Vatican.
The second notebook originally belonged to the Pope’s Secretary, Monsignor Emery Kabongo, as witness the erased signature on the first page and the embossed paper seal. The centre of the seal contains the abbreviation ‘EK’ and the edge reads ‘Library of Emery Kabongo’. These notes cover the years 1985–2003. They begin on the page dated 5 January and continue over the next 315 pages, not all of which have been written over.
Thus, the notes taken by Cardinal Wojtyła–Pope John Paul II can be organised in the following way:
The first notebook contains notes covering the years 1962–1984 and focuses on the following events:
– the retreat (Dies recollectionis) after the arrival in Rome for the first session of the Second Vatican Council (9 and 14 October 1962) [p. 2]
– the retreat on the anniversary of priestly ordination at the Felician Sisters’ Convent in Rome (31 October– 4 November 1962) [p. 5]
– the retreat at Kalwaria – The Shrine of Our Lady (6–7 July 1963?) [p. 12]
– the retreat in Tyniec (19–23 August 1963) [p. 13]
– the retreat before the installation ceremony in Wawel Cathedral (5–8 March 1964) [p. 20]
– the retreat at Jasna Góra led by Bishop Kazimierz Józef Kowalski (31 August–3 September 1964) [p. 23]
– the retreat in Tyniec (17–20 August 1965) [p. 30]
– the retreat at [?unknown] (7 November–2 December 1964?/1965?) [p. 36]
– the retreat at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (31 October– 1 November 1966) [p. 37]
– the retreat at the Albertine Sisters’ Convent (19–21 December 1966) [p. 38]
– the retreat at [?unknown] (29 February 1968) [p. 44]
– the retreat in Tyniec (11–14 September 1968) [p. 45]
– the retreat at Bachledówka (9–13 August 1969) [p. 51]
– the retreat in Tyniec (4–7 November and 19 December 1970) [p. 60]
– the retreat at Jasna Góra led by Bishop Lech Kaczmarek (1–5 September 1971) [p. 67]
– the retreat at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (5–6 July 1973) [p. 75]
– the retreat at Bachledówka (9–12 August 1973) [p. 76]
– the retreat at [?unknown] 4 July–24 August 1974 [p. 86]
– the retreat in Gniezno led by Bishop Jerzy Ablewicz (3–7 September 1974) [p. 87]
– the retreat at Bachledówka (4–8 July 1975) [p. 99]
– the retreat in Jaszczurówka (21–26 September 1976) [p. 107]
– the retreat at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (5–9 July 1977) [p. 117]
– the retreat at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (26–29 June 1978) [p. 126]
– election to papacy (October 1978) [p. 136]
– the Vatican retreats led by:
– Father Faustino Ossanna OFM (4–10 March 1979) [p. 137]
– Archbishop Lucas Moreira Neves OP (24 February– 1 March 1980) [p. 149]
– Bishop Jerzy Ablewicz (8–14 March 1981) [p. 168]
– Father Stanislas Lyonnet SJ (28 February–6 March 1982) [p. 189]
– Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (20–26 February 1983) [p. 205]
– Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento (11–17 March 1984) [p. 221].
The second notebook covers the years 1985–2003 and the retreats led by:
– Archbishop Achille Glorieux (24 February–2 March 1985) [p. 235]
– Father Egidio Viganò SDB (16–22 February 1986) [p. 247]
– Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ (8–14 March 1987) [p. 265]
– Archbishop James Aloysius Hickey (21–27 February 1988) [p. 283]
– Cardinal Giacomo Biffi (12–18 February 1989) [p. 299]
– Father Georges Cottier OP (4–10 March 1990) [p. 316]
– Archbishop Ersilio Tonini (17–23 February 1991) [p. 333]
– Cardinal Ugo Poletti (8–14 March 1992) [p. 346]
– Bishop Jorge Arturo Agustín Medina Estévez (28 February–6 March 1993) [p. 363]
– Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini (20–26 February 1994) [p. 379]
– Father Tomáš Špidlík SJ (5–11 March 1995) [p. 395]
– Archbishop Christoph Schönborn (25 February–2 March 1996) [p. 400]
– Cardinal Roger Etchegaray (16–22 February 1997) [p. 419]
– Cardinal Ján Chryzostom Korec SJ (1–7 March 1998) [p. 433]
– Bishop André-Joseph Mutien Léonard (21–27 February 1999) [p. 448]
– Archbishop François Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận (12–18 March 2000) [p. 454]
– Cardinal Francis Eugene George OMI (4–10 March 2001) [p. 467]
– Cardinal Cláudio Hummes OFM (17–23 February 2002) [p. 475]
– Bishop Angelo Comastri (9–15 March 2003) [p. 479].
The entries in both notebooks were written in Polish. However, the author often introduced phrases in Latin and Italian, especially during the Vatican retreats. The Vatican retreats for the Holy Father and the Roman Curia were always preached in Italian.
2. The schedule of a retreat day
The daily schedule played an important role in the retreats and days of reflection. The order of the retreat that was developed in Kraków, when Bishop Karol Wojtyła began his ministry, included three talks; Lectio spiritualis – spiritual reading; Corona Rosarii – Rosary; Via crucis – the Way of the Cross; Adoratio – Adoration; Matutinum – Matins; Lectio – reading; Sacrum or Officium Eucharisticum – Holy Mass or Eucharist; Vesperae – Vespers; Adoratio Sanctissimi Sacramenti – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; Completorium – Compline.
During the retreats, Archbishop Karol Wojtyła followed the Ignatian method. He became familiar with this method in the seminary under the guidance of Fr Stanisław Smoleński, who was later made Auxiliary Bishop of Kraków. The method involved preparing a detailed outline of a topic for reflection and spiritual reading. During his episcopal ministry in Kraków, Archbishop Wojtyła led retreats and days of reflection himself, consulting Bishop Smoleński or Fr Aleksander Fedorowicz on spiritual topics. The latter was the spiritual father of the Lwów Seminary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in the 1960s, and then the spiritual director at the Laski Centre, near Warsaw. He would also come to Rome and offer counsel to the Holy Father.
This method of reflection allowed Fr Wojtyła to organise the whole retreat or reflection day according to a characteristic plan. The rhythm of the retreat day was set out by the breviary, which was recited according to the pre-conciliar method, with Matins, Lauds (laudatory prayers), Terce, Sext and Nones. Almost every day included:
– Laudes – Lauds
– Meditatio ante Sacrum – meditation before Holy Mass
– Sacrum – Holy Mass
– Gratarium actio – thanksgiving
– Lectio S. Scripturae