“Do not be afraid, for I am with you, do not be alarmed, for I am your God; “(Is, 41, 10)
“Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to accept Christ and accept his power!
Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ`s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ! “*
These were the prophetic words of Saint John Paul II when he began his pontificate, said the Polish father Bronislaw Jakubiec, a personal friend of the Holy Father. Father Bronislaw wanted to travel for the second time to Venezuela to make his annual retreat, at the Sanctuary of Betania. Members of the Bianchini family, the Betania Foundation and pilgrim friends, shared on Saturday, October 27, 2018, a beautiful day that began with the rosary in front of the grotto of the Virgin’s apparitions, followed by Mass with the participation of the Betania Choir celebrated by Father Jakubiec in three languages: Italian, English and final blessing in the language of the Polish pope. During the homily, Father highlighted how extraordinary was the papacy of Saint John Paul II. After the Eucharistic celebration and lunch, Mrs. Maria Coromoto Bianchini Marrero shared her testimony of how she saw the Virgin on March 25, 1984 in Betania, when the Mother of God appeared to more than one hundred and eight people. Then Father Bronislaw shared, not publicly disclosed, anecdotes and stories of the traveling Pope. The meeting culminated when Father Jakubiec blessed each and every one with a relic of Saint John Paul II.
As a consequence of the previous visit of the Father of the Divine Savior’s Order, he had written three articles about Our Lady Reconciler of All Peoples and the life of the servant of God Maria Esperanza Bianchini and commented that in his country they requested more information about the history of the Sanctuary of Betania and its main protagonist, chosen by God in these times to leave a legacy of hope and reconciliation, centered on the love of God, his Church, the Pope of Rome and all the children of God of the world.
* Vatican.va (2018). Homily of His Holiness John Paul II. St. Peter’s Square Sunday, October 22, 1978. Holy See of the Vatican. Taken from: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1978/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19781022_inizio-pontificato.html
