Doh! Forgot about Noonan

You have probably read it already, but if you haven’t go read her assessment on JPII’s part in bringing down communism.

Then, I have linked to this already, back when I was live-blogging last weekend, but if you missed it you really MUST read it. Noonan’s very moving and exceedingly well-written piece on a a papal audience she attended ‘way back in 2002. It’s an absolute gem.

And this is NOT by Noonan, but by Susan Vigilante, and it’s a small, charming piece of a work in progress a book I must get when it is published. I like this part:

The pope reappeared. We stood in a line to take our turns kissing his ring and being introduced. After hugging the boys and greeting their parents, the pope made a beeline for Sister Louise. “And here is Sheila!” He took her face in his hands and gave her a kiss. “Sister Sheila! Or, no. Sister Louise.”

Sheila beamed. “Holy Father — “ She appeared to be about to start chatting with him about who knows what — she was a notorious chatterbox — but she caught herself and remembered she had official business. “Um, Holy Father? This is my superior, Mother Gabriel. And this is Sister Martine. And over here, this is Sister — Sister — “

A look of horror crossed Sheila’s face as she realized in all the excitement she was blanking on the woman’s name. Then suddenly she burst out, “John Paul! John Paul.”

The pope looked at her carefully and lowered his voice. “Sheila,” he stage whispered, “I’m John Paul.”

“No, no, no! This is Sister John Paul! That’s, that’s her name, too.”

[…]

[The Pope] asked how their brand new order was going. “Wonderful, Holy Father,” bubbled a dark-haired Italian looking one. “It’s growing like crazy. We have five novices.”

“What! Five thousand novices, already! Magnificent.” Big broad papal smile, as if to say, I got you.

Many giggles in reply. But the dark one was undeterred. “Yes, Holy Father. In fact we think it must be a great time of grace and a great work of the Holy Spirit that there are so many new vocations in America.”

The Holy Father paused thoughtfully and looked over the nuns in their newly designed and approved but not terribly attractive habits. He nodded gravely. “Yes. Yes. It must be the work of the Holy Spirit, if it has gotten Sheila to wear that.”

JPII, you old charmer, you.