The JPII Field Guide: An 8-Day Retreat with St. John Paul the Great

“The way Jesus shows you is not easy. Rather, it is like a path winding up a mountain. Do not lose heart! The steeper the road, the faster it rises towards ever wider horizons.” —Pope John Paul II, 1996 World Youth Day

Pope John Paul II began his papacy with a bold command: “Be not afraid!” The JPII Field Guide is an eight-day Catholic retreat and spiritual guide inspired by St. John Paul II, inviting you into the adventurous faith of this mountaineering saint and athletic pope to discover new ways to live with joy, courage, and hope.

Many Catholics know St. John Paul II as a towering figure of the twentieth century: a key force behind the creation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a catalyst for the fall of communism, and a shepherd who guided the Church through the post–Vatican II era with landmark teachings on human dignity, the Theology of the Body, and interfaith dialogue. Yet he was not only a brilliant thinker. He was a man of action—a mountaineer who hiked and skied, an athlete who loved swimming and soccer, an actor and playwright, and a member of the underground resistance during the Nazi occupation of Poland. He understood that our longing for greatness echoes the call to holiness placed in every human heart, and he had a gift for igniting in others a desire to live the faith with adventure, purpose, and daring action.

Designed as a Catholic devotional-style retreat, The JPII Field Guide invites you to step into the witness of this great saint through his own words and example. Bobby and Jackie Angel, who first met while studying the Theology of the Body, draw from John Paul II’s legacy to craft an eight-day journey with the virtues that shaped Karol Wojtyla into John Paul the Great.

Each day explores a distinct facet of his life and includes

• inspirational quotes from St. John Paul II,
• reflections on how his faith took concrete shape in action,
• journaling questions to help you apply his witness to your own life,
• a practical challenge that calls you to live with his hope and courage, and
• a daily prayer to unite your efforts with God’s will.

From surviving an assassination attempt—and forgiving his attacker—to enduring the suffering of Parkinson’s disease with humility and hope, John Paul II left us a legacy of courageous faith. The JPII Field Guide reveals fresh dimensions of this beloved Polish pope’s life—and, more importantly, helps you follow his path toward holiness in your own circumstances.

He still calls out to us today: “Do not be afraid to be holy! Fly high. Be among those whose goals are worthy of sons and daughters of God. Glorify God in your lives!”