Pope John Paul II Bracelet

Pope John Paul II Bracelet — Italian Silver-Tone Medals, Medjugorje Handwoven Cord

The Pope John Paul II bracelet wraps a series of small oval Pope John Paul II medals in silver tone around a handwoven cord — a devotional bracelet to Saint John Paul II the Great, canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014, with feast day on October 22 (the anniversary of his inaugural Mass). Born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920, he was elected on October 16, 1978 — the first Slavic pope in history and the first non-Italian in 455 years (since Adrian VI, 1523). From the balcony of St. Peter’s he addressed the world with the words that defined his pontificate: «Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!» His episcopal motto, «Totus Tuus» — «I am completely yours» — was drawn from St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise on Marian consecration, and he placed it together with a gold «M» for Mary at the foot of the Cross on his coat of arms. On May 13, 1981 — the feast of Our Lady of Fatima — he survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square. He attributed his survival to the Blessed Virgin’s intercession and later placed the bullet from his shooting in the crown of the Fatima statue at Cova da Iria. Across nearly 27 years — the third-longest pontificate in Church history — he made 104 apostolic journeys to 129 countries, wrote 14 encyclicals, founded World Youth Day (1985), and canonized 482 saints — more than all popes of the previous 500 years combined.

Among the 482 saints he canonized was Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (June 16, 2002), whom he had personally visited at San Giovanni Rotondo as a young priest in 1948.

He died on April 2, 2005, the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday — the feast he had himself instituted; his final word was «Amen.»

Each Pope John Paul II bracelet features approximately ten small oval Pope John Paul II medals in silver tone — produced in Italy — knotted by hand into a woven Medjugorje cord. Available in 15 cord colors for parish gift shops, Catholic schools (including the dozens named for the saint), Polish-American parishes, Confirmation gifts, World Youth Day pilgrimages, and the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. Supplied in packs of 10.

Handwoven in Medjugorje by women who pray as they tie each knot, every Pope John Paul II bracelet from MIRJAM DOO carries devotion at its source — Italian medals, Bosnian hands, in honour of the saint who taught the Church to be not afraid.