Pope John Paul the Second - Prophetic Church Doctor or Traditionalistic Church Doctor?

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

"Somewhere around September, 1919, God created an extraordinary soul who would be named Karol Wojtyla."

These words from the Inside the Vatican magazine were just one of the many praises we heard after John Paul's II departure. We listened to the numerous tributes, and shared our own memories of him, in hope to have his presence preserved in some common Testimony.

When the initial grief started to ease a little, more and more commentators took on a task to summarize this great pontificate, and an impact that one Great Man had at the world, and the Church.

Read some of the comments at CNN.com Special Report and share your thoughts.



The topic of our recent Consilience Forum meeting, presented by Robert S., was:

Pope John Paul the Second - Prophetic Church Doctor or Traditionalistic Church Doctor?

We wanted to reflect on what were the main achievements of the late Pontiff, and his legacy to the Church - in the teachings as well as in the spiritual testimony of a person he was.

Hence the question that was brought in by the topic - will the Pope John Paul II become a Doctor of the Church? And which part of his heritage will gain recognition?

Papal analysis by Father Robert

The Doctors of the past were in the first place the scholars of the doctrine. They helped to preserve it against heresies, and answer new intellectual challenges as they appeared.

People that were recognized as the Doctors of the Church during 20. Century, like St. Theresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, or St. Teresa of Lisieux, were mystics, possessed inner Wisdom, and derived their teachings from personal experience rather than any theological studies.

John Paul II gave a great recognition to these "new" Doctors of the Church. It is during his pontificate that the very idea changed, to reflect the need to base the Church teachings on the supernatural wisdom and spiritual experience as well as elaborate theological dissertations.

"If you would like to know how to recognize a prophet, look at him who gives you knowledge of your own heart." ~Persian Wisdom

What part of late Pope's teachings will be more important to people, and the Church - his personal testimony, or his theological works? Which will be more remembered in ten years from now?

Please, share your views and opinions at Consilience Forum Blog.

Read more about the Doctors of the Church, and how are they established, in the Catholic Encyclopedia

Links:

written and spoken - messages of John Paul II
More on JPII on the Catholic.net

let us know of more links in English!

Thank you Robert!