John Paul Shaving

Sometimes saints are indescribable. They help defeat communism, or transform the face of the church. And sometimes they shave on camping trips and pray morning prayer in kayaks.

Pope John Paul II loved spending time outdoors with the youth, while he was a parish priest in Poland and even later as a cardinal. The trips had to be covert since such outings were forbidden by the communist powers. They would go kayaking, canoeing, hiking, sometimes celebrating Mass on an overturned canoe.
And apparently, around the campfire at night, they would sing a little P&W and read from books, including C.S. Lewis’ classic The Screwtape Letters.

I love picturing John Paul on these trips. He would shave each morning of the trip, sitting in the shade and listening to stories.