology at the Jagellonian University abolished, this faculty is then organized at the Seminary of Kraków where he continues his studies. Catholic University of Lublin offers him a non-tenured professorship which he accepts.

1956

From December 1 - Appointed to the Chair of Ethics at the Catholic University of Lublin.

1957

November 15 - The Central Qualifying Committee approves his appointment as free docent.

1958

July 4 - Appointed Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Mons. Eugeniusz Baziak of Kraków.

September 28 - Ordained Bishop in the Cathedral of Wavel.

1960

January - Dissertation published by the Academy of Sciences (Towarzystwo Naukowe) of the Catholic University of Lublin: "Evaluation of the Possibility of Constructing a Christian Ethic based on the System of Max Scheler".

During 1960 - First edition of "Love and Responsibility" (ed. by TNKUL).

1962

April 15 - Member of the Polish Episcopal Commission for Education.

July 16 - After the death of Archbishop Baziak, named Vicar Capitular.

October 5 - Leaves for Rome to participate in the first session of the Second Vatican Council (October 11 - December 8).

1963

October 6 - December 4 - Participates in the II Session of the Second Vatican Council.

December 5-15 - Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with various Bishops of different nationalities present at the Council.

December 30 - Designated Metropolitan Bishop of Kraków.

1964

January 13 - Papal Bull for the appointment of Archbishop of Kraków.

March 8 - Installation ceremony.

September 10 - Leaves for the III session of the Second Vatican Council (September 14 - November 21); at its conclusion makes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, remaining for two weeks.

1965

January 31 - April 6 - Participates in the work on Schema XIII, Gaudium et spes on the Church in the contemporary world (Ariccia, 31 January 31 - February 6; Rome, February 8-13; Rome, March 29 - April 6).

September 14 - December 8 - IV Session and solemn closing of the Second Vatican Council.

November 18 - Letter of Reconciliation of the Polish Bishops to the German Bishops, containing the famous words "We forgive and ask forgiveness".

1966

December 29 - Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity is established; Archbishop Wojty?a is made President.

During 1966 - Present at the numerous celebrations of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland.

1967

April 13-20 - Participates in the first meeting of the Council for the Laity.

May 29 - Paul VI announces the next Consistory. Among the names of the new Cardinals elect is that of Karol Wojty?a.

June 21 - Leaves for the Consistory.

June 28 - Consecrated Cardinal in the Sistine Chapel, by Pope Paul VI - titular S. Cesareo in Palatio.

September29 - October 29 - First General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Cardinal Wojty?a does not attend as a sign of solidarity with the Primate, who was not granted a passport.

October 29 - Reception ceremony of the Black Madonna of Cz?stochowa for the purpose of visitation within the Archdiocese of Kraków. The sacred image had been held previously by the authorities in Cz?stochowa.

1968

February 18 - Takes possession of the titular Church, S. Cesareo in Palatio, Rome.

September 25 - "Ad limina" visit to Rome.

December 15 - Visitation of the Black Madonna concludes in the Archdiocese of Kraków. Cardinal Wojty?a attends ceremonies in 120 parishes throughout the archdiocese.

1969

January 10 - Official address becomes the Archbishop's Residence in Via Franciszkanska 3. Up until that time he continued to reside at his old lodgings in Via Kanonicza 22.

February 28 - During his visitation to the parish of Corpus Domini he makes a visit to the Jewish Community and to the Synagogue in the Kazimierz section of Kraków.

March 15 - Approval of the statutes of the Episcopal Conference; Cardinal Wojty?a is Vice-President of the Conference.

October 11-28 - With his return from America he participates in the First Extraordinary Synod of Bishops as a Pontifical nominated Member.

December - The Polish Theological Society (PTT) of Krakow publishes "The Acting Person" (Osoba i cyzn).

1970

April 5 - Consecration of Auxiliary-Bishops Stani?saw Smolenski and Albin Malysiak.

May 27 - June 2 - Pilgrimage of Polish priests ex-prisoners of Dachau to Rome.

May 29 - Participates with other Polish priests in St. Peters at the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the priesthood of Paul VI.

May 30 - Participates in the mass of Paolo VI. Audience in occasion of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the priesthood of Paul VI.

During 1970 - He makes various pastoral visits to different European nations.

1971

Janurary 8
 Convokes the Preparatory Commission of the Archdiocesan Synod of Kraków.

Spring
 Writes and publishes in the diocesan bulletin "Notificationes" plans for a Provincial Synod.

September 27
 Leaves for the II General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (September 30 - November 6).

October 5
 Is elected to the Council of the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

October 17
 Participates at the beatification of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe.

1972

May 8
 Opening of the Archdiocesan Synod of Kraków.

During 1972
 Publishes Foundations of Renewal: A Study on the Implementation of the Second Vatican Council, which reflects his efforts to educate the people of his archdiocese on Vatican II, (Published by PTT).

1973

March 2-9
 Participates in the Eucharistic Congress in Australia. Stops at Manila (Philippines) and New Guinea.

May
 Visit to Belgium.

June 30
 First meeting of the commission of experts on the Provincial Synod presided over by Cardinal Wojty?a.

September 26 - October 5
 "Ad limina" visit to Rome.

October 5
 Audience with Paul VI.

November
 Visit to France (Paris, Chamonix, Annecy).

1974

April 17-25
 In Italy, participates in meetings commemorating the VII Centenary of St. Thomas where he gives a paper (April 23).

June 28
 In Rome, participates in the celebrations for the anniversary of the coronation of Paul VI and for the consecration of Bishop Andrzej Maria Deskur.

September27 - October 26
 III General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Card. Wojty?a, member of the Synod of Bishops, is relator on the doctrinal section.

November 1-3
 Visit to San Giovanni Rotondo. (He was there for the first time during his student years and met with Padre Pio).

1975

February 8-9
 First National Assembly of Physicians and Theologians, convoked by Cardinal Wojty?a at Kraków.

February 27
 Gives a paper ("Participation or Alienation?") at an international study seminar of phenomenology in Fribourg.

March 3-8
 First meeting of the new Council of the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

May 8
 IV General Assembly of the Synod of Kraków.

September 19
 Visits the German Democratic Republic (DDR).

December 1
 At the invitation of Cardinal Colombo, gives a lecture at the Ambrosiana of Milan on the theme "The rights of the Human Being in the light of the recent Synod of Bishops".

1976

March 7-13
 Gives the spiritual exercises at the Vatican, in the presence of Pope Paul VI, the meditations from which have been published as A Sign of Contradiction. He returns to Kraków on the 16th of March.

March 27
 Attends congress at the Gregorian University of Rome. He gives the introduction on the phenomenolgy of action.

April 1
 Gives two papers at cultural meetings and at the Angelicum, in Rome.

July 23 - September 5
 Visit to the United States and Canada.

September 8
 Rome, Genova: at a philosophy conference delivers lecture entitled "Theory - Praxis: a human and Christian topic".

November 22
 Card. Wojty?a presides over the Polish delegation at the international conference in Rome for the preparations of the new Apostolic Constitution for Ecclesiastical Studies.

1977

March 1-15
 Participates (presides during the absence of Card. Seper) at the third meeting of the Council of the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

March 18
 Gives a lecture entitled "The Problem of Creating Culture Through Human Praxis" at Sacred Heart University of Milan.

June 23
 Receives a doctorate "honoris causa" from Johannes Guttenberg University, Mainz.

July 1
 Lecture at the "Centre du Dialogue" in Paris; at Osny, near Paris, he presides at a meeting for Polish Catholics.

September 30 - October 29
 IV General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Is elected to the Council of the Secretary General of the Synod on the 24th of October.

1978

March 12-17
 Working sessions at the Congregation for Seminaries and Institutes of Study. During this same time he is present at the ceremony in which the pallium is conferred to Archbishop Tomašek.

May 16-19
 Session of the Council of the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

June 21
 Lecture on "Love and Marriage" at the Centro Internazionale Studi Famiglia (CISF) meeting on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Humanae Vitae.

August 11-12
 Present at the funeral of Paul VI.

August 25
 Conclave begins.

August 26
 John Paul I (Albino Luciani) is elected Pope.

August 30
 John Paul I receives Cardinals and Card. Wojty?a in private audience; 3 September, he is present at the inauguration ceremony of the pontificate of John Paul I.

September 19-25
 Visits the Federal Republic of Germany with Cardinal Primate Stefan Wyszy?ski and the Bishops of Stroba and Rubin.

October 3-4
 Leaves for the funeral of Pope John Paul I.

October 14
 Conclave begins.

October 16
 Cardinal Karol Wojty?a is elected 264th Pope at approximately 5:15 p.m. He is the 263rd Successor of Peter.

Karol Józef Wojtya , known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojty?a and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929. His eldest brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932 and his father, a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941.

He made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at 18. Upon graduation from Marcin Wadowita high school in Wadowice, he enrolled in Cracow's Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama.

The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the Solvay chemical factory to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany.

In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojty?a was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine.

After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Cracow, once it had re-opened, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University, until his priestly ordination in Cracow on November 1, 1946.

Soon after, Cardinal Sapieha sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. He finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross. At that time, during his vacations, he exercised his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland.

In 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the university students until 1951, when he took up again his studies on philosophy and theology. In 1953 he defended a thesis on "evaluation of the possibility of founding a Catholic ethic on the ethical system of Max Scheler" at Lublin Catholic University. Later he became professor of moral theology and social ethics in the major seminary of Cracow and in the Faculty of Theology of Lublin.

On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, by Archbishop Baziak.

On January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal June 26, 1967.

Besides taking part in Vatican Council II with an important contribution to the elaboration of the Constitution Gaudium et spes, Cardinal Wojty?a participated in all the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops.

Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II has completed 95 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 142 within Italy. As Bishop of Rome he has visited 301 of the 334 parishes.

His principal documents include 14 encyclicals, 13 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions and 42 apostolic letters. The Pope has also published three books: "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" (October 1994); "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination" (November 1996) and "Roman Tryptych - Meditations", a book of poems (March 2003)..

John Paul II has presided at 138 beatification ceremonies ( 1,310 Blesseds proclaimed ) and 48 canonization ceremonies
( 469 Saints ) during his pontificate. He has held 8 consistories in which he created 201 cardinals . He has also convened six plenary meetings of the College of Cardinals .

From 1978 to today the Holy Father has presided at 15 Synods of Bishops : six ordinary (1980, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 2001),
one extraordinary (1985) and eight special (1980, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998[2] and 1999).

No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: to date, more than 16,700,000 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1,000). Such figure is without counting all other special audiences and religious ceremonies held [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone] and the millions of faithful met during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the world. It must also be remembered the numerous government personalities encountered during 38 official visits and in the 690 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State , and even the 226 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers