Father Richard Kunst, Curator & Commentator
One of the major events of the pontificate of John Paul II, even considering how long his pontificate was, that we would say changed world history was his first visit back home to Poland, and that happened right away in June of ’79. He was elected in October of ’78, and we’re talking June of ’79. He spent nine days in Poland, and he went all throughout the country and really mobilized the spirit of the people, so they could look upon themselves and say, “Hey, we are many and we have faith. We want something different for our existence than what we have right now.”
And what we have right here is actually a ticket to the last Mass that he celebrated in Krakow from June 10, 1979. To have a ticket that is not torn from this incredible, historic event is really a nice item to have. I’ve never seen one of these tickets offered. I’ve seen ones from other Masses but nothing quite as historic as this. This ticket represents a change of the political world in Eastern Europe with the movement that his visit started.
They say 30 million Polish people actually saw him while he was there, and the rest of the people saw him on TV. So really, all of Poland saw this native son, certainly the majority, who had now become Pope. And it certainly energized the people both in faith and in justice issues, and in religious freedom. That was the big thing.
There were many times when the authorities in Poland said they didn’t want him there. They came up with many excuses as to why he couldn’t come, but eventually, the Soviet Union said, “You’ve got to bring him in. You can’t say you’re sick all the time.” And so eventually they said, “Okay, you can come.” They knew very well that it would not turn out well for them, because the people saw the importance of faith as a populace. The amount of people who saw him in person or on TV, could say, “We are many, and they are few.” And so the bloodless coup, so to speak, originated with that first trip of John Paul II.
It looks like there is a stamp of Mary on this ticket, probably used to validate it. She is always close at hand when you look at items connected to John Paul. She is always present in particular with him. All the popes were Marian, we could say to varying degrees, but none of them had an “M” in their coats of arms. –Fr. Richard Kunst
Additional Information:
John Paul II’s first pilgrimage to Poland occurred between June 2-10, 1979. In Catholic tradition, “pilgrimage” is a journey to a sacred place for prayer, penance, and alms giving. Particularly in Europe, the idea of pilgrimage is common and reflects a conviction that God acts decisively in history at certain times and places.
About John Paul’s pilgrimage to Poland, one commentator said it was the most fantastic pilgrimage in the history of contemporary Europe. From Warsaw to Gniezno, Czestochowa, and finally to Krakow, the Pope brought his spirit to his people, a spirit that many believe changed the world behind the Iron Curtain. 13 million Poles saw him in person. All the rest saw him on television or heard him on the radio.
One political scientist described it as a psychological earthquake, an opportunity for mass political catharsis.
This Krakow, he said, in which every stone and every brick is dear to me, had received him as it had received no other son in a thousand years.
On June 10, 1979, the Pope said Mass in Krakow before 2-3 million people. The artifact presented here is from that Eucharistic celebration and must have guaranteed seating to someone since it specifies the section in which the person would be seated.
Any item connected to Blessed John Paul II is of such value and interest, particularly in light of his canonization.
The information used in this commentary is from George Weigel’s best selling biography of John Paul:Witness to Hope and concerns the chapter, “How Many Divisions Has the Pope?” which has several pages detailing the events of this profoundly life changing pilgrimage described here.And what we have right here is actually a ticket to the last Mass that he celebrated in Krakow from June 10, 1979. To have a ticket that is not torn from this incredible, historic event is really a nice item to have. I’ve never seen one of these tickets offered. I’ve seen ones from other Masses but nothing quite as historic as this. This ticket represents a change of the political world in Eastern Europe with the movement that his visit started.
They say 30 million Polish people actually saw him while he was there, and the rest of the people saw him on TV. So really, all of Poland saw this native son, certainly the majority, who had now become Pope. And it certainly energized the people both in faith and in justice issues, and in religious freedom. That was the big thing.
There were many times when the authorities in Poland said they didn’t want him there. They came up with many excuses as to why he couldn’t come, but eventually, the Soviet Union said, “You’ve got to bring him in. You can’t say you’re sick all the time.” And so eventually they said, “Okay, you can come.” They knew very well that it would not turn out well for them, because the people saw the importance of faith as a populace. The amount of people who saw him in person or on TV, could say, “We are many, and they are few.” And so the bloodless coup, so to speak, originated with that first trip of John Paul II.
It looks like there is a stamp of Mary on this ticket, probably used to validate it. She is always close at hand when you look at items connected to John Paul. She is always present in particular with him. All the popes were Marian, we could say to varying degrees, but none of them had an “M” in their coats of arms.
Additional Information:
John Paul II’s first pilgrimage to Poland occurred between June 2-10, 1979. In Catholic tradition, “pilgrimage” is a journey to a sacred place for prayer, penance, and alms giving. Particularly in Europe, the idea of pilgrimage is common and reflects a conviction that God acts decisively in history at certain times and places.
About John Paul’s pilgrimage to Poland, one commentator said it was the most fantastic pilgrimage in the history of contemporary Europe. From Warsaw to Gniezno, Czestochowa, and finally to Krakow, the Pope brought his spirit to his people, a spirit that many believe changed the world behind the Iron Curtain. 13 million Poles saw him in person. All the rest saw him on television or heard him on the radio.
One political scientist described it as a psychological earthquake, an opportunity for mass political catharsis.
This Krakow, he said, in which every stone and every brick is dear to me, had received him as it had received no other son in a thousand years.
On June 10, 1979, the Pope said Mass in Krakow before 2-3 million people. The artifact presented here is from that Eucharistic celebration and must have guaranteed seating to someone since it specifies the section in which the person would be seated.
Any item connected to Blessed John Paul II is of such value and interest, particularly in light of his canonization.
The information used in this commentary is from George Weigel’s best selling biography of John Paul:Witness to Hope and concerns the chapter, “How Many Divisions Has the Pope?” which has several pages detailing the events of this profoundly life changing pilgrimage described here.
