by: Theresa Martin, Executive Director
Dear friends, I would like to share a story with you about our beloved papa told by his dear friend, Prof. Stanisław Grygiel. Now, Prof. Grygiel was a dear friend of St. John Paul II. He was one of the first professors hired to teach at the John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family Studies at its founding. He was friends with him in Poland before John Paul II became pope and Prof. Grygiel and his wife, Ludmiła, were a part of the community of friends that surrounded then Bishop Wojtyła, his Środowisko (pronounced: shrō-dō-vīskō, translated loosely as milieu or environment). Grygiel knew Wojtyła closely and the two often took strolls together discussing everything from philosophy to politics to reviewing the latest article Wojtyła was working on.
Grygiel was in Wojtyła’s inner circle of friends, so much so that at times Grygiel was taken by the police to be questioned about Wojtyła’s activities. One evening, the two of them were taking a walk through a park. They were discussing a poem Wojtyła was composing and it developed into a deep conversation about man, the awareness of transcendence of God, and the deep value of freedom. They spoke until well after midnight, having lost track of time. When they arrived back at the gate, it had already been locked.
Grygiel was quite concerned, because although his wife knew where he was and with whom he was visiting, it was a dangerous time and she would be worried. As if he could read Grygiel’s thoughts, Wojtyła put his hand on Grygiel’s arm and said, “Stanisław, don’t worry. I know where there is a hole in the hedge!” And sure enough, Wojtyła led them to a hole in the fence that they could slip through and get back home! Prof. Grygiel laughed while recounting this.
Then Grygiel said that he sees this as an analogy. John Paul II was one of those rare people who was gifted in many ways. He could speak multiple languages, understand deep philosophy and theology, he was an amazing communicator, he was deeply spiritual, and he was able to combine all these gifts and still truly see the person in front of him. He could see them as the gift of God that they were, as the image and likeness of God uniquely emanating from this particular person in front of him.
The increasingly secular world can indeed feel like it is boxing us in – suffocating our faith. We feel trapped – locked in the garden. And yet! We must always remember that our dear holy father, John Paul II knows where there is a hole in the hedge! He has left us his Rule for Married Couple Groups to let us escape – and find freedom to truly live our faith, elevate our marriage spiritually, and find lasting joy!
Start your own marriage group following John Paul II’s Rule!