It has been said of John Paul that he was a man of "Carmelite spirituality." He was profoundly influenced by the Sixteenth century Carmelite mystic, John of the Cross--whose great work, "The Dark Night of the Soul," is one of the great spiritual classics. John Paul suffered as a young man under the dark night of the Nazi regime. His beloved Poland was then oppressed by the Soviet boot, a night of great darkness indeed. Like John of the Cross, Pope John Paul knew that the darkness at the foot of the crossof Christ, is a prelude to the light of Easter. His prayer life--and hence, his entire life and ministry--was based on that fundamental ground. This quite simply was the source of his appeal to people. He was clearly and obviously a very holy man.

The very name of this website bespeaks the same assumptions--the name is ultimately derived from John of the Cross. The rampant materialism, militarism, lack of concern for the environment, arrogance and bellicosity which now surround us represent a growing darkness. Political remedies for these ills are insufficient. The spiritual underpinning is crucial. Sadly, the form of Christianity which has now been co-opted by the American right offers only more of the same. We thank God for the life and work of John Paul II. May he rest in peace.