By Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/14/05)

In the midst of first Communion and confirmation season, Catholic bookstores have an added challenge of meeting customers’ needs for material about the pope. Since his death April 2, local stores have experienced an onslaught of people hungry to learn about Pope John Paul II and remember him.

Daughter of St. Paul Sister Rebecca Hoffart, a sales representative for Pauline Books and Media in Alexandria, said she has witnessed a lot of emotion from the people coming into the store.

"He touched a huge cross-section of people," she said, adding that customers want to learn everything they can about this great man. "People really want to read what he has written."

According to Sister Hoffart, his writings cover many genres and styles and include books, encyclicals, apostolic letters and even poetry. In his first book Crossing the Threshold of Hope, 1994, he reflected on the upcoming millennium and addressed many theological issues in a question and answer format. The theme of hope supported his message to all people: "Be not afraid."

Gift and Mystery, 1996, contained the first half of his autobiography and included the early years of his life before ordination. In the second half, Rise Let Us Be on Our Way, 2004, he wrote about the path that led him to becoming a bishop, cardinal and finally pope.

His newest book Memory and Identity: Conversations between Millenniums, 2005, was published in English only two weeks ago, said Sister Hoffart. This book discusses the ideologies present in Europe over the last 100 years and why they are still significant.

One of his most popular books, Love and Responsibility, 1960, which outlines his views on sexual morality, was written before he became pope.

Groupings of his addresses during the Wednesday audiences can be found on topics such as the trinity and the Church. The Theology of the Body is one such collection that he presented during the first part of his pontificate, and is "one of our best sellers," Sister Hoffart said.

"There is a renewed interest in (the Theology of the Body) because it’s a topic that has a lot of conflict and many opinions," she said of the book. "The pope gives a beautifully clear explanation on this topic of sex and the dignity of the human person."

Sister Hoffart said that his writings are not usually difficult to read because he tailored them to a specific audience. Some of his more challenging works are directed to bishops, but for the most part, he wanted his works to be read by the general public who, she said, is eager to read.

"It has been really beautiful to respond to people and listen to their feedback about the pope," Sister Hoffart said.

Cecilia Balog, owner of the Paschal Lamb in Fairfax, had the radio on in the shop when the pope died. One of the customers remarked that it was wonderful to be in a Catholic place to hear the news so that fellow Catholics could mourn together.

Customers are looking for materials "by him, about him, pictures of him, holy cards," she said. Even the publishers are selling out of papal material. Everything is on back order now, but Balog said they are ordering every day and will get materials to customers as it is made available.

Balog noticed that not only is there a renewed interest in the pope, but also in the Church. One woman who visited the Paschal Lamb said her coworkers are asking questions about the faith, and she was looking for books to help her find the answers. This is a wonderful time to evangelize, Balog said.

Deirdre Jett, owner of A Wing & A Prayer bookstore in Woodbridge, said that the Mass remembrance cards and the books written by the pope are selling the fastest. Although, she admits, that anything about the pope will sell now.

According to Jett, a Protestant woman came to the shop and said she felt this was her pope as well.

Greg Meehan, owner of the Catholic Shop in Chantilly, said there has been a definite increase in the amount of people coming to his store and the number of inquires on their Web site. People are hoping to find a papal memento.

"We have a pope section in the store, and it is completely empty today," he said.

According the Meehan, two aspects of the pope’s spirituality have become popular: devotion to Divine Mercy and to Mary. The fact that the pope died on Divine Mercy Sunday has introduced many people to that devotion, he said, and the pope’s motto "Totus Tuus" has increased devotion to Mary. St. Faustina’s diary and St. Louis de Montfort’s "True Devotion to Mary" have become favored items.

"People are anxious to remember the pope," he said.