How the Fortitude of A Catholic Pope Changed the Name of a Lutheran Boy

[Note: As we approach the 5th anniversary of the death of our beloved, "blessed', John Paul II, I thought it would be appropriate to re-post this article. What follows is a true story. The young man's name* has been changed to respect his privacy.]

   In the month after the death, days of mourning, and funeral of the late Pope John Paul II, a certain Lutheran youth pastor took 10 youth on a “pre-Confirmation” retreat, as part of their final preparation to receive the Rite of Confirmation. This pastor had, months earlier, expressly told these 10 youth that they would each need to ponder a saint of the Church whose life and faith were a witness to them, an example that they would wish to emulate, a patron saint whose name they would want to take on at their Confirmation.

As the van was unloading at the familiar beach retreat house, one young man said, “Pastor Paul, do you think they’re gonna make John Paul II a saint.” (”They” obviously meaning the Catholic Church.)

“Well, Keith*, I have no doubt that John Paul II was a saintly man, and I have little doubt that the Catholic Church will expedite the process of canonization for him… but why do you ask?”

“Cause that’s who I want for my saint’s name”

Two thoughts went through the pastor’s mind simultaneously: (1) “OOOKKKK…. that’s kinda outside the box…”, and (2) “WOW… I LIKE IT!”

“Keith*, we’ll need to sit down a little later and talk about that.”

Later that night, the pastor pulled the young man aside. “Sit down here, and explain to me why John Paul II is an example of faith to you, and someone whose name you would want to add to yours.”

“Well,” said the young man, “he took a bullet for the Faith, basically brought an end to the Cold War, and got old and sick and coulda quit but he didn’t… I think that’s pretty strong.”

Knowing there would probably be some “blow-back”, and not really caring very much if there was, the pastor smiled at the young man and said, “Keith, I agree with you, and I think that’s a very brave decision on your part. If anybody asks you, ‘Why John Paul?’, you just explain it to them like you did to me”

And so, on Pentecost Sunday, 2005, in a Lutheran church, the witness of the late Catholic pope changed the name of a young Lutheran boy, as I laid my hands upon his head, and proclaimed him Keith* Andrew “JOHN PAUL” Watson*

And the ceiling did NOT fall in.

That may not qualify as one of the three miracles necessary for canonization… but it comes pretty darn close.