One of the most beloved saints of modern times had a very difficult childhood, full of loss. St. John Paul II lost those dearest to him, including his mother, older brother and even an older sister.
Many are familiar with St. John Paul II's brother Edmund, who was a doctor during a scarlet fever epidemic and died after treating a patient.
Edmund died at age 26, having a profound impact on John Paul II, showing him what it means to sacrifice one’s life for the good of others.
According to Alessandro Gisotti at Vatican News, Edmund is remembered as a Good Samaritan.
Edmund was himself a doctor, serving in Poland, who gave his life treating a young girl with scarlet fever – a disease for which, at the time, there was no vaccine. The young doctor knew the possible consequences, but like the Good Samaritan, he did not count the cost to himself, but was concerned only to care for those in need. As the future Pope recalled many years later, Edmund’s death was a shock for him, not only because of the dramatic circumstances that surrounded it, but also because Karol had grown more mature since the death of his mother. The example of his brother’s “martyrdom to duty” remained engraved on Karol Wojtyła’s memory forever.
It should not be surprising that throughout his entire pontificate and priestly ministry, John Paul II made it a specific priority to visit hospitals and the elderly.
A sister he never knew
While St. John Paul II did have an older sister, she did not live long enough to know her younger brother.
According to the Vatican Foundation of John Paul II, "on July 7, 1916, Olga Maria Wojtyla, John Paul II’s older sister, was born in Biala (now Bielsko-Biala). The girl lived only 16 hours, but the memories of her remained vivid."
St. John Paul II would refer to her from time to time during his life, such as on a visit to Wadowice,
"My prayer is for so many people who have died, beginning with my parents, my brother and my sister, whose memory is linked for me with this city."
He also mentioned her in his will, "As the end of my life approaches, I return with my memory to the beginning, to my parents, to my brother, to the sister (I never knew because she died before my birth)."
This little known fact should be consoling to anyone who has lost a sibling at birth, or shortly thereafter. While such a sibling did not live long, the loss is still there. St. John Paul II clearly shows that reality, even as he reached his own death.
St. John Paul II can certainly be invoked by anyone who is suffering a similar loss, asking the Polish saint to pray for them, that they may be able to grieve and find consolation.
