Noonan s warm remembrance of the man she calls her spiritual father is a refreshing addition to the growing collection of biographies of and memoirs about the late pope john paul ii. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Peggy noonan has a very pleasant voice and although john paul the great chronicles the incredible history of the influence of john paul ii on the world, this book also is written personally from a woman of faith on her own journey and we the listeners are invited along. Here, bestselling author peggy noonan brings her sharp observations, acute. Remembering a spiritual father, and catholic writer randall meissen subtitles his book about the popes influence on catholic culture, the spiritual sons of john paul the great. She also makes a case that everyone longs for such a person and that john paul met the challenge of serving as pastor for the entire world.
Remembering a spiritual father 0143037943 by noonan, peggy. Peggy noonan gets religion national catholic reporter. Peggy noonans john paul the great is more a memoir of her own spiritual growth than biography of the recently canonized st. Pope john paul ii books list of books by author pope john. Oct 31, 2006 peggy noonan has a very pleasant voice and although john paul the great chronicles the incredible history of the influence of john paul ii on the world, this book also is written personally from a woman of faith on her own journey and we the listeners are invited along. Nov 30, 2005 noonan, a devout roman catholic who has studied and reported on pope john paul ii for years, said she learned a great deal about her faith from the pontiff. Jul 26, 2002 it had a title like a song for john paul ii. From new york times bestselling author peggy noonan comes a beautifully. What i found particularly moving was the exploration of the impact john paul ii had on her own spiritual journey. Margaret ellen peggy noonan born september 7, 1950 is an american author, weekly columnist for the wall street journal, and contributor to nbc news and abc news. A paradoxical figure, pope john paul ii was an intellectual animated by. I learned some things about john paul that i didnt know, many of which made me smile. Her descriptive narration of karol wojtyla pope john paul ii is both eloquent and exquisite.
A paradoxical figure, pope john paul ii was an intellectual animated by confidence and joy, a poet and playwright, a supporter of freedom who decried its abuse, a tough political gamesman, and a mystic convinced that the bullet that nearly killed him in rome was directed away from his heart by the hand of the mother of god. A popes legacy known largely for her work as a speechwriter for presidents ronald reagan and george bush during the late 1980s, peggy noonan is also a devout catholic who regained her religious faith during those same years partially through watching the ministry of pope john paul ii, the great, as she and millions of others referred to. With such acclaimed books as when character was king, peggy noonan has become one of our most eloquent and respected commentators. Differing from impersonal, subjective biographies of john paul, noonan describes the late pope in a chatty manner while still acknowledging his shortcomings in dealing with important issues, such as the shame of clergy sexual abuse. Karol wojtyla, who took the papal name john paul ii in 1978, was a man of contradictions. Remembering a spiritual father by peggy noonan an apparently unread copy in perfect condition. I enjoyed listening to noonan describe her personal journey and john paul s influence on her life, yet there was enough meat about john paul to keep it from being all about her. As the leader of the catholic church, the oldest continuing instit. The eminently readable peggy noonan, best known as a columnist and contributing editor at the wall street journal has penned an indepth and fascinating biographical sketch of the late great pope john paul ii, all in 256 pages. Jan 27, 2006 in john paul the great, noonan provides an overview of the life of john paul ii and explains how john paul ii inspired millions around the world through his greatness and goodness. John paul iis prescient 1995 letter to women he wrote of the long and degrading history. While i left feeling like i didnt really learn anything new about john paul himself, noonan s reflections were interesting and insightful. Peggy noonan, a weekly columnist for the wall street journal, does a splendid job of presenting an unforgettable spiritual fatherfigure in her life, the late pope john paul ii.
Peggy noonan uses her book to remember pope john paul in a personal manner. A popes legacy known largely for her work as a speechwriter for presidents ronald reagan and george bush during the late 1980s, peggy noonan is. Peggy noonan is an author of seven books on politics, religion and culture. Now she offers a stirring portrait of a spiritual and intellectual giant who personally confronted all of the worst tragedies of his age. She was a primary speechwriter and special assistant to president ronald reagan from 1984 to 1986 and has maintained a centerright leaning in her writings since leaving the reagan administration. With such accla imed books as when character was king, peggy. Peggy noonan an admiring look at pope john paul ii his leadership, his humanity, his holiness, and his legacy. In the wall street journal, peggy noonan writes about how the polish pope worked a political miracle. Noonan, the new york times bestselling author of when character was king, has produced a faithful snapshot of. From new york times bestselling author peggy noonan comes a.
The biography of pope john paul ii by george weigel. Noonan traces the extraordinary life and struggles of pope john paul ii with. She then deftly turned to admiration of john paul ii who accelerated mother. From new york times bestselling author peggy noonan comes a beautifully written testimony about. Ordering this book from amazon, i was expecting a book that was a reflection upon the life of pope saint john paul ii from his earliest childhood in poland to his death and elevation to sainthood. That alone would make reading this book worthwhile. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. Apr 16, 2010 john paul the great, about whom i wrote an admiring book which recounts some of the scandals i spent a grim 2003 going through the depositions of massachusetts clergy one fact seems to me. A look at the life of john paul ii entwined with the story of a personal journey. Jul 2, 2019 pope john paul ii circa 1983 in milan, italy. Journalist peggy noonan readily titled her book john paul the great.
In an age rich with heroes, pope john paul ii was truly the great man of the past. The pope took it, walked 10 feet away to where there was a big brown table, and signed it in a big flourishjohannes paulus ii. I was anticipating learning about his formative years, living through the german occupation, living under communism, his call to the. Peggy noonan is the sort of woman any powerful man would want on his side even at his side. Written with heart and depth, this book is at once a moving elegy and a brilliant. John paul ii but her spiritual life has so clearly been led and molded by him that theres no need for her to write about them separately. Mar 15, 2006 i was pleasantly surprised by noonans openness about the depth of her lively faith, a faith which, she says, was rekindled by the spiritual fatherhood of john paul ii. Peggy noonans, john paul the great, is more about her experience in returning to the church as a result of inspiration pope john paul ii gave her. Complete bios of john paul have already been written. Pope john paul ii with characteristic insight and probityand explores how. Oct 31, 2006 about john paul the great from new york times bestselling author peggy noonan comes a beautifully written testimony about.