Everybody was all praises after the Mass when I held the umbrella for the Holy Father. It was not the World Youth Day Mass. It was the Mass to commemorate Manila as an Archdiocese. It was the first Mass after the Pope arrived. The image of John Paul II under the umbrella worked its way to the front page of major dailies, namely the Inquirer and Manila Times. I was even invited to the television show of Randy David, Public Forum, when they did an episode about the Pope, because of it.
I was glad of the attention. None of it though was because of my merit. I was just in the right place at the right time. Here's how it happened.
It is custom that before the Pope gives communion to the people, he will give communion to those who he shared the altar, the priests and us servers. It turned out that because of circumstances, I was the last one who received the communion from him. When I turned back to my place, John Paul's assistant held my arm. He told me that the area where the Pope is going to give the holy communion to the people is under the sunlight, and he would need a shade. He handed me a big umbrella with a big, heavy base. Its a cue for me that I should go and provide the shade to the Pope with the umbrella.
Because of the multitude of people present, they limited the recepients of the communion to certain individuals, some VIPs and representative of sectors. I remember it was more than 100 people that he gave communion to. And the whole time, I was beside him with the heavy umbrella, giving him shade from the sun.
After about what feels like ages and a strained arm, the Pope was done. He gave the rest of the hosts to the assistant priests, and I was readying to go back to my place to rest, thankful for the opportunity to be beside the Pope for a long time. But on my way back, John Paul II's assistant came to me again. He said the Pope would like to sit in the area where he gave communion, which is in front of the stage and the altar, and do his prayer there. I told him, "under that sun?" He smiled and looked at the umbrella. I then realized my job was not over.
So I went back. And with arms strained and weakening, I firmly held again the umbrella to where John Paul II had a chair placed and sat. And for almost like forever, I was with John Paul II, just the two of us, before the multitude of people attending the Mass, isolated in the stage, even apart from the other priests and servers in the altar. I was indeed very blessed.
The wind blowing in the umbrella was not helping me. It shaked the umbrella and made it more diffult to carry it. But I was glad because it provided some cool comfort to John Paul II. We are in a very warm condition. I can already see the umbrella shaking under the strain of my arm, and I had to use my torso for added support. I saw some priests in the crowd very concerned. They probably realized I was holding that heavy thing that long. But I prayed for strength, so I can last to finish this assignment. I would have wanted other servers to come and help me and hold the umbrella. But I can't turn my head and no one came.
With all the attention that is before me. I glanced at John Paul II. I was too conscious and busy with the work that I had not noticed it. The reason why John Paul II decided to sit in front of the people instead of his usual chair behind the altar. He was praying, and he was praying for the people. I saw it in his eyes. His eyes was full of compassion and love for the people before him. And he was praying for them, praying for us all.
There would be no other reason why he would go there. It is not to have a better view. When he was there, I saw that he would glanced to the people and look at them. But then he would close his eyes, looked upward to heaven ocassionally, and say a prayer that he would murmur. John Paul II was praying for the Filipino people. How he loved the Filipino, I thought, for him to do this on this ocassion.
When John Paul II finally stood up, the priest assistants took the chair and I went back to my place. My arms was straining from the ordeal, but my heart was rejoicing to what it had witnessed. Those images will forever stay with me. And because of them, there is no doubt in my mind and heart, that John Paul II is really a saint. Through him, God's presence is made manifest, and can be felt!
Blessed John Paul II, pray for us all.
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