• Wadowice, his birthplace and hometown.
• Visit the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and see the baptismal font where he was baptized.
• Celebrate Mass at Wawel Cathedral, where he was ordained priest and celebrated his first Mass.
• Ride up the hillsides of Zakopane where Pope John Paul II used to climb and hike the trails and view the beautiful vistas. 
• Basilica of the Divine Mercy, which was consecrated by the Servant of God, John Paul II, during his last trip to Poland.  
• Visit sites of other polish saints including: the tombs of St. Stanislaw and St. Hedwig Auschwitz and the Shrine of Maximilian Kolbe. Basilica of the Divine Mercy and the tomb of St. Faustina. Also, Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, and Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, chaplain and martyr of the Solidarity Movement.
• Cities we'll visit: Warsaw, Niepokalanow, Czestochowa, Zakopane, Kalwaria, Salt Mine, Krakow, Wawel Hill, Wadowice and others. 

The Disturbing Result of Bumping into Holiness, continued... 

We had written daily to the Pope's secretary while in Rome and each day we'd been denied permission. On our last day in Rome the fax arrived: "Be at the Bronze Doors at 7:00 AM." After running out to buy a suit, tie and acceptable shoes, we were off to meet the Pope. I had my newly published book "Crossing the Tiber" in hand and a short speech to thank him and to tell him of our family's conversion.  

As we stepped into his private chapel in his Vatican apartment, that same sense of Holiness overwhelmed me. We anxiously entered and sat in the front row -- not five feet from John Paul II -- who was kneeling in front of us facing the altar. I could have reached out and touched him.

As you probably already know, my mind works in strange ways--in a new situation paradoxes and contradictions loom up in my mind. It happened here as usual. My first thought after sitting down was to realize how old and fragile this holy man was. I was overwhelmed by the ambiance of sanctity surrounding this fragile old man, but I thought "If I pushed him over he would not be able to get up by himself."  

Shock! What a crazy thing to think when you're in the presence of the Pope for the first time. Yet, that was not the main thing my mind meditated on, but on the paradox that even though he was old and weak, he was the most influential person in the world. Any politician or pop star would do anything for

1/10th of the attention he garnered. He had the moral voice of authority with more followers and admirers than any other man on earth.

And then I noticed his tousled hair, his average slippers, and his rumpled robe. I couldn't help think he is just a simple old man like anyone else. But the other side of the paradox rushed to the front - no, he is not like any other simple elderly man, he is like NO OTHER man on the earth. He carries the keys of the kingdom of God and he has access to God and charisms from the Holy Spirit like no other man alive.  

The memory of that Mass will always remain with me. Like the presence of Fr. Hardon, John Paul II's sanctity was palpable and powerful. When we stepped out of the chapel to meet the Pope in person, the reality of his holiness and his unique position before God, hit me like a baseball bat to the head. It was as if God's love was literally flowing down from heaven and through this man. 

I had a speech prepared, but when he stepped up to me I burst into tears. I handed him my book, and kissed his ring, but no words would come out--so I thanked him through tear-filled eyes instead. He moved on to my wife Janet who was much more composed than I. But that is a story for another letter, especially the profound answer to his prayer for her that morning.

Sanctity and holiness can be shocking. Jesus shocked the world as he confronted sin and unrighteousness. Demons couldn't stand his presence and self-righteous folks shunned his company. There are saints walking among us in these modern times too, and we have had the opportunity to meet a few of them. It is no surprise that John Paul II is being beatified.

Janet and I are here for the blessed event and I remember again the times we met him and I thank God for allowing us a few moments to meet a man who had fully given himself to God. May we all follow his example.